Dexron III - Replacement for AWD Transfer Case

[vicnation]

The manual for my 06 Denali XL calls for 1.5 qts of Dexron III to be used in the transfer case. This vehicle is AWD. Since Dexron III isn't available anymore, what fluid type should I use? I read that at one point, GM recommended Dexron VI because it was supposed to be backwards compatible, but soon after they put out a warning that it wasn't good for transfer cases.

Any recommendations?

 

[swathdiver]

The manual for my 06 Denali XL calls for 1.5 qts of Dexron III to be used in the transfer case. This vehicle is AWD. Since Dexron III isn't available anymore, what fluid type should I use? I read that at one point, GM recommended Dexron VI because it was supposed to be backwards compatible, but soon after they put out a warning that it wasn't good for transfer cases.

Any recommendations?

Someone who knows will be along shortly.

@Sam Harris @Fless @915_Tahoe @Tonyrodz @Rocket Man

 

[89Suburban]

Someone who knows will be along shortly.

@Sam Harris @Fless @915_Tahoe @Tonyrodz @Rocket Man

@gooffeyguy

 

[gooffeyguy]

The manual for my 06 Denali XL calls for 1.5 qts of Dexron III to be used in the transfer case. This vehicle is AWD. Since Dexron III isn't available anymore, what fluid type should I use? I read that at one point, GM recommended Dexron VI because it was supposed to be backwards compatible, but soon after they put out a warning that it wasn't good for transfer cases.

Any recommendations?

My 2012 owners manual specifies Dexron VI for the transfer case

 

[Fless]

I read that at one point, GM recommended Dexron VI because it was supposed to be backwards compatible, but soon after they put out a warning that it wasn't good for transfer cases.

I'm wondering where you read that; have a source?

 

[randeez]

i just bought some dex3 off amazon a few weeks ago.... it has about the same consistency as dex6 so not sure its going to work any better

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EGOR40Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Just Fishing]

I'm wondering where you read that; have a source?

I believe i read that its backwards compatible on some gm tech site somewhere...
It might have been on the back of the dex vi bottle...

Doing a quick search, i did some up with this.

Substitutes for Dexron III Transmission Fluid

General Motors (GM) produced the Dexron line of automatic transmission fluids beginning in the 1940s. GM improved upon the original lubricant and upgraded through multiple stages including Dexron II and Dexron III. Dexron III (H) and Dexron III/Saturn are upgrades to Dexron III fluids, and...

itstillruns.com

Pretty much says that it's backwards compatible.
Just not forwards compatible with later versions.

In my fsm that was last updated late 2008.
It mentions it's the replacement for dex 3
But it was at that time not certified as a powersteering fluid replacement.

I understand that later it was certified, and was a reccomended replacment if normal gm ps fluid causes pump noise...

 

[swathdiver]

My 2012 owners manual specifies Dexron VI for the transfer case

View attachment 363230

Is the 2006 AWD transfer case the same used in the GMT900 AWD vehicles, the Borg Warner 4485 (RPO NR3)?

If so, then we can look it up that way to be sure.

 

[Just Fishing]

Is the 2006 AWD transfer case the same used in the GMT900 AWD vehicles, the Borg Warner 4485 (RPO NR3)?

If so, then we can look it up that way to be sure.

Iirc the NBS uses a different design.
Wasn't the older design "auto track" required to use that blue Auto track II fluid?

NNBS got the updated design that was able to use normal ATF.

 

[Fless]

The AWD transfer cases take different fluid than the AUTO (NP8) transfer cases.