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Prices may varyHealth score is for adult use as intended, per the manufacturer's SDS. It does not model child ingestion, accidental spill cleanup, or off-label use. See the safety panel below for full hazard classification, and /disclaimer for the full editorial scope.
GHS hazard codes are quoted from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet. PPE tiers below translate those codes and the listed ingredient chemistry; they are not CarCareTruth recommendations.
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Only when: splash risk · prolonged use
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
SDS Section 8 calls for safety glasses. Section 2 carries no eye-hazard GHS code, and Section 11 component data is mixed (no eye irritation for some base stocks, slight transient irritation for others), so this is a splash and repeated-contact precaution during ATF drain and fill, not a mixture-level eye hazard.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: splash risk
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
Petroleum base stock contact is possible during pan removal and pour. SDS §2 mixture level: not hazardous; no GHS skin classification. Situational tier reflects petroleum contact during the drain-and-fill service.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: in enclosed space · prolonged use
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
SDS Section 8 states no respiratory protection is normally required, and Section 2 carries no inhalation H-code. The same section lists a 5 mg/m3 TWA oil-mist exposure limit, which is relevant to prolonged bulk handling in an enclosed garage bay rather than a single drain-and-fill.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
No PPE specified in published sources for ventilation. Absence does not imply “not needed” — consult the full Safety Data Sheet.
PPE tiers translate the manufacturer’s SDS and U.S. regulatory standards. Not professional safety advice. How we report safety.
Scope of these PPE tiers. The tiers on this page translate the product's Safety Data Sheet where one is published, plus its ingredient chemistry, into a comparable rating. They describe a formulation, not a situation: a tier is not a safety determination for any specific user, task, quantity, or environment. The manufacturer's label and use instructions govern how the product is handled. Where the product is used at work, the employer's PPE program and hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132 decide what protection is selected, not this page.
No warranties. CarCareTruth makes no warranties, express or implied, and expressly disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
This product ranks #1 of 18 in Transmission Fluid.
Last reviewed June 14, 2026
TL;DR GM's officially licensed DEXRON-VI from America's top-selling ATF brand. Covers 2006+ GM automatics and Ford MERCON LV applications with a documented anti-shudder additive package. BITOG confirms shudder elimination in GM 6-speed applications, and owners rate it highly.
Valvoline's DEXRON-VI / MERCON LV ATF is a full synthetic fluid built from hydrotreated heavy paraffinic base stocks, carrying the label "Officially licensed and GM approved DEXRON-VI fluid." The back label calls out enhanced anti-shudder protection, and BITOG transmission threads confirm shudder elimination in GM 6L50, 6L80, and 6T40 automatics after a drain and fill. Ford MERCON LV compatibility is explicitly claimed and consistent with the product's long history in both GM and Ford applications. The gallon is the practical choice for a full drain-and-fill on most 6-speed GM automatics, which take 7-9 quarts with a pan drop.
Right choice for 2006+ GM automatics (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac) requiring DEXRON-VI and Ford vehicles requiring MERCON LV. Confirm your spec in the owner's manual before purchasing. Skip if your vehicle requires ZF Lifeguard, Toyota WS, Honda DW-1, or a modern DCT fluid.
SDS §2 classifies this product as not hazardous. California Proposition 65 warning applies due to trace residuals from petroleum processing (propylene oxide, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate at <0.1%). Dispose of spent ATF at a used-oil collection facility.
No, and this is the exception worth checking before you buy. GM publishes a list of models that do NOT take DEXRON-VI despite falling inside the 2006-and-newer window, including certain Aveo, Epica, Equinox, Optra, Torrent, Vibe, Wave and Astra models and the Saturn CVT applications. DEXRON-VI also does not go into power steering systems or manual transmissions. Check your owner's manual against your exact model and year rather than relying on the model-year shorthand.
Yes. The back label explicitly states 'Officially licensed and GM approved DEXRON-VI fluid.' This is a genuine OEM license · not a 'meets spec' or 'recommended for' claim. It means GM certified this specific formulation and Valvoline pays for the license to use the DEXRON-VI name.
Valvoline states 'Recommended for Mercon LV applications.' Ford discontinued its Mercon LV licensing program around 2013, so no fluid can currently hold an active Ford Mercon LV license. Valvoline's explicit compatibility claim is credible for a product in long-term dual-spec use. Always confirm your owner's manual spec first.
DEXRON-VI is the specification for most GM 6-speed and newer automatic transmissions from model year 2006 onward, including the 6L50, 6L80, 6T40, 6T45, 6T70, 8L45, and 8L90 used in Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles. Consult your owner's manual · the dipstick tube or fill port may also have the spec printed on it.
A typical pan-drop service on a 6L80 or 6L50 takes 7-9 quarts of new fluid. A complete flush (torque converter included) takes 10-12 quarts. The 1-gallon size covers a single pan drop; buy two gallons for a full flush.
Many BITOG forum members report shudder elimination in GM 6-speed applications after a drain-and-fill with Valvoline DEXRON-VI. The back label explicitly claims an anti-shudder additive package. Results vary by vehicle · shudder caused by hardware wear may not resolve with fluid alone.
The listing for Valvoline DEXRON VI / MERCON LV Full Synthetic ATF carries a California Prop 65 warning. Valvoline DEXRON VI / MERCON LV Full Synthetic ATF is a working automotive fluid rather than a passive part, so the warning points at the formulation itself. The manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet is the primary source for what is in it: the hazard classification and the PPE tiers on this page are translated from that sheet, and the full SDS is linked from the safety panel. California requires the warning whenever exposure to any of roughly 900 listed substances is possible. It does not name which substance applies to a given product, and it states no dose or risk level, so it is not on its own a measure of how hazardous this fluid is in normal use.
Marketing copy from Valvoline, via Amazon. Not editorial.
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