Amsoil OK where tranny and diff fluid shared?

[crinkles]

Was just wondering this today. if a manufacturer specifies a fluid, how much of the specification is dependent on the requirements of the diff? my camry's diff and tranny shares the fluid so one would think that there would be *some* requirement to keep both happy. Does amsoil cover these satisfactory? or exceptionally? does T-IV have *something* in it to deal with a toyota diff requirement that Amsoilo may not?
Does amsoil test the ATF for the diff side of the application?

 

[unDummy]

Plenty of trannies share the fluid with the diff.
T-IV doesn't have anything special in it.

I would use the Amsoil or other full synthetic.

 

[Pablo]

Nothing Mystical about Toyota T-IV. Way back when after T-IV rolled out, Amsoil fully evaluated it, tested both, and did nearly a year of accelerated testing of the new Amsoil ATF before releasing a reformulated ATF. I know they tested it in the shared diff. Make sure you choose the ATF, not the ATL.

 

[btanchors]

crinkles - You SURE they share the same fluid? What year is your Camry?

I've had two Camry V6's - a 1991 and a 1998. Both had separate reservoirs for diff and ATF. However, even though it was in a separate reservoir, the diff used ATF.

Of course, that was 11 model years ago, but I'm still curious if they really combined the two.

 

[rszappa1]

I notice that Redline D4 ATF mentions about a GL-4 level of gear protection in there ATF. Does Amsoil also meet that??

 

[mechtech2]

Most transaxles with final drives have helical gears.
It is only some trannys with HYPOID gears that can be problematic.
Helical gears are just like the other trans gears - the power flow is always in the same axis.
Hypoid gearing changes power flow 90 degrees, and the gearing is harder on lubes. The gear faces slide and chew it up.

So for 99.99% of us, the final drive [being helical] does not impose a problem.
Just get a premium lube for good shifting and trans life.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: rszappa1
I notice that Redline D4 ATF mentions about a GL-4 level of gear protection in there ATF. Does Amsoil also meet that??


Not that I can see. Amsoil has other fluids for GL4 requirements.

APPLICATIONS
AMSOIL AMSOIL Synthetic Universal ATF is recommended for transmissions, hydraulics, power steering and other applications requiring any of the following specifications:

• GM DEXRON® III-H
• Ford MERCON® & MERCON V
• Chrysler ATF+4®
• Toyota Type T-III and T-IV
• Honda Z-1 (Not CVT)
• Diamond SP II & III (Mitsubishi/Hyundai/Kia)
• Mazda ATF-III, ATF-MV
• Subaru ATF
• Nissan Matic D, J & K
• Idemitsu K-17
• BMW LA2634
• LT 71141
• Audi G-052-025-A2 & G-052-162-A1
• Volvo 97340
• MB 236.1, 236.2, 236.5, 236.6, 236.7, 236.9 & 236.10
• JWS 3309
• NAG 1
• ETL-7045E, ETL-8072B & N402
• Voith 55.6335.XX (G607, G1363)
• ZF TE-ML 03D, 04D, 09, 14A, 14B, 14C, 16L, 17C
• Allison C-4, TES 389

It's harder to tell since they reference the vehicle spec's or the fluids.

D4

Suitable replacement for the following products:
Dexron II®, III® and Dexron IIIH® check

Mercon® and Mercon V®

Esso LT71141
(BMW, 93 on 3, 5 and 7 series ZF 5HP transmissions)
(VW/Audi automatic from 1993)

Shell LA2634
(BMW Automatic 98-00 3 series, 94-95 5 series, 98-00 528, 94-00 7 and 8 series)

Shell ATF 3403 M115
(Mercedes 5&6 sp, Jeep NAG-1, Porsche & Jaguar Automatic)

Shell M1375.4
(BMW 02-08 3, 5, 6, 7 series and X5 with ZF 6 speed automatic)

Texaco ETL7045
(BMW 01 3 series Xi, X5 3.0, Z3, 98-05 3 series, w/ GM5, 99-00 5 series w/GM5, 04-08 X3 w/GM5)

Texaco ETL8072 B
(BMW 00-05 5 series & X5 w/ GM5)

Honda ATF Z1
(All Honda/Acura automatic transmissions and transaxles)

Diamond SP-II & SP-III (Mitsubishi all, Hyundai, Kia)

Castrol Transmatic J, Transmax J, Transmax E, Pennsoil ATF J, Idemitsu H
(Subaru 05 on WRX, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca & 06 on Forester)

NissanMatic D, J & K (Nissan automatics all)

