Recommended Transmission Fluid?

[Hippo Machine]

What tranny oil do you guys recommend for the Grand Prix? I hear the tranny isn't great on these cars so I wasn't sure if it is ok to go with the budget brand or not. I always like the best for my car but don't have much money right now. Thanks.

[blueguy]

Like I said before, leave it alone unless...

A) Something breaks
B) You have the money to **** with it

[Hippo Machine]

Like I said before, leave it alone unless...

A) Something breaks
B) You have the money to **** with it

Ikkk but the mechanic told me I needed ittt. Was he just tryin to make money off of me? Well I never... hmph

[Hippo Machine]

But seriously whats a good one?

[dpzelenak]

OEM..

[matt5112]

Amsoil.

Mobil synthetic ATF.

GM Dex III doesnt exist anymore, your transmission prefers dex III over VI.

[The Guz]

Amsoil.

Mobil synthetic ATF.

GM Dex III doesnt exist anymore, your transmission prefers dex III over VI.

Go with either of these. I myself will be going amsoil in the next couple weeks. Stick with dex III.

[torq455]

I've had Valvoline synthetic Dex VI in my other car for over two years. I had to re-tune the temperature Vs. line psi table. It is a much flatter curve than before, so its viscosity is more consistent over a wider temperature range.

[Zef_66]

Amsoil.

Mobil synthetic ATF.

GM Dex III doesnt exist anymore, your transmission prefers dex III over VI.

What? Our trannys prefer Dex III? Since when? I have been running Dex VI and I wouldn't ever switch back. Dex VI runs cooler, has much better properties.

For me, I run Valvoline synthetic Dex VI. But anything that is Dex VI should be fine.

[Hippo Machine]

What? Our trannys prefer Dex III? Since when? I have been running Dex VI and I wouldn't ever switch back. Dex VI runs cooler, has much better properties.

For me, I run Valvoline synthetic Dex VI. But anything that is Dex VI should be fine.

I think he reversed the two on accident.

[blueguy]

I think he reversed the two on accident.

No, he didn't.

Dex III was recommmend by Trannyman95, who is the resident expert on transmissions and owns Triple Edge Performance - Home Page

I run a blend of DexVI and Transsend in the blue car. The silver car is getting DexVI...I also think it is still a better blend to run and is more easily available.

If your going to do anything...buy a shift kit when you do the pan drop. Your transmission will thank you. Quicker shifts = less clutch/band wear.

[Zef_66]

No, he didn't.

Dex III was recommmend by Trannyman95, who is the resident expert on transmissions and owns Triple Edge Performance - Home Page

I run a blend of DexVI and Transsend in the blue car. The silver car is getting DexVI...I also think it is still a better blend to run and is more easily available.

If your going to do anything...buy a shift kit when you do the pan drop. Your transmission will thank you. Quicker shifts = less clutch/band wear.

I know Dave and have spoke with him a couple times about tranny fluid. The fluid that he puts in all the transmission he installs is a mix. But you are correct it was a mix of Dex III. I believe he choose the mix he did because of its ability to stick to the differential. The newer Dex VI fluid is thinner and will not stick to the diff as well during burnouts.

So the way I took it when he described it to me, unless you are doing a lot of burnouts and racing at the track, Dex VI is a better fluid to use. If you are doing racings and pit burnouts, then his recommended Dex III mix is a better choice.

But to say that our transmissions prefer Dexron III fluid is a quite misguided.

[matt5112]

Isn't it just wonderful when you get the complete story months after you heard the first bit?

[blueguy]

Matt...you were the one who said Dave recommened DexIII...so I was just going off of that...I haven't personally talked to him about it.

[matt5112]

I saw a PM or two from him.

Which never explained what Zef did.

[blueguy]

I know Dave as well Zef...which is why after all the things I have talked to him about...I'm surprised I've never covered the topic.

[Zef_66]

I know Dave as well Zef...which is why after all the things I have talked to him about...I'm surprised I've never covered the topic.

This is what Dave told me about his fluid blend:

The fluid is also a 30 wt oil, where ATF is only around 7 wt so it is a heavier bodied fluid that sticks to the geartrain much better.....I use it in near every rebuild, especially all high performance builds. You should be fine using it during a service as long as the fluid you take out is in decent shape. If the fluid is dark colorer or burnt then dont bother putting this in because it isnt a miracle worker!

At the time, in another PM or email somewhere, he said it was a Dex III mix with the 30wt oil. I took out the part where he specified the oil PN because he said he doesn't like to give it out that often. But I am just going by what he told me a couple years ago. This was right when Dexron VI was coming out, so maybe he just didn't have much expereince with it. Maybe he uses Dexron VI now. Or maybe he uses Dexron VI mix with 30wt oil. I don't know.

But as I mentioned before:

But to say that our transmissions prefer Dexron III fluid is a quite misguided.