General Motors approvals are used when selecting engine oils for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn, Asüna, Acadian, Alpheon, Geo.
General Motors Approvals
General Motors Corporation for its vehicles first issued approvals with the coding GM-LL, after which, by analogy with the ACEA classification until 2004, the letter A or B is placed (A – for gasoline engines, B – for diesel engines). And since 2011, it has introduced new engine oil quality standards for different markets: Dexos-1 for the American market and Dexos2 for the European market.
General Motors is the largest U.S. automobile corporation, until 2008, for 77 years the largest car manufacturer in the world. According to the results of sales in January-April 2018, the concern ranks fifth in the world ranking of automakers.
Engine oils with GM Dexos specifications are used in all GM engines except for Duramax diesel engines, which require oils with API CJ-4 tolerance. Having a proprietary oil classification makes it easy to select motor oil for General Motors vehicles.
Designed in 2006 and developed in 2007, the patented worldwide General Motors (GM) specification is called dexos™. It is divided into dexos1™ for gasoline engines and dexos2™ for light duty diesel engines.
What is a General Motors specification?
General Motors specifications are symbolic designations for the properties of the engine oil for a particular type of General Motors vehicle and are how you choose the oil for your General Motors vehicle. By selecting oil according to the appropriate specification, you ensure that you are using the right oil for your General Motors.
General Motors Engine Oil Approvals
The primary viscosity for factory and service filled GM dexos1™ and dexos2™ is 5W-30. To meet dexos1™ requirements, engine oils must be either fully synthetic or a synthetic blend.
GM Dexos approved oils are recommended to be used in all GM vehicles except those built with Duramax diesel engines that require an API CJ-4 quality oil.
GM Dexos 1
Designed with gasoline engines in mind GM Dexos 1 replaces the GM-LL-A-025, GM6094M and GM4718M specifications. This specification is usually recommended for GM vehicles built for the North American and Asian markets. Compared to ILSAC GF-5 it has stricter requirements regarding piston deposit formation, aeration, oxidation stability, wear, low-temperature pumpability and volatility.
GM Dexos 2
The GM Dexos 2 specification is meant to be the replacement for both GM-LL-A-025 (gasoline) and GM-LL-B-025 (diesel) specifications for the European market. Oils meeting GM Dexos 2 are required for vehicles manufactured from MY2011 onward but they are also backward compatible with older models. This specification is built on the ACEA C3 standard but also contains elements from the ILSAC GF-4 deposit formation test and low-temperature sludge build-up test.
Legacy Motor Oil Specifications
GM-LL-A-025
Special GM approval for long-life engine oil for gasoline engines. Viscosity is SAE 0W-30. Product meets ACEA A3/B3. Drain interval can be as long as 30 000 kms. Recommended for vehicles built before MY2011.
GM-LL-B-025
Special GM approval for long-life engine oil for diesel engines. Viscosity is SAE 5W-40. Product meets ACEA A3/B3/B4. Drain interval can be as long as 50 000 kms. Recommended for vehicles built before MY2011.
Automatic Transmission Fluids
Dexron Type A, Suffix A
Specification introduced in 1957. It requires the oil to meet certain limits regarding its kinematic viscosity.
Dexron IID
General Motors Dexron®-IID Specification. ATF issued in 1975. Contained ATF cooler corrosion requirements not listed in Dexron® – II.
Dexron IIE
General Motors Specification Dexron®-IIE. ATF issued in 1991 requiring improved low temperature performance compared to Dexron®-IID, 20 000 cP at minus 40 °C.
Dexron IIIF
GM specification for Automatic transmission oil introduced in 1994. Successor of Dexron IID and IIE.
Dexron IIIG
Successor of Dexron III(F) automatic transmission fluid. This has the same low temperature characteristics as Dexron IIE, but with modifications to anti-oxidancy and friction material. Introduced in 1997.
Dexron IIIH
Dexron III licence H was introduced in June 2003 to replace the Dexron III G fluid. It has an oxidatively stable base oil (group 2 or group 3). Oils according to this specification have longer maintenance of friction properties and anti-shrudder properties, better foam control and a longer fluid life.
Dexron VI
Specification introduced in 2005 to replace Dexron IIIH. This specification requires better stay-in-grade properties, oxidative stability and anti-foam characteristics. Oils meeting this specification can be used with extended drain intervals and are energy conserving.