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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Further to my squeaky engine thread... last we heard (I think the last lengthy Dexron II vs VI thread was last year) Dexron VI is 'unproven' in the Omega, just walk into whatever ECP / local motorfactors and get Dex2. However I ordered some Dexron 2 from Vauxhall, as it came out as cheap as the last stuff I bought on hollibobs last year, just under a tenner for a litre.

Poor Miss DBG drives out, picks up my order, off to do a full day of nursing, running about, errands, to notice it's Dexron 6   no complaints if they'd said "ahh, sir, it's actually Dexron 6, which we say is direct replacement for Dex 2, is that ok?", but they didn't. They said they has Dexron 2 on the shelf, he even checked!

Just chuck it in, mixing the Dex2 that's already in there, or say "no, Dex 2 is what I want", faff taking it back, then drive to one/two/three motorfactors until I find one that does it etc.. we've all been there.

Wondered if anyone has used Dex VI with fair results?

[Nick W]

In an automatic gearbox, I'd want reassurance from an oil expert that it would work OK.
But in a PAS system? Just pour it in and move on to something important.

And the parts man did 'check - D6 is supposed to be backwards compatible, and so he did have it on the shelf.

[Kevin Wood]

There was a problem with the later DEX products in the PAS system that lead to GM to specify ONLY DEX2.  Most dealers fail to understand this, and claim that they are all backward compatible.

I would suspect this was probably an incompatibility with something in whatever DEX 3 GM were using at the time, and I doubt that all later DEX fluids would cause a problem, but I don't know for sure.

With Omegas in the stage of their life that they are, it probably matters little.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Thanks so far 

Just out of interest, what does Mr Nick and Mr Wood use in your PAS systems? 

[TheBoy]

I specifically use DII in mine, based on the TIS bulletin about not using DIII due to incompatibilities with the seals (clearly found out in life).

As KW says, more likely an issue with the specific DIII GM were buying in at the time, but as DII is readily available, cheap, and a 1l bottle lasts until your garage blows up forever, it wasn't worth messing with anything else.

[Nick W]

Thanks so far 

Just out of interest, what does Mr Nick and Mr Wood use in your PAS systems? 

As I'm sure you know, I don't give a toss about the brand of oil, so I've a 5l container of whatever D3 was in the drum at work about 3 years ago. It's in my gearbox, PAS, my lathe's gearboxes and I use it on the ways.

[frostbite]

I wouldnt mix any really apart from D2 and 3. I have a litre of dex3 in the boot just incase.

There were loads of spanner monkeys that thought they knew better than volvo, who use CHF as PAS fluid which is green. problem with putting dexron into the system was swollen seals that caused leaking racks, bulging resevoirs that caused the copper suction pipe to fall out and soft pipes as well as a right racket on full lock.

You were also left with a rust looking fluid that you couldnt make heads or tails with trying to match it

[Diamond Black Geezer]

D VI returned to Vx and a litre of D II from ECP bought for half the price. Exactly the same as what's currently in her.


Nice to know you use D III in everything, though, Nick. Thanks all!

[biggriffin]

I use shell donax,  it's a dex2/3 for use in heavy commercial applications.
Never had any problems, in over 15years of using it, also the fully synthetic (spirex) just as good,but we don't use it any more due to cost.