my understanding from reading thru it sounds like GM is aprt of a working group that helped develop standards for the DEXRON fluid, which is why Ford also sells it as MERCON. don't know about the money grab for Dexron, but I do know about the money grab for DEXOS oil certification. they wanted a lot of money from the oil companies if they wanted Dexos stamped on their bottles
Yeah, Ford and GM were working together on a joint venture to bring out the 6 and 10 speed automatics, and miraculously, a new standard of fluid to boot. It's a club.
Some cars use the same parts and materials across company lines. For example, the cross shaft locking pin on GM differentials is the same part used on Fords and Chryslers. So guys working on their Fords/Chryslers can cuss the same amount about that likely broken pin when trying to remove it too, I would guess. It's just that Ford just had to give it a secret code part number like they do everything else.
GM part number 25872305 (List price is about $7.50) is equivalent to
Chrysler- 3507724 (List price over 18 bucks)
Ford - D8BZ4241B and D8BZ4241C (List price from Ford is $7.65)
And the Dexos money grab seems to be just that. Kinda funny, at first, Mobil 1 wasn't "Dexos approved", and then, all of a sudden, it was. Still trying to figure out who actually makes the oil for those GM bottles.
Here's an excerpt from an email from a member on Bob is the Oil Guy:
I had emailed Mobil Oil as to why the Mobil Full Synthetic was not Dexos 1 approved: May 7th 2020 Mobil response: I'm not clear, yet, on why this does not carry a Dexos1 approval, but it's on our agenda for a conference call on Monday. You probably won't be the only customer with this question, and I want to be sure we get the right answer. As long as it does not carry a GM license, however, I can not recommend it in any 2011 or newer GM vehicle. May 11th 2020 Mobil response: Happy Monday! We just wrapped up our call and I've got some good news. Mobil Full Synthetic in 0W-20 and 5W-30 will be receiving GM Dexos1 approvals. With the current COVID-19 situation, approvals are slow coming as the testing labs are not considered "essential." So it appears Dexos 1 approval is just delayed due to the backlog at testing/certification labs.
I still use Mobil 1 in nearly everything I have, but I do use the GM Dexos in the truck and CT5 for warranty concerns only and have the dealer change the oil (I use their $79.99 6-quart and 89.99 oil change 8-quart coupons and it costs me just a few bucks more than doing it myself and they rotate the tires, top the fluids and do the "inspection" whatever that is, too). My cost would be about $60 for 8-quarts of the "Dexos" Mobil 1 oil, I'd buy a better oil filter for around $20 for the Mobil 1, and that's 80 bucks right there. About $70 if I did a GM filter. And then not even hassle with getting rid of the old oil and all that. GM is too quick to jump on anything to void your warranty nowadays. After the warranties are out, though, I'll probably go to Mobil 1 for everything again. Never ever had any oil-related issues with Mobil 1 in anything I've used it in.