Auto transmission.
Race Director
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From: Hudson WI
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Danielsville Georgia
Hate it no dipstick to even look at the fliud or condition.The no dipstick thing bugs the heck out of me.I bought car from the largest Corvette dealer in the U.S. It had just had oil change month before.I also bought a 24/24 Gmpp Major Guard protection plan only reason I bought a 06.Went looking for 07 and 08s because of warranty and such.Car and GMPP plan were a really decent buy so I went with this car.Dealer really wanted to sell a car.
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From: King George VA
By your line of reasoning, use of many major oil companies oil will void the warranty of the 11's which require a Dexos1 oil. I just don't see that happening.
Chevron, Citgo pass on Dexos
ByByBMW - thanks, been on leave this week. We'll see how much time I can spend online next week when I'm back to work.
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C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
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AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Danielsville Georgia
A lot of folks think because a oil dosen't have the API certified stamp logo that it is not qualified for use or dwell on that issue.The API stamp is very exspensive from what I have read and many of the boutique oil company's like Amsoil,Royal Purple and Redline etc.just won't fork over the bucks for it on certain products.It could be argued in a court of law as it does state such in the owners manual I think.More then likely in the OIL section. That API thing is brought up on many forum's over and over. I'm sure there are really cheap products out there that don't have that stamp and can cause damage.But the company's I mention has products superior then the common over the counter stuff.I dealt with many failed components in my day.Some covered by factory warranty,factory service contracts and aftermarket service contracts.Lots sent adjusters out.Some were real butts to deal with.That question was never ever brought up to me.Just proof of maintance as per the owners manual and sometimes not even that.Just the condition of the fliud and the vehicle.
Last edited by Ketchum; Jan 2, 2011 at 01:38 PM.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
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From: Woodlands TX
With only 19K on the car, it's real unlikely to have any problems caused by fluid issues. With no service documentation, my opinion would be to just change the oil/filter and nothing else. Given that GM only recently extended their warranties to 100K doesn't mean that the cars suddenly got a lot better, but that they had faith in what they were producing.
Thousands upon thousands of the cars will never have the A6 fluid changed prior to the factory service suggestions, without failures. By far, many of those may go twice the miles or even never and still survive, if they are not driven abusively.
I personally fully (12.75 qt) changed mine at 71K, due to putting in a high stall converter to improve my times at the drags. I doubt the A6 gets more abuse than racing and also that any particular brand of proper fluid will cause the transmission to fail.
If fear of the unknown is the reason to change the fluid, then you should never buy a used car. If you do change it, do it 3 or more times in the next 1000 miles to get a much higher percentage of that nasty old fluid removed. Consider draining/flushing/changing the power steering, windshield washer, coolant, differential, and brake fluids too.
Thousands upon thousands of the cars will never have the A6 fluid changed prior to the factory service suggestions, without failures. By far, many of those may go twice the miles or even never and still survive, if they are not driven abusively.
I personally fully (12.75 qt) changed mine at 71K, due to putting in a high stall converter to improve my times at the drags. I doubt the A6 gets more abuse than racing and also that any particular brand of proper fluid will cause the transmission to fail.
If fear of the unknown is the reason to change the fluid, then you should never buy a used car. If you do change it, do it 3 or more times in the next 1000 miles to get a much higher percentage of that nasty old fluid removed. Consider draining/flushing/changing the power steering, windshield washer, coolant, differential, and brake fluids too.
Last edited by Gering; Jan 2, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Usually what I do on low mileage vehicles going to Amsoil I do the exchange.Anything in the filter or pan stays there as the exchange is using the vehicles own power to exchange the fliud,There is no back flush or even a flush.Its done by the vehicles own trans pumping.Then in about 3k to 5k I do a pan drop and filter using more Amsoil ATF.In fact I have done it this way in the past not even using Amsoil fliud.If high mileage I do the whole thing at same time.You waste several qts of fliud as you do pan/filter top off using up to 6 qts of atf and then hook up exchange machine with another 17 qts of fliud.
And if I do buy used I just assume the worst (a little paranoid I know LOL) going into it and take it from there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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I'd like to know where in the owner's manual that is states you must use a that is licensed by GM. All my GM owner's manuals state you must use a fluid meeting the spec (for whatever the applicable fluid).
By your line of reasoning, use of many major oil companies oil will void the warranty of the 11's which require a Dexos1 oil. I just don't see that happening.
Chevron, Citgo pass on Dexos
By your line of reasoning, use of many major oil companies oil will void the warranty of the 11's which require a Dexos1 oil. I just don't see that happening.
Chevron, Citgo pass on Dexos
I have a contact that got me a copy of the GM4718M spec and hopefully will have the dexos1™ and Dexron®VI specs before long.
While you ponder those questions, here's the answer to your question from the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/...ner_Manual.pdf
Page 11-6 says:
"The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos specification. Oils
meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade."
It doesn't say it has to meet the spec, it says its required to be approved to the spec as in it has to be on GM's list of licensed oils. This applies to all 2011 GM vehicles.
Same thing for the 6L80 transmission...page 11-7 says:
"DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid."
If you have an engine failure, what if GM asks what oil was used? Are you going to tell them you used an unapproved oil and risk a warranty denial? As much as you "just don't see that happening", let me know how that works for you. Of course you could always lie, who'll know the difference right? In the meantime, keep on telling your customers to void their 5 year/100k mile warranty.
Last edited by glass slipper; Jan 3, 2011 at 12:59 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Bristol raceway area
Do you know what's in the dexos1™ specification and why it came about? Do you know what's in the GM4718M specification and why it came about? How about the Dexron® VI spec and why it came about?
