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[Shackeng]

I have a litre of Dexron V1 on the shelf for some reason. Did I buy this for Power steering? If so is it correct?

[78bex]

  maybe.  I use dexron 2 in mine.
 I read somewhere on here Dexron 3 attacks the seals.

[baggers]

Dexron 3 is backward compatable, so to is Dexron VI but upgrading to this in your autobox may give unwelcome gearbox performance if not done correctly.

"I read somewhere on here Dexron 3 attacks the seals."
---More damage would come from not changing your oil.

[Shackeng]

Dexron 3 is backward compatable, so to is Dexron VI but upgrading to this in your autobox may give unwelcome gearbox performance if not done correctly.

"I read somewhere on here Dexron 3 attacks the seals."
---More damage would come from not changing your oil.

I would like to know if it is suitable for the power steering. I use Dex.111 for my autoboxes.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'm sure I used Dex 2 when I topped mine up. It is said that Dex 3 will seep past seals. I know now that the PAS fluid was only over topped up by previous owner with 'whatever was at hand/free/cheap' but never changed under his ownership. So about 11 years minimum (7 years SORN, immobile) on a blend of various oils, possibly the original from the factory!  Ohh dear!

Not saying either the seal story or old fluid thing are myths, definitely (given the cost) worth getting the 'old' Dex 2, which your Vx dealer probably won't be able to supply, but every cheap n cheerful motorfactor / ECP etc will still stock. 

[biggriffin]

Power steering dex 1or 2.
 dex 3 is fine in gearbox, rubber pipes on power steering don't like dex 3, ends up leaking out.

[Shackeng]

Just rang stealers, sound chap I know well. He says Dex V1 is backward compatible with Dex11 for Omega power steering.

[Entwood]

From TIS 2000 - Field remedy 1570

Models : Vivaro 2001...,Movano 1999...,Omega-B 1994...,Frontera-B 1999... All


"TIS 2000 indicates that the power steering oil specification for Vivaro is
Dexron III. This is now incorrect.
The original fluid was Dexron III  (PN 90 510 269, Cat-No. 19 40 763) which
was used to service certain power steering and automatic transmission fluids
(ATF).
This oil is no longer available so a new version of oil Dexron III has been
specified for the affected ATF (PN 93 160 372, Cat-No. 19 40 712) however
this oil is not compatible with power steering systems and should not be
used for this function because this may result in leakages.
To service the power steering system the oil now specified has reverted back
to Dexron II (PN 90 350 342, Cat-No. 19 40 700).
This should prevent any confusion when trying to select the correct oil for
the correct application.
NOTE: This information is valid for all models except Sintra (partnumber
90 513 486, Cat: 19 40 707) and Astra-G/Zafira/Vectra-C/Signum (partnumber
93 160 458, Cat: 19 40 715)."

HTH 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

This was exactly the same response I had from mine. I think it was Mark DTM who said the long-term abilities fo the new Dex VI are not yet known. (apologies if you didn't say this Mark/mis-quoting you)  Not saying Dex VI is bad, or por quality or wrong, just that the pump was never designed for it, and so we have yet to see how 10 years of using Dev VI affects the PAS system  But we do know 10-20 years of Dex 2 in Omegas works fine.

the 'quality' of Dex2/3/VI whatever isn't so much as issue as it is with say, a wheel bearing. Think of it more like antifreeze. So long as you have antifreeze, the name on the bottle isn't massively crucial. What I'm saying is, if you buy the cheapest bottle of Dex 2 you can find, you're not using 'inferior' quality gear in your car. And more damage can be done using genuine GM Dex 3, then noname Dex 2 


I went for Dex2 from ECP and had 6 months no issues

[Diamond Black Geezer]

And to answer Entwoods post - thanks for that. Begs the question how on earth are Dealers meant to service owner's Vivaros/all other models if Vx have effectively axed Dex2?? Unless they have gallons of the stuff in warehouses they're just not selling it? I got the impression they 'recommend' the DexVI because there's no Dex2 left?

Hmmm.....

Sounds to me like Dex2 is a 'good old faithful' oil, which causes no maladies, whereas the newer stuff seems to be.


Also I'm glad I didn't just take the dealer's word for it, and buy the DexVI!! As a general rule - never trust the dealers!!! 

[STEMO]

Just buy a cheapish, mass produced car like my Astra. You can put cat piss in that without detriment.

[Shackeng]

Hmmm, makes me wonder, as I can't think why I have the Dex V1 on the shelf, other than that VX sold it to me when I had to top up my system two years ago when I changed a damaged power steering pipe. If so that begs the question, did the fact that I topped up with (according to TIS) the incorrect fluid, ie Dex V1 instead of Dex 11, cause my pump to fail???

[Kevin Wood]

That must be quite an old vintage of oil by now, Shackeng!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON

Poor old sperm whales.

As you can see, development of the standards has been an evolution of fluids with basically the same properties, so I wouldn't have thought the choice would be that critical, especially in a PAS system where it's not subject to the contamination nor extremes of temperature found in an autobox.

I read the compatibility issue with DEX III in PAS systems to be mainly down to a single version of DEX III adopted by GM dealers, so an aftermarket DEX III might even be OK.

Certain products might be hydroscopic, so if it's been on the shelf for too long, it might be best to give it a miss if the bottle has been opened, as a PAS system is not likely to get hot enough to drive off any absorbed moisture.

[Shackeng]

That must be quite an old vintage of oil by now, Shackeng!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON

Poor old sperm whales.

As you can see, development of the standards has been an evolution of fluids with basically the same properties, so I wouldn't have thought the choice would be that critical, especially in a PAS system where it's not subject to the contamination nor extremes of temperature found in an autobox.

I read the compatibility issue with DEX III in PAS systems to be mainly down to a single version of DEX III adopted by GM dealers, so an aftermarket DEX III might even be OK.

Certain products might be hydroscopic, so if it's been on the shelf for too long, it might be best to give it a miss if the bottle has been opened, as a PAS system is not likely to get hot enough to drive off any absorbed moisture.

Mine is Dex 6 Kevin, which was apparently developed by GM & Petro-Canada for auto transmissions on vehicles 2006 and later! I'm not sure as to it's hygroscopic qualities, but as you imply, possibly on a par with brake fluid.

[Kevin Wood]

Ahh, OK. I misread it as DEX I.

I would say you'd be fine with DEX VI, as they have most probably sorted out the compatibility issue since DEX III. As said, though, the only fluid that has been proven over many years of use in that system is DEX II. You pays your money...