whats the deal on tranny fluid???

I have an 06 4L60 and it says to use the Dexron Vi or Iv whatever the expensive stuff is.. I have the thing completly drained do I have to use this stuff or is the good ol Castrol Dexron III fine???

Well, I would use just regular grade Dextron IV. I have always used the cheapy O'Reilly's brand ATF Dextron IV. III and IV is similar, but I would stick with the IV...

VI !!!!

See TSB 04-07-30-037D.

General Motors Powertrain has upgraded to DEXRON®-VI ATF with the start of 2006 vehicle production.

Current and prior automatic transmission models that had used DEXRON®-III must now only use DEXRON®-VI.

All 2006 and future model transmissions that use DEXRON®-VI are to be serviced ONLY with DEXRON®-VI fluid.

DEXRON®-VI is an improvement over DEXRON®-III in the following areas:

DEXRON®-VI

Fluid Service Change Interval
160,000 km (100,000 mi) For Cars and Light Duty Trucks*

80,000 km (50,000 mi) (Severe Use) For Cars and Light Duty Trucks*

Clutch Friction Stability
Improved 100%

Clutch Durability Due To Fluid
Improved 120%

Oil Film Thickness
Increased 20%

Fluid Oxidation
Improved 100%

Foam/Aeration
Improved 150%

Shear Stability
Improved 200%


* These ATF change intervals remain the same as DEXRON®-III for the time being.

No crap...they switched to VI for the 2006 model year???

Good to know...

I wasn't sure when it was so I looked up the TSB. There's a lot more good information in that bulletin but I only pasted the info related to this topic.

Thanks, thats why I was curious cause during my reading it said 06, but I know the tranny is basically the same unit.

It's possible the clutch linings and TCC are slightly different in the 06+ as far as materials go.

could you pull PNs for a 2004 and a 2006 for the clutch linings and see if they're the same numbers? For some reason I think they're the same.

Yeah, you're right. They are. Hey, I just follow what the General says....LOL

Maybe just pull the pn for a replacement rebuilt transmission for the two year models and see if its a different unit.

Dayum, you're fast. :laugh:

I'll try it but I bet they are.

Nope they're not. The 2004 half ton shows two numbers (I would need a VIN to know for sure). 89037523 and 24227567.

There are 7 different part number for 2006 half ton 4L60E replacement transmissions....and none are the same as the 2004 numbers.

No damn wonder they're losing money if they have to stock 7 different stock numbers for 1 transmission. :laugh:

Man no kidding. You wanna know the difference in the call-out on those seven? Mostly things like CC, EC, etc....

Stuff doesn't even matter.

HEY HIC, How's that torque converter comin?