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Transmission Fluid Types: Complete Guide to ATF, CVT, DCT & Manual Fluids

Published: November 2025 | Reading Time: 14 minutes | Category: Maintenance

Using the correct transmission fluid is critical for your vehicle's performance and longevity. The wrong fluid can cause shifting problems, accelerated wear, and even complete transmission failure. This comprehensive guide explains every type of transmission fluid, what vehicles use them, and why proper fluid selection matters.

Quick Reference: Transmission Fluid Types

Fluid Type	Used In	Color When New	Change Interval	Mixing OK?
Dexron VI	GM automatics (2006+)	Red/Pink	45,000-100,000 mi	Within Dexron family
Mercon LV/ULV	Ford automatics (2008+)	Red	30,000-60,000 mi	No—use exact type
ATF+4	Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep	Red	60,000-100,000 mi	No
Toyota WS	Toyota/Lexus (2004+)	Red	60,000-100,000 mi	No
Honda DW-1	Honda/Acura (2011+)	Red	30,000-60,000 mi	No
Nissan NS-3	Nissan CVT (2013+)	Green	30,000-60,000 mi	No
Subaru CVT Fluid	Subaru CVT	Green	30,000-60,000 mi	No
ZF Lifeguard 8	ZF 8HP (BMW, Jeep, Ram)	Blue	50,000-80,000 mi	No
Gear Oil (GL-4/GL-5)	Manual transmissions	Yellow/Amber	30,000-60,000 mi	By specification

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Types

Dexron Fluids (GM)

General Motors developed the Dexron specification, which has evolved over decades. Modern GM vehicles use Dexron VI.

Dexron Type	Years Used	Backward Compatible?	Notes
Dexron II	1973-1993	N/A (obsolete)	Replace with Dexron III or VI
Dexron III	1993-2005	Yes—Dexron VI	Can upgrade to Dexron VI
Dexron VI	2006-present	Yes—replaces II & III	Current standard
Dexron HP	2017+ (10-speed)	No	10-speed transmissions only

Mercon Fluids (Ford)

Ford's Mercon specifications are NOT backward compatible. Using the wrong Mercon type can cause serious transmission problems.

Mercon Type	Years/Applications	Compatible With	Critical Notes
Mercon	1987-2007 (discontinued)	Mercon V only	Do NOT use in Mercon V vehicles
Mercon V	1997-2014	Mercon V only	Do NOT substitute other types
Mercon LV	2008+ (6-speed)	Mercon LV only	Low viscosity—critical
Mercon ULV	2017+ (10-speed)	Mercon ULV only	Ultra-low viscosity
Mercon SP	Some Ford CVTs	Mercon SP only	CVT-specific

ATF+4 (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram)

Chrysler's ATF+4 is a synthetic fluid required for most FCA vehicles from 1998 forward. It is NOT compatible with Dexron or Mercon fluids.

Specification	Applications	Notes
ATF+4	Most Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep 1998+	Synthetic; friction-modified
ZF Lifeguard 6/8	Vehicles with ZF transmissions (Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee)	Use ZF specification, not ATF+4

Toyota WS (World Standard)

Toyota's WS fluid is a "lifetime" fluid—but we recommend changing it every 60,000 miles for maximum transmission life.

Fluid	Applications	Service Interval
Toyota T-IV	Pre-2004 automatics	30,000-60,000 miles
Toyota WS	2004+ automatics	"Lifetime" (recommend 60,000)
Toyota CVT Fluid FE	Toyota CVTs (Corolla)	60,000 miles

Honda ATF (DW-1)

Honda transmissions are extremely sensitive to fluid type. Using non-Honda fluid is a common cause of Honda transmission problems.

Honda Fluid	Applications	Critical Notes
Honda ATF-Z1	Pre-2011 automatics	Discontinued; use DW-1
Honda DW-1	2011+ automatics	Backward compatible with Z1 vehicles
Honda HCF-2	Honda CVTs	CVT-specific; do NOT mix
Honda MTF	Manual transmissions	Do not use gear oil

CVT Transmission Fluids

CVT fluids are specifically formulated for the unique demands of continuously variable transmissions. Using automatic transmission fluid in a CVT will cause immediate damage.

CVT Fluid	Vehicle Make	Applications	Change Interval
Nissan NS-2	Nissan	2007-2012 CVTs	30,000 miles recommended
Nissan NS-3	Nissan	2013+ CVTs	30,000 miles recommended
Subaru CVT Fluid	Subaru	All Lineartronic CVTs	30,000-60,000 miles
Honda HCF-2	Honda	Civic, HR-V, Fit CVTs	30,000-60,000 miles
Toyota CVT Fluid FE	Toyota	Corolla, C-HR CVTs	60,000 miles
Mitsubishi CVTF-J4	Mitsubishi	All Mitsubishi CVTs	30,000-60,000 miles

Why CVT Fluid is Different

Property	CVT Fluid	Regular ATF	Why It Matters
Friction Coefficient	Higher	Lower	CVT needs grip for belt/chain
Shear Stability	Excellent	Good	CVT has extreme pressure points
Anti-Wear Additives	Enhanced	Standard	CVT components wear faster
Heat Resistance	Higher	Standard	CVTs run hotter

Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluids

Dual-clutch transmissions require specific fluids that lubricate both the gear sets and the clutch packs. These are not interchangeable with standard ATF.

