AMSOIL ATF and SPIII

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C

Cup of Joe

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I've been looking over the posts concerning SPIII and came across a few that claimed that even when Amsoil ATF (or any universal ATF) was used instead of SPIII from the dealer the transmission died, anyone have any links or proof of this?

Mitsu, Hyundai and Kia all use SPIII for theIR trans, its nearly time for me to change the fluid in my Rio. I'd like to use Amsoil universal ATF but what of these claims? Anyone????
 
I have used Pennzoil MV ATF in my moms 01 kia, with positive results.......,

although I understand that kia does not build a reliable auto box.....,

My moms first auto trans went at 90,000kms....., and there were 4 transmission oil changes done before it went. And the fluid used was SPIII from the dealer....It was an 01 Sephia...., now called the spectra...:), what a lemon.

anyway , I used only Pennzoil All makes on the rebuilt trans
and its much smoother.....:)

I think Amsoil is definetly better than SPIII, which is a conventional fluid, Kia's OCI is way too long.....,
 
I'd love to know if Amsoil ATF is OK to use in place of SPIII, even if I only en up changing half of the fluid due to a pan drop or extraction through the dipstick.

Just want to keep my 2007 Sonata Warr.intact!
 
A fluid won't prevent the transmission from dieing. Sorry, but many Mitsu/Kia/Hyundai transmissions are just junk. By the time the owners decides to start a maintenance program, its already too late. What year/mileage/maintenance history?

You claim that it is "nearly time" to change the fluid. What does that mean? Nearly time to me means seriously overdue with many auto makes.

Along with any of the multivehicle ATFs, ATF+4 is also a worthy contender and reasonably priced for a full synthetic(Castrol/Valvoline).

Treat the ATF drainplug like your oil drainplug and you will do much to extend the life of the unit.
 
UnDummy...I plan on using 20-30k intervals on my 07 Sonata V6 for the ATF. I'm REALLY thinking of using Amsoil fluid, and using the extractor method of changing. A few of those and all of the fluid is new.


Pablo...any problems mixing fluids?
 
Quote:

A fluid won't prevent the transmission from dieing. Sorry, but many Mitsu/Kia/Hyundai transmissions are just junk. By the time the owners decides to start a maintenance program, its already too late. What year/mileage/maintenance history?

You claim that it is "nearly time" to change the fluid. What does that mean? Nearly time to me means seriously overdue with many auto makes.

Along with any of the multivehicle ATFs, ATF+4 is also a worthy contender and reasonably priced for a full synthetic(Castrol/Valvoline).

Treat the ATF drainplug like your oil drainplug and you will do much to extend the life of the unit.

Click to expand...


The car is brand new just hit 20k today, I should have 25k by july which is the aniversary date. If I'm grossly over due then there are millions of people with some real problems.
grin.gif
Seriously though 1 year, changing the filters, coolant and ATF along with some inspections and some lubing. I drive all highway so no great stress on my transmission.

I would still love to find someone with this knowledge of all these failures!!! People are posting don't use anything but factory SPIII because of transmission failures even with amsoil and mobil1, but in all my searching I couldn't find 1 post in the last 4 years on the web matching amsoil to any transmission failure where SPIII is required.

I still need to do more looking but I haven't found a post where an individual changed their fluid to amsoil and reported any problem at all??? I have found plenty of people claiming knowledge of failures with anything short of true factory SPIII though, just not true 1st hand knowledge, a friend of a friend, you know.

If the slush box is weak that cannot be helped but we can use the best fluid possible.
tongue.gif
 
I have a 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage with 153,578 miles on the odometer up this very point. The first time i change the trasmission factory fluid was at aprox.80,000 + miles. The previous owner which i happen to know very well never gave it a fluid change. When i drained the oil(SP III factory fill up) for the first time, the oil was dark charcoiled black.

I gave it a full flush with Diamond Sp III and notice a vast improvement in shift change. The transmission is still running strong and i bet this 1.5L engine alot.

On this weekend I'm planning on giving it a oil change with the Sp III oil. I have 6 quarts which i bought for $5.36 each at my local Mitsubishi dealer.

There only one thing i can testify about this transmission and that is it was very well built and that the oil has given it long life. Like i said before I have giving it severe use and where i usually live the temp are from 80-100 degress f.
 
A short post on what I have found so far. Hyundai does have this blurb in a TSB:

USE OF NON-APPROVED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS:

Only Hyundai SPIII is approved for use in Hyundai vehicles beginning with the 1996 model year. Use of aftermarket additives or other types of ATF, such as Chrysler/Mopar ATF+3, Dexron and Mercon, are not approved for use in Hyundai vehicles and may affect driveability or damage the transaxle. Damage caused by a non-specified fluid is not covered by your new vehicle limited warranty.

Kia doesn't have this blurb for whatever reason. I also found that where Dexron III had been installed either by the owner or by a trans shop, quick lube joint the trans died in short order. Some shops had doped up the dexron which made no difference.

