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Transmission Temp

MaxPF

AGNTSA
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1,394
Location
The dark side of the globe
Just highlights the DEX is just another way of making money out of a GM license (rather than real protection of the mechanicals)

Especially for poor bastards in cold environments that have had the factory fill of Dex VI turn to gelatin on them and wiped out their planetaries from lack of lube. Thank GM for not doing any proper testing on it before announcing it's the best stuff in the world and requiring it for 06-up. Basically, they let the customers do the real world testing for them :roll:

Of the Transynd or Delvac is one better that the other (or is it the common base PAO that makes them the same)

They both meet the same specs, so I'd go with whichever costs less.

Scratch the Penrite SYN ATF............. I just checked out the MSDS and it specifically says "Not Suitable for DEX VI application" although it meets the Drain Life & Friction requirements.

Probably for the same reason Transynd and Delvac don't technically meet the Dex VI requitements - their viscosity is a bit higher than the Dex VI spec. Personally, I feel that Dex VI is too thin, but I'm guessing it was partly (or mostly) done to reduce pump loss and get another 1/10th MPG. I don't buy the "shift quality" BS that GM spews - hot viscosity of Dex VI is around 6.0, while Dex III, Transynd, and presumably the Penrite are around 7.5. However, COLD viscosity of Dex VI is around 30, and the transmissions shift pretty much the same hot or cold. Tells me the viscosity requirement for shift performance is BS, otherwise they would shift radically different between hot and cold.
 

ReconH3

Guardian Angel
Messages
2,288
Location
Raleigh, NC
This an amazing thread! Thanks guys for all this great info. Which of these synthetics would hold up best against heat degradation?


"Ex Umbris Venimus"

Sent from my iPhone
 

MaxPF

AGNTSA
Messages
1,394
Location
The dark side of the globe
This an amazing thread! Thanks guys for all this great info. Which of these synthetics would hold up best against heat degradation?


"Ex Umbris Venimus"

Sent from my iPhone

Any TRUE synthetic will take at least as much heat than the seals in the trans. I say TRUE synthetic because the US Supreme court has ruled that "synthetic" is a marketing term, thus a manufacturer can call an oil "synthetic" even if they are made from hydrotreated Group III (refined crude oil) base stocks. Believe it or not, this is common with oils made by the big oil companies. If you use Mobil 1 5W-30 or 10W-30, you are using a Group III based oil, not group IV or V. Only group IV and V oils are truly synthetic, that is, made from pure chemical feedstocks rather than refined crude oil. So, a synthetic ATF made by "Big Oil" may or may not be truly synthetic. Sometimes the MSDS will say. Also, the viscosity index is usually a good indicator of base oil composition. As is cost, in some cases.

FWIW, I am not knocking oils made with severely hydrotreated Group III base oils. Many are quite good, for less money than true synthetics, and are close to synthetic performance in many areas. My peeve is with oil makers being allowed to call them "Full Synthetic".

Anyway, I realize that did not really answer your question. If you insist on Dex VI for warranty reasons, because thats what the owners manual says, etc. then do some research to find out who has a good true synthetic Dex VI. Redline products are usually excellent, and D6 is specifically a Dex VI compatible fluid, but it is NOT a Dex VI licensed product. Transynd and Delvac Synthetic, while one of the best ATFs in existence, is not a Dex VI spec fluid. It is made for hot running, hard working Allison medium duty truck transmissions and to give extended drain intervals. It happens to work fine and last longer than any Dex VI, but you only have the word of some guy on the internet that it is better or will work fine. I know what I would use, and I know what Todd is running in his built 4L80E, but you have to decide for yourself what is best.
 
Last edited:

cgalpha08

"Like Nothing Else"
Messages
3,720
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Going to bump this thread with this question....for those with the Alpha and a scangauge, has anyone been able to get the codes to work for transmission temp using the x gauge feature? Recon i know your away, but how about anyone else who has the same set up?
 

Chook

Well-Known Member
Messages
706
Location
Brisbane (Australia)
Here are a couple of ways you can find the answer for the Alpha as you are only looking for the computer memory address where the information is. Easiest is find an equivalent GM vehicle using the same computer/transmission and see if it has a code. Next easiest is see another monitor product (Bully Dog, etc.) and see what code it uses. More difficult, get someone with a laptop that can read the computer OR hardest is you can try random codes but you should be close if you use the information you learned from the other methods.
 

DasGoat

Member
Messages
13
Location
South Carolina
Different Years & Models may have different computers.

The most common used by GM have either CANSF codes or VPW codes.

You can find out what protocol your vehicle is running with the ScanGauge by pressing MORE > MORE > MODE

I found out that the 2006 uses VPW. The code is

Trans
Fluid Temperature (Exc Allison)
6C10F1221940(01)
046205190640
3008
00090005FFD8
TFT
Degrees
Fahrenheit


The other one I posted above is for a 2008 I5 which is CANSF

07E2221940(01)
046205190640
3008
00090005FFD8
it's the code for the Alison transmission

As you can see they are both very close (only the first line of the code changes depending on if yours is VPW or CANSF)

Also the (01) on the end is optional. Try without the (01) first but if the computer doesn't have enough characters add the 01

Funny that the 08 I5 uses the code for the Allison trans... Mine just displays "32" if I use the non-Allison code.
 
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