2nd Gen: Two alternatives to Toyota SLLC

[Caretaker]

Two months ago I told my mechanic that I thought my water pump was going bad. He checked it out and found out that the water pump's spindle was grinding and failing. As he needed to put a new pump in, I reminded him that I have Toyota Super Long Life Pink coolant in my radiator and that it is written on the top of my overflow jug (written by me in black marker). He assured me that his Xerex Gold was compatible with my car. I took his word and asked where I could find a jug in case it got low over time in my overflow jug. Today, having time, I decided to find this fluid once and for all. Online, I read that the Xerex Gold is a low silicate fluid. That set off alarm bells. The Toyota pink has no silicate, no borate, nitrate nor amine. I called my mechanic and had him get the Xerex Asian, which fits the bill, as does another fluid called GC pink SLLC. So the Xerex Gold was in for 1,800 miles and I'm hoping it did no damage. After flushing it out today, I'm all pink again. My mechanic looked at his online parts program only to see that the GM errors on Dexcool and Type IV tranny fluid have not been corrected. I wonder how many people have had the wrong transmission and radiator fluid put in either by a GM dealer or a mechanic relying on bad information polluted by our inaccurate owner's manual.

[tpollauf]

Excellent advise and thanks for posting this. Unfortunately, this is just ONE of several errors that our manuals (Owners and/or Service) have in print an have not been corrected and/or not been discovered yet! It takes time to research and find these errors and very few of us have it. This is where these automotive forums really pay off. Again, great advise and thanks for sharing it

[ctgottapee]

GM issued a service bulletin back in 2008..

INFORMATION
Bulletin No.: 08-07-30-037A
Date: September 15, 2008
Subject:
Use of Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF-WS) for 2009 Pontiac Vibe
Models:
2009 Pontiac Vibe
with Automatic Transmission (RPO MVA, MVB, MVD)
Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to advise that the ATF-WS automatic transmission fluid is not compatible with the 2003-2008 Vibe. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 08-07-30-037 (Section 07 - Transmission).
This bulletin is being released to inform dealer technicians and parts managers that there is a change in the automatic transmission fluid for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe.
Beginning with 2009 model year, the Pontiac Vibe has a new generation automatic transmission that requires ATF-WS automatic transmission fluid.
Some 2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Manuals may state "Use only T-IV Automatic Transmission Fluid" in Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants. T-IV automatic transmission fluid should NOT be used in the 2009 Vibe transmissions.
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual in SI (Document ID 1911026) contains the correct fluid recommendation.
Recommended fluid for the 2009 transmissions is ATF-WS, P/N 88863400 (in Canada, P/N 88863401).
Important: Do not use T-IV automatic transmission fluid for 2009 and newer model years.
The T-IV automatic transmission fluid can be used in 2003-2008 model year Pontiac Vibes. The ATF-WS automatic transmission fluid IS NOT COMPATIBLE with the 2003-2008 Vibe. ATF-WS automatic transmission fluid should NOT be used as a replacement fluid in 2003-2008 Vibes OR mixed with the type T-IV fluid in 2003-2009 Vibe transmissions.

[Caretaker]

ct: good post; thanks. I do hope that the end of your post is a mistype by you and not part of the GM bulletin. It should be 2008, not 2009. T-IV fluid was never inserted at NUMMI in the 2009-2010 Vibe.

[ctgottapee]

ct: good post; thanks. I do hope that the end of your post is a mistype by you and not part of the GM bulletin. It should be 2008, not 2009. T-IV fluid was never inserted at NUMMI in the 2009-2010 Vibe.

Actually an typo in the bulletin. Errors seem to be common, even when correcting other errors. This TSB replaced a prior incorrect one


There is another TSB about flushing the transmission cooler and piping (not the transmission), and the flushing machine uses T-IV (no detergent) and GM says it's ok for the vibe, but that little to none of the T-IV remains in the lines after and what little does, doesn't create a problem.


I haven't yet been able to find the total fill capacity of the Transmission system. Was wondering as I'm going to do a full replacement by opening up the transmission cooler return line, after dropping the pan and replacing the oil in there and continually filling it as it flushes. The stuff aint cheap so I'd prefer to have an idea.
The last car I did the same procedure on used about 2 1/2 times what was in the pan, before the fluid starting coming out fresh.