I think Maxlife ATF is Dex VI oil and I use it all the time. All fine.

 

Yes, I replaced my Dex III with SuperTech Dex VI. Did a complete replacement via cooler return hose. I am very happy with the results as are many others based on what I have read here and other forums.

 

I would be VERY VERY cautious of it. Dex VI is NOT totally backward compatible. There is a HUGE list of exclusions. I would use Mobil 1 or Royal Purple synthetic if you want a better fluid and true compatibility

 

Just use MaxLife. Great ATF, fully synthetic, cheap. It's works with dex ii/iii/vi.

You can run it in the the power steering as well. Its a superior fluid to anything else in the power steering system.

 

Dex VI is excellent. I've been using it for years in a 200 Avalon and a 1999 Camry.

"DEXRON-VI is also compatible with any former version of DEXRON for use in automatic transmissions.

DEXRON-VI can be used in any proportion in past model vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, in place of DEXRON-III (for instance, topping off the fluid in the event of a repair or fluid change). ."

 

You might want to read the GM Tech pub on it. GM themselves have put caveats on it's use. Not being real familiar with Toyota products I would be very hesitant to use it myself knowing what GM has to say on it. If you folks think it works that's great but I know people who've seen damage using it in applications they thought would be fully backward compatible because they did not read the GM literature on it's use.
Not trying to start a pi$$ing contest here but I would still be cautious with it. It may be totally fine and never cause an issue but I tend to lean more to the cautious side. There are more than enough higher quality fluids out there that do meet DEX III/Mercon spec exactly without taking a chance on something even the people who brought the stuff out says to be cautious about.
Like it? Use it. Just putting my knowledge about GM stuff out there. Heck maybe you could use MOPAR ATF +4 in it too. But again I would not.

 

There are members who used a low viscosity ATF like Valvoline Maxlife and are happy with it.

But I'd tend to want to stay with thicker fluids like Mobil-1 ATF, Walmart Supertech Mercon-V, Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF, or just plain Walmart dino ATF $13/gallon.

Mobil makes a syn-blend Dexron VI and continues to make Mobil-1 fully synthetic ATF for the older Dexron II/III applications. Notice that the new formulation of Mobil-1 is now Mercon-V. Ever wonder why not just make one fully synthetic Dexron VI if it fully replaces Dexron II/III?

 

JohnGD, are you saying D6 is not fully backward compatible with D2/3?

 

It is what he and I both are saying. It may work just fine in a Toyota I don't know, but I also don't intend to experiment with my car either. If I know I can get a high quality synthetic like M1 fluid or Royal Purple that does the job in a manner I KNOW is correct to a DEx III spec all I am saying is why chance it because someone else said it works. I would read the GM tech pub on it, check with Toyota first and only than use it IF Toyota says it is good to go.

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

Dexron VI does indeed say that it is compatible with Dexron II/III. But, there is a some truth to what JohnGD and underthehood51 said when they say that in reality it is not truly 100% compatible.

A quick google revealed an issue with Allison transmissions. There were Allison transmissions that were okay to use Dexron III in, but using Dexron VI eventually caused leaks because it was found to be incompatible with the seal material.

I just emailed Toyota about whether or not they condone the use of Dexron VI in the case of replacing Dexron II.

It's good to know that some of you guys have used Dexron VI reliably without any troubles. I guess it doesn't hurt to hear what Toyota says, though.

 

Good move. I also sent an email to GM Dexron group.

 

One thing I simply don't understand is this: Why go through all this trouble when you know there are really great products out there that do meet the proper Dex III spec for the car i.e. Mobil 1, Royal Purple, and so on? I seriously doubt Toyota will tell you to use it. They will not stick their neck out that far, and I also doubt you'll get any kind of endorsement from GM.
There are great synthetic fluids out there (TRUE synthetics) that do meet the proper spec. Why waste your time?

 

These cars dont need Mobile 1 of RP fluids. Waste of money. The cheapest will do, these cars were engineered to live with abuse. No need to spend 10+$ a quart on fluid when fluids at half the cost are just as good.

Very few fluids out there are dex VI only, and the fluids you point out are multi grade and are also compatible with the dex ii/iii/vi specs aka they are also "dex vi".

Ive personally been running Maxlife, which is a multi grade synthetic, for over 80k miles. The car shifts perfectly and the fluid stays cherry red with 15k drain and fills. All for only 10$ each drain and fill.

 

The fluids I am pointing out are not compatible to VI standards. If they were I would not be able to use them in my other applications which are two applications where GM has warned explicitly to NOT use a VI rated fluid. I checked the very carefully because the last thing I need is a blown trans in my other cars.

 

Hey everyone, I got a response from Toyota while back and thought I'd share them. The Toyota Representative said they cannot recommend Dexron VI because "this fluid type is not documented in any of our technical resources." The representative did recommend Dexron III and Dexron IV in place of Dexron II, though (what is Dexron IV? a typo for some other fluid maybe?)

@underthehood51: the primary reason why I was trying to pursue the use of Dexron VI when there are Dex III replacements is because I've heard that auto transmissions are very picky with they type of fluid they can use. Most Dex III fluids currently on the market are multi-spec. An analogy I had in my head was that a snow tire is better than in cold than an all-season tire. Based on that it just seemed that a fluid that is specifically designed to meet only Dexron III, or designed to replace Dexron III (Dexron VI) is much more optimal.

However, I think it may just go with RP Max, it seems to get pretty good reviews, and I don't mind spending a bit more on maintantence:thumbsup:.

 

There is no such thing as Dexron 4 probably a typo. Dexron 6 is formulated differently it is supposed to thin out less when hot among other things, in theory it should work as good or better in place of DexIII. But in practice it doesn't, the tranny doesn't shift right and generally feels "off".

I've had very positive experiences with Royal Purple I run it in all my cars. On my Lexus it made the most difference, the tranny tends to darken fluid very quickly and doesn't shift as well as the previous generation units. I don't see any darkening of the fluid at all and the occasional odd downshift at 20-30 mph is gone. The stuff is expensive but you can leave it in longer, much longer in fact compared to the cheap stuff.