Recommended Trans Fluid - 04 Vue Manual with Failing Synchros

[MotoSki74]

Hello,

I've got a 2004 Vue, 2.2 liter, 5-speed manual with 181K. When I bought the car 5 years (and 55k miles) ago, I noticed there was a little resistance shifting into lower gears. But it didn't get worse for several years.

Last summer the clutch slave cylinder failed. I drained and removed the transmission, and replaced the clutch disks and both the master and slave cylinders. When I refilled the transmission I used Valvoline DEX6. Shifting seemed slightly improved after that. A couple weeks later, after reading many posts warning not to use DEX6 in a manual, I drained it and filled with DEX3. I immediately noticed the shifting got harder. A few months later I needed to replace an axel which was required draining the fluid again. This time I used Royal Purple Synchromax. Unfortunately I didn't notice any improvement, and over the last couple months shifting has become very difficult, as though my synchros are failing.

So my questions are these:

1. Would the Dex6 actually have caused damage if I left it in?
2. Could the Royal Purple have actually made things worse over the last several months I've been running it?
3. What would be your fluid recommendations for this transmission?

Thanks in advance!

[JefferyC]

Originally Posted by MotoSki74

Hello,

I've got a 2004 Vue, 2.2 liter, 5-speed manual with 181K. When I bought the car 5 years (and 55k miles) ago, I noticed there was a little resistance shifting into lower gears. But it didn't get worse for several years.

Last summer the clutch slave cylinder failed. I drained and removed the transmission, and replaced the clutch disks and both the master and slave cylinders. When I refilled the transmission I used Valvoline DEX6. Shifting seemed slightly improved after that. A couple weeks later, after reading many posts warning not to use DEX6 in a manual, I drained it and filled with DEX3. I immediately noticed the shifting got harder. A few months later I needed to replace an axel which was required draining the fluid again. This time I used Royal Purple Synchromax. Unfortunately I didn't notice any improvement, and over the last couple months shifting has become very difficult, as though my synchros are failing.

So my questions are these:

1. Would the Dex6 actually have caused damage if I left it in?
2. Could the Royal Purple have actually made things worse over the last several months I've been running it?
3. What would be your fluid recommendations for this transmission?

Thanks in advance!

RPO M75+M16
Dex cvt fluid 22688912
Additive 22697447 Capacity 7 Qts. According to AllData. Hope this helps.

[MotoSki74]

Thanks, I'll look into that!

[ArtVandelay]

GM 22688912 is the specialized fluid used in the Vti CVT auto transmission.

Your 2004 Vue has a Getrag F23. Original spec was for DexIII. A bit of history - based on complaints about gear noise, GM started recommending a synthetic fluid, part no, 21018899, for the F23. They've since discontinued that fluid, and now say that you should use part no. 88861800 (US) or 88861801 (Canada).

As for using DexVI, here's the GM bulletin:
"This information applies to 2007 and prior GM passenger cars and trucks. Dexron III is being phased out as a product name. It is being renamed Manual Transmission and Transfer Case Fluid and carries p/n 88861800 US (88861801 Canada). If fluid p/n 88861800 US (88861801 Canada) is not yet available when servicing a manual transmission or transfer case, Dexron III can be used in its place. DO NOT used Dexron VI in place of manual transmission fluid in any manual transmissions or transfer cases that specify Dexron III, as a failure may result."

All this history aside, if you google Getrag F23 fluid recommendation you'll get pros and cons all over the place. I would have suggested the Synchromax, but you may want to try the 88861800.