Did my truck get the Dexron VI?

[udlooz]

I can't find the answer anywhere, I've got a 2006 GMC Sierra, 5.3 Auto which I assumed was a 4L60E, but I can't find whether GM used the Dex-6 in these transmissions or not. Does anyone know? I was about to drain fluid and install a finned pan and synthetic fluid until I started reading about this new fluid.

[Black02Silverado]

Starting with the 2006 model cars and truck, GM installed Dexron VI in all Hydra-Matic transmissions.

Dexron VI

[C & A s Dad]

John, just curious as to why you would install a finned pan? I know you can get some extra capacity and extra cooling but IMO, I would come closer to replacing the OE aux trans cooler if you needed additional cooling. I replaced mine with the same stacked plate design as the OE but with one about twice as large and syn

Amsoil. This will keep it nice and cool. I have looked into the finned pans but currenly have not needed to go this far to keep mine cool.

[Black02Silverado]

Currently AMSOIL does not make ATF that is a replacement for Dexron VI. They are working on it but do not have anything available as of this date.

[WindyCityPilot]

John, just curious as to why you would install a finned pan? I know you can get some extra capacity and extra cooling but IMO, I would come closer to replacing the OE aux trans cooler if you needed additional cooling. I replaced mine with the same stacked plate design as the OE but with one about twice as large and syn

Amsoil. This will keep it nice and cool. I have looked into the finned pans but currenly have not needed to go this far to keep mine cool.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Do you have a link to the trans cooler that you installed? Did it mount right up where the stock one was or did you have to do any kind of custom brackets to make it work?

[C & A s Dad]

WC Pilot, I used a cooler supplied to us (CARQUEST) by Hayden, part # 77423. You can access Hayden's website I am sure but I have not viewed it. The cooler is the same width as the OE cooler but is about twice as tall. I mounted it right where the OE unit was using a universal install bracket kit and a couple of rubber shock mounting bushings. The kit # from CQ is a 77018 and contains some braces that can easily be bent and twisted to fit. They mounted to the upper holes in the cooler and then to existing holes in the truck. I also did not cut my lines, I simply unhooked the quick connects at the oe cooler and used the flared ends of the metal lines to attach my rubber lines to. I used the shock mounting bushings at the bottom of the cooler between the "A" bracket and the cooler to keep it from touching the A bracket and to provide a little vibration control. When finished, it looked as good or better than the factory unit and certainly provides more cooling capacity. The OE cooler is a great design, just too small IMO for any serious towing.

 

Are you towing something of significance?

[redvett]

Be forwarned that you cannot use the Dex-6 on any vehicle older than 2005. Its not down gradeable.

[asepgrad98]

Be forwarned that you cannot use the Dex-6 on any vehicle older than 2005. Its not down gradeable.

 

i dont believe that is correct

[redvett]

I am just reading it out of my trade "Motor" mag.

Enjoy the reading.

 

Here Come the 2007 Domestics!

by Paul Weissler

 

November 2006. The domestic manufacturers have several new passenger vehicle offerings on tap for 2007, as well as significant advances in the areas of performance, economy, convenience and comfort.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The 2007 domestic car nameplate lineup has important new entries from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Yes, there are conventional sedans such as the Saturn Aura and Chrysler Sebring, a new Mustang muscle car (the Shelby GT500) and a two-seat convertible (the Saturn Sky).

 

But most significant are the crossovers—carlike vehicles with transverse front-drive, optional all-wheel-drive and SUV cues. You know such domestic entries as GM's Saturn VUE, Buick Rendezvous, Chevy Equinox and HHR and Pontiac Torrent, Chrysler's PT Cruiser and Ford's Freestyle. This model year, look for a GM trio—GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook—along with Ford's Edge and Lincoln MKX, plus the Jeep Compass from the Chrysler Group.

 

The following offerings from the domestic carmakers are truly new and noteworthy:

 

General Motors

 

Much of GM's new-car product news is about Saturn. Saturn has three new vehicles—the Aura sedan, Sky convertible and Outlook, which joins VUE in the crossover category. However, some of the powertrain changes made for Saturn also apply to other GM makes.

 

The most important new car coming out of the GM camp may be the Saturn Aura. Although it's built on the same platform as the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6, it's much more upscale—nicer interior, more elegant overall appearance, quieter. It's almost like the separation between the Lexus ES 350 and the Camry V6, although not quite as far apart.