Mazda ATF M-V
(03 on Mazda6, 04 on Mazda3, 06 on Mazda5, 06 on Ford Fusion w/FNR5 automatic transaxle)

Mobil ATF 3309, JWS 3309, Toyota T-IV and T-III,
(96-'97 Supra Turbo, '98 Supra, '00 on Echo, Celica, '01-'03 Prius, '01-'03 Prius, '02-'05Camry and 4-cyl. Solara, Rav 4-4WD '01-'04 Highlander, Rav4, '03-'04 Sequoia, Tundra, Tacoma 2.7L, 3.4L, '03-'04 4-Runner w/4 speed,'03 Land Cruiser, '05 Tacoma)
(Volvo '01 to '04 C70, '01 on S40, V40, S60, S60R, '99 on V70, V70R and XC70 w/AW50AWD or AW55-50SN transaxle)

 

[3Toyotas]

I've always understood the camry to share the same fluid, but they have a seperate diff inside the tranny. This lack of maintenance on the diff, has become problematic for lots of camry owners.

 

[AzFireGuy79]

Depends on which years and models you are referencing. The earlier models had a seperate diff that used gear oil. Newer models like my 06 SE feature a shared sump and require T-IV....

Dumped that garbage in favor of some D4 a long time ago!

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: btanchors
crinkles - You SURE they share the same fluid? What year is your Camry?

I've had two Camry V6's - a 1991 and a 1998. Both had separate reservoirs for diff and ATF. However, even though it was in a separate reservoir, the diff used ATF.

Of course, that was 11 model years ago, but I'm still curious if they really combined the two.


it is an 05 and i am pretty sure.

from mobil's lubricant recommendation tool

"Automatic Transmission
MOBIL ATF 3309

Service Refill Capacity: 3.5 Litres
Differential
Combined with Transmission "

 

[crinkles]

Oh BTW i plan on starting using amsoil ATF when my next fluid exchagne comes up. already have the fluid in my stash. Already put some in the PS system.

 

[MonumentOiler]

My 1999 Camry has separate drain plugs but they service the same reservoir. When you open the diff plug all the fluid from both units comes out. If you open the trans plug it will drain all but the few quarts in the lower diff.

I am running Amsoil ATF with no issues.

Anything that sells as many units as the Camry will see issues as a result of slack maintenance. The oil gelling problems were also mostly a lack of maintenance issue.

 

[unDummy]

My '99 has separate sumps. My '04 shares the fluid. Both are 4cyl 4spd autos.

When I drain the 99's diff, just the diff drains. The diff and trans do not share the fluid unless there is a seal leak somewhere.

 

[JMJNet]

I have been using Amsoil Universal ATF on my 2000 Camry in both Transmission and Differential. The diff is spec to use ATF. I actually changed the diff to Amsoil 2 years ago. No problem at all. In 2000, there is a separate plug and fill on the back of the transmission very close to the firewall. Just drain and fill. The plug is very tight for DIY but not impossible. Shop probably can do it in 5 minutes on a lift because you can actually see the plugs better.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: unDummy


When I drain the 99's diff, just the diff drains. The diff and trans do not share the fluid unless there is a seal leak somewhere.



May they have had a mid-year switch to the shared sump in 99? I'm just trying to reason one shared sump by accident in one oftwo 99's without it being a defect.

 

[Bluestream]

Amsoil is a good choice for that app. Why not support a site sponsor?

 

[3Toyotas]

Originally Posted By: AzFireGuy79
Depends on which years and models you are referencing. The earlier models had a seperate diff that used gear oil. Newer models like my 06 SE feature a shared sump and require T-IV....

Dumped that garbage in favor of some D4 a long time ago!


INteresting....

My M-IN-LAW has an 05 4cyl, and my brother just bought a 2010 with the 2.5 4cyl and 6-speed auto. I wonder if the diff is shared on these?

 

[AzFireGuy79]

I am willing to bet they are shared. Seems as if toyota went away from that old design and prefer the shared sump using one fluid.

 

[Ken2]

Quote:
from mobil's lubricant recommendation tool

"Automatic Transmission
MOBIL ATF 3309
And, of course, we know that Mobil 3309 was designed for certain models of Aisin-Warner transmissions, and is usually sold under the car makers' labels...Toyota, Volvo, etc. Toyota doesn't make T-IV nor any other ATF; ExxonMobil makes it and labels it for Toyota and the others. The lube additive makers have additive packages for near-universal ATFs where they come close enough to meeting the specs for many ATFs and work fine. Thus the "recommendation" from Amsoil and many other makers of automatic transmission fluids.