Transmission Fluid
Thread Starter
Lifetime Vette Lover
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 849
Likes: 17
From: Murrells Inlet, SC
Transmission Fluid
OK... I hear rumors about new fluids available that make a big difference. Question: What fluid do you have and what difference did it make... also, does it void warranty? Thanks in advance!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 1
From: Life ain't no dress rehearsal, are you gonna wait to get your toys til AFTER you have a heart attack?
I believe that GM specifies Dexron III as the transmission fluid (I request someone correct me if that is not true). Any transmission fluid that meets or exceeds the properties of Dexron III can be used, regardless of manufacturer and regardless of whether it is natural or synthetic. I suggest you read the following;
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=8124
As for me, I use Amsoil products in all of the vehicles and equipment having internal combustion engines that I own. There is a link on the left side of the Forum Thread list under lubricants. I am not a dealer of Amsoil and have no financial ties to the company.
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=8124
As for me, I use Amsoil products in all of the vehicles and equipment having internal combustion engines that I own. There is a link on the left side of the Forum Thread list under lubricants. I am not a dealer of Amsoil and have no financial ties to the company.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 1
From: CA
Originally Posted by CorvetteRL
OK... I hear rumors about new fluids available that make a big difference. Question: What fluid do you have and what difference did it make... also, does it void warranty? Thanks in advance!
Redline D4ATF
Mobil-1 ATF
Royal Purple Synchromax
Royal Purple ATF
Amsoil ATF
Redline MTL
The ATFs all probably meet your warranty requirements. MTL and Synchromax are questionable, but some people think they work better. I use D4ATF during the winter and switch to MTL in the summer. A friend with a C5 swears Synchromax is huge improvement, and eliminates "notchiness".
If you search various forums you'll find some threads that say synthetics are much better, one that says Tremec says not to use synthetic, and threads that tout one of these over the other. I find shift quality is affected by the lubricant, and D4ATF seems to do better in cold weather than any of the alternatives. My overall favorite is MTL; I don't care about the warranty risk so I use it in warm weather. I found no difference over the stock fluid with Mobil-1 ATF; I've never tried Amsoil.
I'm always amazed by the amount of metal in transmission and differential fluids after only 5K miles, so I drain them at least every other year. About 10K miles, for me. Cheap insurance. If you only keep your cars for less than 50K miles you're really doing it for the next owner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by Irv
I'm always amazed by the amount of metal in transmission and differential fluids after only 5K miles, so I drain them at least every other year. About 10K miles, for me. Cheap insurance. If you only keep your cars for less than 50K miles you're really doing it for the next owner.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Originally Posted by xs650
Does the C6 MN6 have a drain plug, or do you have to suck it out?
What all it entails, tools, fluids and qty's.
Thanks
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 1
From: CA
Originally Posted by xs650
Does the C6 MN6 have a drain plug, or do you have to suck it out?
Be forewarned when you change transmission fluid... you need to warm up the transmission first by driving it. Five miles seems to work for the C5/C6. Then when you drain it always remove the fill plug FIRST (this ensures you won't drain the fluid without being able to refill it), and the warmed transmission fluid will come out like water - it splashes everywhere. Just fair warning.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
Originally Posted by CorvetteRL
OK... I hear rumors about new fluids available that make a big difference. Question: What fluid do you have and what difference did it make... also, does it void warranty? Thanks in advance!
I use AMSOIL ATF in my Z06 which sees exclusive track use.
Most of my customers that switch from the stock fluid to AMSOIL ATF report improved shift feel. Here is a recent quote from an email a new customer of mine sent this month:
"Thanks for helping me out with all the Amsoil questions, I appreciate it. I changed all my fluids and everything went smoothly without a problem. I do find the car does run better. But, I think the biggest difference I felt was after I changed the differential and transmission fluids. The shifts are so much smoother. The car wants to be driven hard."
TD, Loves Park IL
Corvette C5 Z06
2/5/06
That said, I've read the same thing from most guys that switch from the stock fluid to any decent synthetic such as AMSOIL, Redline, etc.
__________________
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
A couple of things to look for on the container of your transmission oil (if you want to be able to take advantage of your warranty some day.)
Straight from the 2006 owners manual:
DEXRON®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid. Look for
“Approved for the H-Specification”
on the label.
Straight from the 2006 owners manual:
DEXRON®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid. Look for
“Approved for the H-Specification”
on the label.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 1
From: Life ain't no dress rehearsal, are you gonna wait to get your toys til AFTER you have a heart attack?
Remember, if the Vette automatic transmission is like many other automatic transmissions there is a filter the requires you drop the transmission pan to change. Also, if the torque converter in the Vette is like other torque converters, it retains a major amount of transmission fluid that will not drain by itself. There are transmission shops that offer a power purge that forces this retained (and contaminated) fluid out of the torque converter and replaces it with clean fluid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by PappyTinker
Remember, if the Vette automatic transmission is like many other automatic transmissions there is a filter the requires you drop the transmission pan to change. Also, if the torque converter in the Vette is like other torque converters, it retains a major amount of transmission fluid that will not drain by itself. There are transmission shops that offer a power purge that forces this retained (and contaminated) fluid out of the torque converter and replaces it with clean fluid.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 1
From: CA
Originally Posted by SteveM10
Is it a matter of just draining out the old and putting in the new or do you have to flush the system out before putting something different in?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 1
From: CA
Originally Posted by xs650
It's not obvious from reading the thread, but I believe we are discussing manual transmissions.
Last edited by Irv; Feb 24, 2006 at 05:42 PM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Parrish Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Irv
There is no flush required, just drain and refill. It is my experience, however, that the best shift feel benefits are indeed felt after the second synthetic drain and fill, implying that a flushing of sorts is beneficial. Nonetheless, I know of no other manual transmission flush chemical other than the transmission fluid itself suitable for this use. I'd order four quarts per fill, though I never completely use all four. You'll need a pump to get the fluid into the transmission. Also, make sure the car is about level, front-to-back and side-to-side when performing the drain and fill.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by SteveM10
Thanks
The hotter it is, the faster the oil will drain out and the more debris it will take with it. It's better to drain the oil right after a long high speed run.
If you also lift the rear of the car so the wheels are off the ground and run it for minute or so to stir the oil up right before you drain it, you will drain even more debris out. I don't expect that stirring the oil will make an earthshaking improvement, but it's a definite move in the right direction.