 

As for GM engines , the 3.5L V6 is the base Aura engine (a step up from the base 2.4L four-cylinder in the Malibu and G6). This pushrod engine gets variable valve timing, joining the 3.9L V6 used in the Malibu , G6 and Impala/Monte Carlo. The 3.9 V6, incidentally, also gets Active Fuel Management (which deactivates three cylinders during cruise), introduced last year on the Impala/Monte Carlo 5.3 V8.

 

The 3.6L “world” V6 (DOHC and variable intake and exhaust valve timing), which was used in Cadillac and Buick models in 2006, is the top option in the Pontiac G6 and the Aura, and the only engine in the Acadia/Enclave/Outlook crossover vehicles.

 

The 3.6 V6 is mated to a six-speed transaxle, the same basic transmission (with internal differences, though) that also is being used in the new Ford crossovers and Lincoln MKZ sedan. Ford and GM are in a joint venture to produce this gearbox.

 

What about four-cylinder engines, the several versions of the Ecotec in particular? The 2.4 version continues as noted in the Malibu and G6 but with significant changes, the most visible of which is the dropping of the engine oil cooler. GM added piston oil jets and modified the cooling system, which lowered oil temperatures enough to eliminate the need for external oil cooling. The 2.0 Supercharged version continues in the Saturn Red Line and Chevy Cobalt SS. The 2.2, with what GM calls “continuous improvement upgrades,” continues in the Cobalt, Malibu , G5 (a new Pontiac-badged twin to the Cobalt) and Saturn ION. Changes to the 2.2, however, include such visually noticeable, service-related ones as a cartridge oil filter replacing the spin-on type and coil-on-plug ignition replacing the dual-coil cassettes with plug wires.

 

A special premium version of the 2.4 Ecotec also goes into the Saturn VUE Green Line and (some time in the spring) the new Aura—as a low-cost “mild hybrid” that promises a fuel economy boost of up to 20%.

 

What's a “mild hybrid”? Well, the GM “hybrid” pickups that came out last year are an example. They use a flywheel alternator/starter system and 42-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. The setup in the VUE, and that's coming to the Aura this spring, has a conventional starter plus what looks like an oversized alternator but is actually an alternator/starter with a very special, seven-rib-wide belt with a unique tensioner.

 

A complex computer strategy determines when to stop the engine, typically when it's warmed up and the vehicle is stopped, such as at a traffic light. When the driver steps on the gas pedal, the alternator/starter operates as a motor, restarting the engine instantaneously. During acceleration, the motor also provides a small boost through the engine.

 

During deceleration/braking, some of the energy goes to operate the alternator to charge the 42-volt battery pack; that's called regenerative braking . The battery pack is located behind the rear seat and has a fan and ductwork for cooling.

 

All the electronics are housed in an underhood module, characterized by the blue wiring harness that indicates medium-voltage systems (vs. orange for high-voltage full hybrids). Like most electronics packs, this one runs pretty hot, so a tap off the front of the engine cooling system routes coolant through the electronics housing to lower temperatures.

 

Accessories run on 12 volts and there's an auxiliary 12-volt lead-acid battery, which also operates a conventional starter for cold starts. The vehicle's on-board diagnostics cover the hybrid system and will log specific trouble codes.

 

The mild hybrid won't run on electricity alone (full hybrids have battery packs many times the size) and it doesn't do nearly as much regenerative braking. But at perhaps 35% of the price premium of a full hybrid, it's more likely to pay for itself a lot sooner and be a lot more affordable for buyers.

 

A 2.0L direct-injection turbocharged version of the Ecotec is optional on GM's two low-volume two-seat convertibles, the Pontiac Solstice (GXP model) and a new Saturn spin-off, the Sky. This engine, which has a smaller bore and stroke than the 2.4 Four, is GM's first U.S. direct-injection engine. The turbo, a twin-scroll design, makes use of extreme valve overlap to allow intake air to help sweep out the exhaust at low rpm, spooling up the turbo to eliminate most of the usual acceleration lag. Because the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder, injection occurs after the exhaust has been swept out, so the intake air that goes with it contains no fuel.

=====================================================

There's a new Dexron automatic transmission fluid—No. 6, labeled Dexron VI. It is said to provide major improvements in clutch durability and friction stability, more consistent oil thickness and less foaming and oxidation. The recommended service interval for “severe” use is 50,000 miles; for so-called “normal” use, double that figure.