I have a contact that got me a copy of the GM4718M spec and hopefully will have the dexos1™ and Dexron®VI specs before long.
While you ponder those questions, here's the answer to your question from the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/...ner_Manual.pdf
Page 11-6 says:
"The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos specification. Oils
meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade."
It doesn't say it has to meet the spec, it says its required to be approved to the spec as in it has to be on GM's list of licensed oils. This applies to all 2011 GM vehicles.
Same thing for the 6L80 transmission...page 11-7 says:
"DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid."
If you have an engine failure, what if GM asks what oil was used? Are you going to tell them you used an unapproved oil and risk a warranty denial? As much as you "just don't see that happening", let me know how that works for you. Of course you could always lie, who'll know the difference right? In the meantime, keep on telling your customers to void their 5 year/100k mile warranty.
I have a contact that got me a copy of the GM4718M spec and hopefully will have the dexos1™ and Dexron®VI specs before long.
While you ponder those questions, here's the answer to your question from the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/...ner_Manual.pdf
Page 11-6 says:
"The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos specification. Oils
meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade."
It doesn't say it has to meet the spec, it says its required to be approved to the spec as in it has to be on GM's list of licensed oils. This applies to all 2011 GM vehicles.
Same thing for the 6L80 transmission...page 11-7 says:
"DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid."
If you have an engine failure, what if GM asks what oil was used? Are you going to tell them you used an unapproved oil and risk a warranty denial? As much as you "just don't see that happening", let me know how that works for you. Of course you could always lie, who'll know the difference right? In the meantime, keep on telling your customers to void their 5 year/100k mile warranty.
I use only the fluids required and licensed. Try to out-think the engineers? Not me.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Danielsville Georgia
Amsoil addresses both fliuds on their web site.They state that their oil and auto trans fliud meets and exceeds all GM specs. Any time I brought up Amsoil to a factory rep or a mechanical adjuster they always had a comment like 'OH thats real top of the line fliuds." I remember several stating they used Amsoil gear oils.
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Obviously, the OEM fluids that are used also meet or exceed their own specs.
Having testing done and creating specification levels by a responsible independent source, such as SAE or ATSM, is the only way the consumer can be assured of the performance. However, what may be the highest performing fluid for one vehicle and the conditions in which it's operated, may well be just the opposite for a different vehicle/conditions.
I can only assume that the OEM fluids have been through more testing for my vehicle than any other fluids and therefore fit the OEM standards they publish. I tend to modify slightly toward the generally accepted fluids that the racing community uses, due to the racing I do. People whose identical cars have never seen 4000 RPM shouldn't bother making any change from OEM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Danielsville Georgia
The only issue I have with OEM is that the auto manufacture can and does change suppliers with out any notification to the purchaser.The OE fliuds I have never seen any wording that says exceeds OE specs.Sometimes but I will say not always you get what you pay for.I have a little more confidence in Amsoil(and a few others) that their products are on the higher end then the ones supplying to OE.
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From: King George VA
Glass Slipper - thanks for the quote of the 2011 owner's manual. The addition of the word "approved" is new (at least for all my other GM owner's manual's (02, 03, 07, 08).
You state the same for the tranny fluid, but don't quote anything other than the fluid. Does the same wording (e.g. approved) appear anywhere other than the oil section in the 2011 owner's manual?
Despite the above, I still feel 100% comfortable recommending any fluid that AMSOIL recommends for a given car (and they do recommend the ATL for the OP of this thread) given that AMSOIL's warranty cover's their recommendations:
AMSOIL Corporate Warranty
But - I totally understand those that are uncomfortable going against the owner's manual recommendation. To each his own.
You state the same for the tranny fluid, but don't quote anything other than the fluid. Does the same wording (e.g. approved) appear anywhere other than the oil section in the 2011 owner's manual?
Despite the above, I still feel 100% comfortable recommending any fluid that AMSOIL recommends for a given car (and they do recommend the ATL for the OP of this thread) given that AMSOIL's warranty cover's their recommendations:
AMSOIL Corporate Warranty
But - I totally understand those that are uncomfortable going against the owner's manual recommendation. To each his own.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,328
Likes: 405
Glass Slipper - thanks for the quote of the 2011 owner's manual. The addition of the word "approved" is new (at least for all my other GM owner's manual's (02, 03, 07, 08).
You state the same for the tranny fluid, but don't quote anything other than the fluid. Does the same wording (e.g. approved) appear anywhere other than the oil section in the 2011 owner's manual?
Despite the above, I still feel 100% comfortable recommending any fluid that AMSOIL recommends for a given car (and they do recommend the ATL for the OP of this thread) given that AMSOIL's warranty cover's their recommendations:
AMSOIL Corporate Warranty
But - I totally understand those that are uncomfortable going against the owner's manual recommendation. To each his own.
You state the same for the tranny fluid, but don't quote anything other than the fluid. Does the same wording (e.g. approved) appear anywhere other than the oil section in the 2011 owner's manual?
Despite the above, I still feel 100% comfortable recommending any fluid that AMSOIL recommends for a given car (and they do recommend the ATL for the OP of this thread) given that AMSOIL's warranty cover's their recommendations:
AMSOIL Corporate Warranty
But - I totally understand those that are uncomfortable going against the owner's manual recommendation. To each his own.
Last edited by glass slipper; Jan 4, 2011 at 10:02 PM.
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From: King George VA
Good luck to both you and them out there. I spent a day on a DDG51 out of Pearl several years ago. Very neat, fast ships. Much prefer looking at them out of the periscope to actually being on one though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Central Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA