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  #1  
Old 03-17-2019, 10:55 AM
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Castrol Dexron VI $5/liter - Autozone

I am prepping to do my GM tranny fluid change either this afternoon or next weekend. Was reading all the threads about fluid types and ultimately came to the conclusion that I'll do two or three rounds of Dex VI to get most of it out.

Wasn't looking forward to purchasing 10 quarts or more but just found Autozone is having a sale on Castrol TransMax Dex VI. usually $9 a quart but currently $5 a quart when you buy two. Pretty sweet discount.

I think I'm gonna get 12-14 quarts in case there is spillage or whatever. I can always return the unused.

SALE
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  #2  
Old 03-17-2019, 11:31 AM
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A Youtuber that I trust recommends Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle (must be multi-vehicle) full synthetic trans fluid for both the GM and ZF transmissions. I know how that sounds, taking advice from a Youtuber, but I've watched at least 30-40 of his videos and he seems to really know his stuff. His name is Nathan's BMW Workshop if you want to check it out.

This stuff.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline...allon/15125768

I keep going back and forth on what to put into my truck in the near future. I got a smoking deal on 8 liters of ZF fluid ($80 with mechatronic sleeve) locally so I might order 2 or 3 more now to do the service. Originally I was going to use that Valvoline for sure.

Just thought I would pass it on. More information/choices are always good. Right?
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  #3  
Old 03-17-2019, 12:45 PM
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absolutely! I have no issue taking advice from CERTAIN youtubers...or yourself for that matter. that stuff is cheaper than the sale price castrol too!

i’m not looking to skimp on fluid quality but not unlike motor oil grades, Dex VI is Dex VI... and then it’s just opinions and experience after that.
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  #4  
Old 03-17-2019, 12:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russianblue View Post
absolutely! I have no issue taking advice from CERTAIN youtubers...or yourself for that matter. that stuff is cheaper than the sale price castrol too!

i’m not looking to skimp on fluid quality but not unlike motor oil grades, Dex VI is Dex VI... and then it’s just opinions and experience after that.
For sure, and I wish I could give a personal recommendation of the fluid, but have not used it as of yet. I know that Nathan puts it in all high mileage BMW's with the ZF and GM transmissions. In his videos about it he says the ZF fluid is too thin and with the wear on the trans component seals, valve bodies, etc the Valvoline stuff helps to maintain pressures better.

But again, no personal, actual experience with it. I think in my wife's truck I'll use the Valvoline and see how it goes as the X35d also uses the ZF 6hp26.
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2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
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  #5  
Old 03-17-2019, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russianblue View Post
...i’m not looking to skimp on fluid quality but not unlike motor oil grades, Dex VI is Dex VI... and then it’s just opinions and experience after that.
I agree. But that Valvoline stuff is not Dex VI. BTW, I use that stuff in my Honda's, which specify Honda DW-1, and this stuff is widely reported to work at least as well as that. So it's not like I have anything against it.

But that Castrol Transmax DEXRON VI really is Dex VI. It says so right on the label, and if it were not Dex VI, they would not be allowed to say it. "Being Dex VI" means it meets the specs set by GM, which is the owner of the specification/brand.

The Valvoline, not being Dex VI, can't legally say that it is. They feel confident that cars that specify Dex III or Dex VI can use it safely, so they say the much weaker "Recommended for DEX/MERC* ..." If this stuff actually met the specs for Dex VI, was tested and certified as such by GM, then they would say DEXRON VI. But they did not (and probably can not), so they can't. Not saying at all that it's bad stuff, just that it is not exactly Dex VI.

My Honda AT's aren't GM, and they are not known for being good at all, in fact they are typically the weakest part on the whole vehicle. So in a case like that, I'm willing to stray beyond the spec.

But these AT's for the 3.0i's were made by GM Hydramatic in Strasbourg, France. And GM owns the DEXRON specs. So it makes sense that those ATs were designed carefully to work with the Dex III spec. And then when VI superseded III, claiming backward compatibility, it is not so clear, but I decided to go with the VI. Basically, since it is a GM AT, and is known to be a good one, I put more faith in what BMW / GM say and follow more exactly.

And that Castrol Dex VI is exactly what I used when I did my AT D+F's shortly after getting my 3.0i at about 168k miles. That was the first time ever on this AT at that mileage. Still working great, now at 188k miles.
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Old 03-17-2019, 08:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks View Post
A....I got a smoking deal on 8 liters of ZF fluid ($80 with mechatronic sleeve) locally so I might order 2 or 3 more now to do the service. ...
Sweet J - that IS a deal - the cheapest I have found genuine ZF LG6 here in NZ is NZ$60 a litre. The triple drain/fill would cost me around NZ$1,000 - and then I need to buy the seals/filters etc. on top of that! Not happening.... at best I'll do a single drain/fill with all seals (mechatronic, bridge, jump and pan/filter) along with the solenoids. And that'll be NZ$1,000 too....
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Old 03-18-2019, 07:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks View Post
But again, no personal, actual experience with it. I think in my wife's truck I'll use the Valvoline and see how it goes as the X35d also uses the ZF 6hp26.
I've used this in the GM A5S390 (my 01 E53, 172k). It's great fluid.
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