 

Dexron VI actually came into use in 2006 production, and if a vehicle has it, don't use anything else. The new fluid can be retrofitted to 2005 models only, which requires flushing out the old Dexron III. Don't use D-VI on anything older than 2005, or on any Saturn VUE, whose transmissions take specific fluids. Remember, the VUE's tranny is a CVT (continuously variable transmission), which, as we note in our coverage of the Chrysler Group, requires a specific fluid. Ditto for the five-speed manual or Honda automatic also used in the VUE.

=====================================================

GM's crossover vehicles —the Acadia, Enclave and Outlook—are a bit different from the totally carlike type in that they have a sheet metal “ladder frame” integrated into the underbody, onto which front and rear subframes are bolted. It's still a unit body vehicle, with the longitudinal frame rails of the conventional unit body and the addition of ladder “steps” connecting them. This integral frame does not perform the function of a conventional separate frame; rather, the ladder steps provide a major improvement in side-impact protection. There are front and rear subframes for powertrain and suspension.

 

The transverse-mount 3.6L V6 was boosted from 270 to 275 hp, 251 ft.-lbs. of torque, with cylinder head modifications and new camshafts for this specific application. An optional electronically controlled multidisc clutch coupling provides all-wheel-drive with on-demand, variable power split. Ground clearance is 7.4 in. Only the Acadia is out now; the Outlook is due in early spring, the Enclave by early summer.

[CapitalTruck]

According to this bulletin you can use it in almost any Dexron III application.

 

Document ID# 1837415

2004 Chevrolet Chevy C Silverado - 2WD

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Subject: Info - Release of DEXRON VI Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) #04-07-30-037B - (06/12/2006)

 

 

 

Models: 2007 and Prior Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks

 

2003-2007 HUMMER H2

 

2006-2007 HUMMER H3

 

2005-2007 Saturn Relay

 

2005 and Prior Saturn L-Series

 

2005-2007 Saturn ION

 

2005-2007 Saturn VUE with 4T45-E

 

2005-2007 Saab 9-7X

 

 

 

Except 2007 and Prior Chevrolet Aveo, Epica, Equinox, Optra

 

Except 2007 and Prior Pontiac Torrent, Vibe, Wave

 

Except 2003-2005 Saturn ION with CVT or AF23 Only

 

Except 1991-2002 Saturn S-Series

 

Except 2007 and Prior Saturn VUE with CVT, AF33 or 5AT (MJ7/MJ8) Transmission Only

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This bulletin is being updated with the 2007 model year. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-07-30-037A (Section 07 -- Transmission/Transaxle).

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

DEXRON®-VI ATF

General Motors Powertrain has recently upgraded to DEXRON®-VI ATF with the start of 2006 vehicle production.

 

Only 2005 and prior models that currently use DEXRON®-III may use DEXRON®-VI as a replacement.

 

All 2006 and future models that use DEXRON®-VI are to be serviced with DEXRON®-VI fluid only.

 

DEXRON®-VI is an improvement over DEXRON®-III in the following area:

 

DEXRON®-VI

 

Extended Factory Fill For Life

160,000 km (100,000 mi) For Cars and Light Duty Trucks*

 

80,000 km (50,000 mi) (Severe Use) For Cars and Light Duty Trucks*

 

Clutch Friction Stability

Improved 100%

 

Clutch Durability Due To Fluid

Improved 120%

 

Oil Film Thickness

Increased 20%

 

Fluid Oxidation

Improved 100%

 

Foam/Aeration

Improved 150%

 

Shear Stability

Improved 200%

 

 

* These ATF change intervals remain the same as DEXRON®-III for the time being.

 

2006-2007 Transmission Fill and Cooler Flushing

Some new applications of the 6L80 six speed transmission will require the use of the J 45096 - Flushing and Flow Tester to accomplish transmission fluid fill. It is highly recommended that the clean oil reservoir of the machine be purged of DEXRON®-III and filled with DEXRON®-VI.

 

Parts Information

Part Number

Description

 

88861003 (US)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (1 qt bottle)

 

88861045 (US)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (1 gal bottle)

 

88861046 (US)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (55 gal drum)

 

88861004 (Canada)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (1L bottle)

 

88861043 (Canada)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (4L bottle)

 

88861044 (Canada)

DEXRON®-VI Auto Trans Fluid (205L drum)

 

 

 

 

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

 

 

© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Document ID# 1837415

2004 Chevrolet Chevy C Silverado - 2WD

[cmoore74]

Is the Dexron VI a synthetic base fluid or dino?