DCT Fluid	Vehicle Make	Applications	Change Interval
VW/Audi DSG Fluid (G 052 182)	VW, Audi	DSG transmissions	40,000 miles
Ford DCT Fluid	Ford	PowerShift (discontinued)	N/A (sealed)
Hyundai/Kia DCT Fluid	Hyundai, Kia	Veloster, Forte DCT	40,000-60,000 miles
BMW DCT Fluid	BMW	M DCT (M3, M4)	50,000 miles
Porsche PDK Fluid	Porsche	PDK transmissions	60,000 miles

Manual Transmission Fluids

Manual transmissions use gear oil or specific manual transmission fluid (MTF). The type depends on synchronizer design and manufacturer specifications.

Fluid Type	Applications	Properties	Notes
GL-4 Gear Oil	Most manual transmissions	Moderate EP additives	Safe for brass synchronizers
GL-5 Gear Oil	Differentials, some transaxles	High EP additives	Can damage brass synchros
Honda MTF	Honda manual transmissions	Synthetic, low friction	Required for Honda
GM Synchromesh	GM manual transmissions	Friction-modified	NV3500, T5, T56
Ford MTX Fluid	Ford manual transmissions	ATF-based	Some Fords use ATF

Transmission Fluid by Vehicle Make

Make	Automatic/CVT	Manual	Critical Notes
Ford	Mercon LV, ULV, SP	Motorcraft MTX	Very type-specific
GM	Dexron VI, HP	Synchromesh	Dexron VI replaces older types
Toyota	WS, T-IV, CVT FE	GL-4 75W-90	"Lifetime" fluid—still service
Honda	DW-1, HCF-2	Honda MTF	Honda-specific only
Nissan	NS-2, NS-3	GL-4 75W-85	CVT fluid is green
Chrysler/Dodge	ATF+4, ZF Lifeguard	NV Gear Lube	Check ZF vs ATF+4
Subaru	Subaru CVT Fluid	Subaru Extra S	Subaru-specific fluids
VW/Audi	G 055 025 A2, DSG fluid	GL-4 75W-90	DSG requires specific fluid
BMW	ZF Lifeguard 8	MTF LT-2	ZF transmissions common
Mercedes	MB 236.14/236.17	MB 235.10	Mercedes-approved only

Transmission Fluid Color Guide

Transmission fluid color indicates its condition. Here's what to look for:

Fluid Color	Condition	Action Needed	Urgency
🔴 Bright Red/Pink	New/Excellent	None—fluid is good	None
🟤 Light Brown/Dark Red	Normal wear	Schedule fluid change	Low—service soon
🟫 Dark Brown	Oxidized/worn	Change fluid promptly	Medium
⚫ Black	Severely degraded	Immediate service needed	High
🩷 Pink/Milky	Water contamination	Flush and inspect	Critical
🌟 Metallic particles	Internal wear	Diagnostic needed	Critical

Ohio Winter Fluid Considerations

Canton's cold winters affect transmission fluid performance. Here's what you need to know:

Factor	Impact	Recommendation
Cold viscosity	Thick fluid = slow shifts, hard engagement	Use synthetic fluids when possible
Warm-up time	Cold fluid doesn't protect as well	Allow 30-60 seconds before driving
Condensation	Moisture can accumulate in transmission	Regular service removes moisture
CVT sensitivity	CVTs particularly affected by cold	Longer warm-up (2-3 minutes)

Common Fluid Mistakes We See

Mistake	Consequence	Cost to Fix
Generic ATF in Honda	Slipping, hard shifts, premature failure	$2,000-$4,000+
ATF in CVT	Immediate damage, belt slip	$3,000-$5,000+
Wrong Mercon type in Ford	Shudder, harsh shifts, wear	$2,000-$3,500
GL-5 in synchro transmission	Grinding, difficult shifts	$1,500-$2,500
Overfilling transmission	Foaming, overheating, leaks	$200-$500
Mixing fluid types	Chemical incompatibility, deposits	$500-$3,000+

We Use the Right Fluid—Every Time

At Waterloo Transmissions Canton, we stock manufacturer-specific fluids for all major makes and models. Our 58 years of experience means we know exactly which fluid your vehicle needs—no guessing, no substitutes.