I just purchased a small travel trailer and I am prepping my 2004 Venture van for towing. The owners manual specified Dexron III for the automatic tranny but when I checked I found out that it was superseded by Dexron VI and that is what GM dealers use anytime they do fluid changes. I picked up the trailer yesterday and had to pull it 30 miles or so in traffic and on the highway. The temperature gauge started to rise so to keep it in check I had to turn off the A/C and even run the heater at stop lights. Today I changed the fluid and filter and replaced it with the Dexron VI. I took it out on the road and drove it in traffic and on the highway with the A/C on the whole time and the temperature gauge hardly moved. I still plan on installing the Hayden tranny cooler that I bought though for further insurance. The Dexron VI is backward compatible for all older transmissions so it would probably be good to use in the Fieros that have automatics.

"The Dexron VI is backward compatible for all older transmissions so it would probably be good to use in the Fieros that have automatics."

Although Dexron VI maybe backwards compatible in some transmissions like those installed in the Fiero, it is not backwards compatible in all transmissions. The service spec for the Allison transmission in my motorhome specify Dexron III and states the new Dexron transmission fluids are not compatible. Allison has their own specification (TES 295) for synthetic ATF for their transmissions. Just read the specs before changing the fluids.

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quote Originally posted by ILVMYGT: "The Dexron VI is backward compatible for all older transmissions so it would probably be good to use in the Fieros that have automatics." Although Dexron VI maybe backwards compatible in some transmissions like those installed in the Fiero, it is not backwards compatible in all transmissions. The service spec for the Allison transmission in my motorhome specify Dexron III and states the new Dexron transmission fluids are not compatible. Allison has their own specification (TES 295) for synthetic ATF for their transmissions. Just read the specs before changing the fluids.

Yes, The statement from GM covers GM transmissions and some others. You have to check others.
Mobil 1, Valvoline and others No longer make DEXRON III only ATF. If you want/need DEXRON®-III or a MERCON®, they have "multi-brand" ATF like Mobil ATF™ D/M

quote Mobil ATF D/M is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring: GM DEXRON® IIIH transmission fluid Ford MERCON® transmission fluid Allison C-4 transmission fluid

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