 

I've read of the benefits of synthetic ATF over standard Dexron III, but if this Dexron VI is as good as GM claims it to be is there any benefit to after-market Dexron VI compatable synthetic ATF?

 

From the previous replies sounds like Amsoil is working on something.

[WindyCityPilot]

re you towing something of significance?

 

Not yet. Probably will be towing a boat eventually...just want to have all the hardware on the truck so I'm ready. Thanks for the info!

[C & A s Dad]

Is the Dexron VI a synthetic base fluid or dino?

 

I've read of the benefits of synthetic ATF over standard Dexron III, but if this Dexron VI is as good as GM claims it to be is there any benefit to after-market Dexron VI compatable synthetic ATF?

 

From the previous replies sounds like Amsoil is working on something.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Chris, according to Valvoline, the Dex 6 is syn. Chrysler has been using a syn fluid for several years with the ATF 3 and now ATF 4. It only makes sense.

[CapitalTruck]

This was retracted in the latest Motor Magazine (January) on pg 52.

 

"In the [November issue] we stated that Dexron VI automatic transmission fluid (ATF) was not to be used in anything older than 2005 vehicles. In actuality, Dexron VI can be used in 2005 and earlier transmissions where Dexron III was originally specified. Dexron VI should not be substituted for anything other than Dexron III."

 

 

I am just reading it out of my trade "Motor" mag.

Enjoy the reading.

 

Here Come the 2007 Domestics!

by Paul Weissler     

 

November 2006. The domestic manufacturers have several new passenger vehicle offerings on tap for 2007, as well as significant advances in the areas of performance, economy, convenience and comfort.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The 2007 domestic car nameplate lineup has important new entries from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Yes, there are conventional sedans such as the Saturn Aura and Chrysler Sebring, a new Mustang muscle car (the Shelby GT500) and a two-seat convertible (the Saturn Sky).

 

But most significant are the crossovers—carlike vehicles with transverse front-drive, optional all-wheel-drive and SUV cues. You know such domestic entries as GM's Saturn VUE, Buick Rendezvous, Chevy Equinox and HHR and Pontiac Torrent, Chrysler's PT Cruiser and Ford's Freestyle. This model year, look for a GM trio—GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook—along with Ford's Edge and Lincoln MKX, plus the Jeep Compass from the Chrysler Group.

 

The following offerings from the domestic carmakers are truly new and noteworthy:

 

General Motors

 

Much of GM's new-car product news is about Saturn. Saturn has three new vehicles—the Aura sedan, Sky convertible and Outlook, which joins VUE in the crossover category. However, some of the powertrain changes made for Saturn also apply to other GM makes.

 

The most important new car coming out of the GM camp may be the Saturn Aura. Although it's built on the same platform as the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6, it's much more upscale—nicer interior, more elegant overall appearance, quieter. It's almost like the separation between the Lexus ES 350 and the Camry V6, although not quite as far apart.

 

As for GM engines , the 3.5L V6 is the base Aura engine (a step up from the base 2.4L four-cylinder in the Malibu and G6). This pushrod engine gets variable valve timing, joining the 3.9L V6 used in the Malibu , G6 and Impala/Monte Carlo. The 3.9 V6, incidentally, also gets Active Fuel Management (which deactivates three cylinders during cruise), introduced last year on the Impala/Monte Carlo 5.3 V8.

 

The 3.6L “world” V6 (DOHC and variable intake and exhaust valve timing), which was used in Cadillac and Buick models in 2006, is the top option in the Pontiac G6 and the Aura, and the only engine in the Acadia/Enclave/Outlook crossover vehicles.

 

The 3.6 V6 is mated to a six-speed transaxle, the same basic transmission (with internal differences, though) that also is being used in the new Ford crossovers and Lincoln MKZ sedan. Ford and GM are in a joint venture to produce this gearbox.

 

What about four-cylinder engines, the several versions of the Ecotec in particular? The 2.4 version continues as noted in the Malibu and G6 but with significant changes, the most visible of which is the dropping of the engine oil cooler. GM added piston oil jets and modified the cooling system, which lowered oil temperatures enough to eliminate the need for external oil cooling. The 2.0 Supercharged version continues in the Saturn Red Line and Chevy Cobalt SS. The 2.2, with what GM calls “continuous improvement upgrades,” continues in the Cobalt, Malibu , G5 (a new Pontiac-badged twin to the Cobalt) and Saturn ION. Changes to the 2.2, however, include such visually noticeable, service-related ones as a cartridge oil filter replacing the spin-on type and coil-on-plug ignition replacing the dual-coil cassettes with plug wires.

