

The license number had to be displayed on the fluid container. Fluids that met the GM qualification requirements were issued an Armour Qualification (AQ) license number of AQ-ATF-xxx. GM partnered with the Armour Research Foundation for fluid and qualification testing. The GM ATF Committee released a new Type "A" fluid specification. The GM ATF committee established fluid specifications and a qualification procedure to eliminate the unsatisfactory fluids and at the same time provide the car owner with a means of identifying qualified fluids. In 1949, General Motors (GM) established an Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Committee (GM ATF Committee). Engine oil was only approved as a temporary fill fluid and led to transmission problems.ġ949 Texaco Texamatic Type "A" Fluid. 20 engine oil was being used in its place at filling stations and repair garages. The Hydra-Matic drive fluid was only available at GM dealerships.

This fluid had cold weather performance problems which led to the need for an improved fluid the Type "A" fluid in 1949. This was the world's first automatic transmission fluid designed for the world's first mass-produced automatic transmission. This fluid was composed of a Group 1 base oil and additives to reduce oxidation, foaming, rust, corrosion, varnish, and sludge build-up. By using the term "Fluid" rather than "Oil" they hoped to discourage the previously accepted practice of using S.A.E 20 engine oil. The Hydra-Matic Drive used a specialized lubricant called GM Transmission Fluid No.

Released in 1939, the 1940–1949 GM Hydra-Matic Drive was used by the Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Pontiac divisions.
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The driver could change ranges with a flick of a finger.ġ939 – Hydra-Matic Drive "Fluid" In High range, the transmission would start in 1st gear, jump to 3rd, then shift to 4th gear. In low range, the transmission would shift from 1st to 2nd gear and then hold in 2nd. The AST had two driving ranges (Low and High). The clutch was only necessary when starting or stopping the car. The transmission was called the Automatic Safety Transmission (AST) because the clutch operation was reduced to one-third of that required by a conventional transmission. The Automatic Safety Transmission was a 4-speed transmission providing full-power shifting without the need for a conventional clutch. The Automatic Safety Transmission used the same seasonal grade of motor oil as the engine for lubrication and hydraulic functions. It was only used during the 19 model years. The Automatic Safety Transmission was first offered as an extra cost option by the Oldsmobile Division of GM in the fall of 1937 for their Six and Eight models. See the details below for backward compatibility of each fluid.īefore Dexron: 1937–1967 1937 – Motor Oil ġ940 GM Hydra-Matic automatic transmission fluid There remains a market for older fluids that claim to meet the earlier fluid specifications. Newer 6, 8, 9, and 10-speed transmissions as well as Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and Electric Vehicle (EV) transmission technologies require specialized fluids to operate properly. The newer fluids are not always backward compatible with previous fluids. GM has upgraded the Dexron specifications over time. Over the years, the original Dexron (B) was supplanted by Dexron-II(C), Dexron-II(D), Dexron-II(E), Dexron-III(F), Dexron-III(G), Dexron-III(H), Dexron-VI(J), Dexron HP, Dexron LV ATF HP, and Dexron ULV which is the latest fluid. The original Dexron (B) transmission fluid was introduced on April 1, 1967. 1.2.13 2018 – Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP "Blue Label".
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1.2.12 2016 – DEXRON III(K) for Manual Transmissions.1.2.11 2016 – Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP "Black Label".1 GM Automatic Transmission Fluids (ATF).Originally the 'Dexron' name was associated exclusively with automatic transmission fluids, later GM released Dexron gear oils and other lubricants under the Dexron brand. Many of these automatic transmissions use unique fluids that might not be shown on this page.

These transmissions are not manufactured by GM. Like many automobile manufacturers, GM uses transmissions sourced from other suppliers or transmission manufacturers around the world. If no license number or "Dexron Approved" logo is found on the container, the fluid may not be GM approved and the fluid cannot be guaranteed to meet GM specifications. All licensed Dexron fluids must have a license number that begins with the letters B through J. Not all Dexron fluids are licensed for reselling under another brand name. The name is a registered trademark (later becoming a brand) of GM, which licenses the name and specifications to companies which manufacture the fluid and sell it under their own brand names. Dexron is the trade name for a group of technical specifications of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) created by General Motors (GM).
