I am adding a TCC lock up switch in my 1984 Camaro with 700r4 tranny. I bought a filter kit and drain plug kit along with my TCC lock up components from TCI automotive. I am going to pull the pan tonight and let is drain so I can change my 4th gear pressure switch and 2 wire solenoid. Once I bolt it all back up how many quarts of tranny fluid am I going to need? Napa says 11 quarts of Dex VI at $8.99 a quart.
Is this tranny really going to use 11 quarts after dropping the tranny pan? I am assuming 11 quarts fills the torque converter as well? Also is Dex VI compatible with what might be in my tranny now?

 

The DEX VI fluid supersedes all previous GM trans fluids. It has better lubrication properties. A pan drop will use somewhere between 4-6 quarts. Dump 4 in, start the car and let it idle for a minute. then check and add if needed.

 

You can get Dex 3 for half the price...

 

thanks

 

Dexron-Mercon is cheap, available, and will work just fine.

Jumping to VI won't gain you anything.

 

sounds great

 

I pulled my 700r4 from my 89 Iroc last month had to put a new trans pump gaskets on...I did as wlink posted and put 4 quarts in trans let trans warm and then checked fluid and add as needed...

 

Dex-Merc (Dexron-III/ Dexron-Mercon) is actually a great ATF, that can and should be still used today.
Semi, and Full Synthetic Formulations are widely available for improved and/ or extended service.

The Main reason why GM released Dexron-VI is because GM started using ZF Automatic-Transmissions (6-Speed: 6L Family).
The ATF was produced to comply with the needs/ requirements of the ZF design Transmissions.

If any of you are not familiar... both GM and Ford (Examples: GM 6L80E, and Ford 6R80) entered into agreements with ZF to use the 6HP Transmission Family Units and Designs.
Ford essentially uses an identical ZF 6HP26 Transmission in their Vehicles but with a Bell-Housing that Mounts to Ford Engines.
GM on the other hand... Changed a significant amount of the 6HP26 Transmission (actually making it worse).

Dexron VI in GM Transmissions that pre-date the Fluid...
Behave for the most part the same as when using Dexron-III.

The Friction-Modifiers make for one of the three only noticeable differences.
When switching to Dexron-VI; I find that there are slightly firmer Shifts for a given Separator-Plate Orifice.
So I would step down Orificing sizes, one step in most Builds with Dexron-VI vs Dexron-III.

Otherwise I regularly see a small improvement in Fluid Temperature...
However the results are within the margin of errors for the Data.
Lastly I see the Fluid darken sooner than Dexron-III, but with no ill-effects.