# 1978 Chevrolet Pickup ATF fluid

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet\
**Created:** [April 22, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013 "2019-04-22T15:22:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RhondaSilcox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@RhondaSilcox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RhondaSilcox)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013/1 "2019-04-22T15:23:00Z")

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I have a 1978 Chevy Custom Deluxe 10. I have been using Dex/Merc. That fluid is almost gone. Is it okay to go ahead and add Valvoline Max Life ATF instead?

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013/2 "2019-04-22T20:36:30Z")

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> [@RhondaSilcox](#):
>
> Valvoline Max Life ATF

Yup, that ATF is backwards compatible for the fluid in your truck and the fluid you were using.

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**Author:** ![RhondaSilcox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@RhondaSilcox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RhondaSilcox)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013/3 "2019-04-23T03:02:36Z")

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Hey, Mustangman,  
Thank you for your answer to my question about Valvoline Max Life. Since there are asterisks next to the Dex/Merc on the jug of Max Life, I thought maybe that meant you weren’t supposed to use it in older vehicles–but it doesn’t say that and I couldn’t find it on their website. So, you’re saying I could just start using the Max Life without doing anything with the transmission first?

Thank you for responding.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013/4 "2019-04-23T03:35:46Z")

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Lubricants sold today are superior to those 30 years ago, Maxlife can be used to replace Dextron II, III and IV. Here is a Valvoline list of what Maxlife replaces;

[https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/9e447451-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/3fa3136a-09bd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1](https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/9e447451-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/3fa3136a-09bd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RhondaSilcox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@RhondaSilcox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RhondaSilcox)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1978-chevrolet-pickup-atf-fluid/139013/5 "2019-04-23T04:33:44Z")

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Thank you for the information!