 

A special premium version of the 2.4 Ecotec also goes into the Saturn VUE Green Line and (some time in the spring) the new Aura—as a low-cost “mild hybrid” that promises a fuel economy boost of up to 20%.

 

What's a “mild hybrid”? Well, the GM “hybrid” pickups that came out last year are an example. They use a flywheel alternator/starter system and 42-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. The setup in the VUE, and that's coming to the Aura this spring, has a conventional starter plus what looks like an oversized alternator but is actually an alternator/starter with a very special, seven-rib-wide belt with a unique tensioner.

 

A complex computer strategy determines when to stop the engine, typically when it's warmed up and the vehicle is stopped, such as at a traffic light. When the driver steps on the gas pedal, the alternator/starter operates as a motor, restarting the engine instantaneously. During acceleration, the motor also provides a small boost through the engine.

 

During deceleration/braking, some of the energy goes to operate the alternator to charge the 42-volt battery pack; that's called regenerative braking . The battery pack is located behind the rear seat and has a fan and ductwork for cooling.

 

All the electronics are housed in an underhood module, characterized by the blue wiring harness that indicates medium-voltage systems (vs. orange for high-voltage full hybrids). Like most electronics packs, this one runs pretty hot, so a tap off the front of the engine cooling system routes coolant through the electronics housing to lower temperatures.

 

Accessories run on 12 volts and there's an auxiliary 12-volt lead-acid battery, which also operates a conventional starter for cold starts. The vehicle's on-board diagnostics cover the hybrid system and will log specific trouble codes.

 

The mild hybrid won't run on electricity alone (full hybrids have battery packs many times the size) and it doesn't do nearly as much regenerative braking. But at perhaps 35% of the price premium of a full hybrid, it's more likely to pay for itself a lot sooner and be a lot more affordable for buyers.

 

A 2.0L direct-injection turbocharged version of the Ecotec is optional on GM's two low-volume two-seat convertibles, the Pontiac Solstice (GXP model) and a new Saturn spin-off, the Sky. This engine, which has a smaller bore and stroke than the 2.4 Four, is GM's first U.S. direct-injection engine. The turbo, a twin-scroll design, makes use of extreme valve overlap to allow intake air to help sweep out the exhaust at low rpm, spooling up the turbo to eliminate most of the usual acceleration lag. Because the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder, injection occurs after the exhaust has been swept out, so the intake air that goes with it contains no fuel.

=====================================================

There's a new Dexron automatic transmission fluid—No. 6, labeled Dexron VI. It is said to provide major improvements in clutch durability and friction stability, more consistent oil thickness and less foaming and oxidation. The recommended service interval for “severe” use is 50,000 miles; for so-called “normal” use, double that figure.

 

Dexron VI actually came into use in 2006 production, and if a vehicle has it, don't use anything else. The new fluid can be retrofitted to 2005 models only, which requires flushing out the old Dexron III. Don't use D-VI on anything older than 2005, or on any Saturn VUE, whose transmissions take specific fluids. Remember, the VUE's tranny is a CVT (continuously variable transmission), which, as we note in our coverage of the Chrysler Group, requires a specific fluid. Ditto for the five-speed manual or Honda automatic also used in the VUE.

=====================================================

GM's crossover vehicles —the Acadia, Enclave and Outlook—are a bit different from the totally carlike type in that they have a sheet metal “ladder frame” integrated into the underbody, onto which front and rear subframes are bolted. It's still a unit body vehicle, with the longitudinal frame rails of the conventional unit body and the addition of ladder “steps” connecting them. This integral frame does not perform the function of a conventional separate frame; rather, the ladder steps provide a major improvement in side-impact protection. There are front and rear subframes for powertrain and suspension.

 

The transverse-mount 3.6L V6 was boosted from 270 to 275 hp, 251 ft.-lbs. of torque, with cylinder head modifications and new camshafts for this specific application. An optional electronically controlled multidisc clutch coupling provides all-wheel-drive with on-demand, variable power split. Ground clearance is 7.4 in. Only the Acadia is out now; the Outlook is due in early spring, the Enclave by early summer.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

[dewfpo]

My understanding is that the GM spec'd DexVI is not synthetic. And that DexIII will stop being made by some suppliers and they will only make DexVI so it is backwards compatible and will be the default DEX atf to use, just like DexIII took over DexII's role. Don't know why theri isn't a DexIV or DexV.

 

DEWFPO