Now the interesting part amsoil meets all the examples hyundai has listed above. What I am finding is that it is "believed" to be the FM and AW additives that is the problem. I did also find a report of a Tiboron that had amsoil and had the trans replaced. To go with that though I have found a number of people using amsoil ATF with no issues.

Any thoughts on the fact that Amsoil ATF meets dexIII and the fact that DexIII is very bad for SPIII required transmissions?
 
I'm very tempted to run some Amsoil ATF, but still a little chicken at the same time. I had a VW TDI before the Sonata, and while I wish I still had it at times, it became VERY irritating when EVERY fluid had to be ordered online.

The Sonata is better, but this whole SPIII thing is getting irritating too. Car makers need to realize there ARE a lot of us who love to do our own maint. Can't we find something that works for most and stick with it? All these specs, etc...it's annoying!
 
Amsoil ATF will not harm a working transmission. Underfilling, overfilling, and previous neglect will destroy it. The problem is, Amsoil ATF became the variable and some people can't think for themselves so they blame it.

I would suggests performing a UOA of the current ATF prior to the Amsoil switch just to make sure it doesn't look like it's shedding large amounts of metal.
 
I went round and round on a Hyundai forum about this. There were numerous posts about how ANYTHING other than SP-III would melt the inside of the trans, that Dexron 3 killed a trans in 400 feet, and that Mercon IV (yes, Mercon IV) killed multiple transmissions on the way home.

Never mind the fact that just about every company out there makes a Multi fluid that covers SP III...including Nippon...who I believe makes SP-III. And no one could come up with any documentation. And given that Hyundai recommends 30K changes on any car other than those that see nothing but perfectly flat highway driving, we know this fluid is nothing special.

I was on that site to look up info for my Father's car. If the car were mine, it would have Amsoil already in it. I do use Amsoil in my ATF+4 trans that is still under warranty.
 
Thanks everyone for posting, all intereting comments. I am glad this hasn't boiled down to a "show me where your oil meets my specs" debate. I'd rather know why the oil wouldn't work then why it hasn't been approved by a car company.

I have 2 quarts of SK SPIII in the garage but I don't know if it would be of any good to do a VOA on it. I don't know enough about ATF fluids to be able to determine much of anything. I could pull the VOA and then a UOA to compare but that doesn't answer the question at hand.

I'm with BT on this one, I'm just not sure where I stand.
 
Honestly..I agree that there cannot be anything THAT special about this fluid. If you go with Amsoil, there is their warranty as well. I'm still torn..someone twist my arm!
smile.gif
 
Quote:


USE OF NON-APPROVED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS:

Only Hyundai SPIII is approved for use in Hyundai vehicles beginning with the 1996 model year. Use of aftermarket additives or other types of ATF, such as Chrysler/Mopar ATF+3, Dexron and Mercon, are not approved for use in Hyundai vehicles and may affect driveability or damage the transaxle. Damage caused by a non-specified fluid is not covered by your new vehicle limited warranty.


Click to expand...


How much warranty do you have left? If the warranty has any value to you, given the bolded text above, the decision is straightforward. Or you can play the fluid roulette wheel and take your chances.

If the transmission is known to be a bit of a lemon, consider if there is adequate fluid cooling. Installing a big cooler and following the severe duty fluid service intervals will be very beneficial.
 
I have read many posts about Mitsu transmission. Often on other Mitsu sites. People make the general claim. "only put SPIII in or the transmission will fail". However, the only actual failures, or problems that I have read about involve Dexron III fluid. We know that the SPIII fluids have more friction modifiers than Dex III fluid, so that is probably why they had the problems. The Amsoil fluid supposedly has the appropriate amount of FM's so it should be fine.

BTW, I am on my third Mitsu Montero. All Montero's have been known to have nearly indestructable transmissions. The transmissions in these trucks are not junk. My 02.
 
The usual warranty debate, but the only way you can be risking your warranty is if the dealership can prove that the ATF you used caused the failure. If it is proven to have failed, and you used it in accordance with Amsoil's recommendation, then Amsoil will back you up.
 
Quote:

I have read many posts about Mitsu transmission. However, the only actual failures, or problems that I have read about involve Dexron III fluid. We know that the SPIII fluids have more friction modifiers than Dex III fluid, so that is probably why they had the problems.


Click to expand...


That seems to be the theme, no DexIII. But amsoil meets the Dex spec and spIII
dunno.gif
I guess If I filled a chevy with spIII where dexIII was required and it had no problems then it could meet both specs?
confused.gif


I have about 80K miles left of my warranty and although I can actually afford to have a car down for an extended period, I like most, would rather avoid that. I had my last car in the shop for 1 month+ on 3 different occassions.
crushedcar.gif


I check my bottles of SK SPIII they say distributed by Kia Motors of America, Made in USA thats it. If I still had a bottle of Diamond SPIII I would tell you want that said.
 
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