trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

Hey everyone, I've searched around a bit for info on this subject but most of the forums are older when dexron III was still available. The car is a 2000 Trans am with T56 Stage 2 Tick performance rebuild, so no worries with synthetic and the blocker rings (they're carbon fiber now)

Now I went to 3 autozone's and 3 Kragen's, even walmart. Nowhere has anything that is Dexron III. They do have DEX/MERC jugs tho. There was also Valvoline Dexron VI which on the back reads that it can be used in place of dexron II and Dexron III. also had B&M and Royal purple but $15/quart is alot.

What do i buy since i cant fine any brand of Dexron III anywhere. previous owner said car has mobil 1 synthetic atf. Do i use dexron VI? Synthetic or just regular?

X-ray

iTrader: (6)

That is the Dexron III. Read the bottle, DexIII is everywhere. Advanced auto has a ton of it. If it says DexIII anywhere, it's DexIII. Buy 4 quarts/1 gallon







The ONLY synthetic choice I would use:


Another alternative:


The guys at Tick always recommend Dexron III, it works the best. You can use Mobil1 ATF or syncromesh, but it will cause harder shifting in cold weather. So buy any Dexron III compatible ATF.

Do not use RoyalPurple in any T56, have heard bad things. Don't bother with Dex VI either, no gains to be had.

trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the reply, the only thing of whatr you listed that i saw at the stores were dex/merc, so i guess thats what ill go with.

What are your thoughts on dexron VI, on the back it says for dexron III uses. its the only sythetic they have and i think i want synthetic.
but im also just thinking of regular and changing it often enough

99monguse

I think you can use VI anywhere where IIIis used

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

yes,dextron VI is backwards compatible.

I thought you can't use synthetic in the T56 due to the paper blocker rings??

LS123

iTrader: (11)

For all T56's use GM part # 88861800.

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

i just use cheap dexIII because its more important to change it often

bayer-z28

iTrader: (14)

I use RP in mine.. At least it's 4 qts that you won't change very often. -Not like an oil change interval. I've got a built T56 also with CF and Micronite guts.

Spartan7

iTrader: (7)

You're thinking of gear oil.

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

I just did the pan change and I used castrol dex/merc. Then I just rearanged another trans cooler so I had to put in another qrt and I used advanced A.P. dex/merc

trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

I checked my stores and right now im down to either

Castrol Dex/Merc

or

Penzoil Synochromesh

My stores dont really have anything other than that, i think im gonna go with the castrol.
they had some off brand stuff of dex/merc, but nothing that said dexIII on the front. and they have no synthetics either, not sure why, probably gonna do the change tomorrow afternoon along with a shifter gasket install. should be fun

camar0corey

iTrader: (22)

Running the sychromesh here. Yeah I had this dilemma not long ago also. What to run what to run?! In typical LS1tech fashion, opinions are all over the place.

black_99/SS

What is safe to run in a stock T56 then? lol. Is synthetic ok or no?

disc0monkey

iTrader: (10)

walmart still got pennzoil

trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

i ended up just buying the castrol atf, actually the same gallon jug post in the first response post in this thread. putting it in tomorrow

trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

run Dexron III ATF, cant find it anywhere? read the back of the bottles that say dex/merc because its the same stuff. synchromesh is thicker, synthetic is thinner, dex is right in the middle, im not the most educated on all of this but im trying to learn.

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

dextron III is getting phased out i think since dextron VI is out. i was under the assumption that synthetic could be used because of the paper blocker rings. what years came with carbon fiber?

trans_am_man

iTrader: (1)

Paper blocker rings are 2000 and older T56's. 2001 and 2002 should be fine. or if you have any work done to the tranny they may have been changed but double check first. My T56 is a 2000 but has a stage 2 build by tick performance and they changed the blocker rings to carbon fiber so im okay for syn (still run regular dexIII tho)

Oh P.S guys,
I did the fluid change Along with gasket install. Went with Castrol Dex/Merc. Things seem to be good, i probably didnt really have to change the fluid but i wanted to just to know its been done and when. Feels smooth and shifts nice.

All-In

Wrong. That applies to automatics ONLY.

DexIII is still sold everywhere, they just can't use the claim that it IS Dexron III, but they are Dex or Dexron III "compatible" or "recommended". These are all the same manufacturers that were making this stuff to GM's specs before, and they still make it now. Can also use synchromesh/synchromax, etc

Do not use Dex VI in MM6s or M12s.

HTH

Jays_SSZ28

iTrader: (2)

This is what GM now recommends for the T-56.
(now as in since 2006 when they phased out dex 3)