Been searching on the internet for ATF stories on how MV ATF fluid ruined a transmission - Castrol Multi-Import is bad - Maxlife ruined my transmission - etc... Probably 15 different ways to construct that sentence it but can't seem to find hits. I'm not referring to wrong applications such as putting ATF4 in a GM truck or Honda DW1 in a Toyota, but using a multi-vehicle ATF that someone used for the correct application, and the trans still went bad specifically due to the fluid. Are ATF fluids that interchangeable? Been using Castrol IMV in my 03 Toyota Matrix for 25k miles and it seems to be doing pretty well. 2019 Sorento I will still use SP-IV.
Any Horror Multi-Vehicle ATF Stories?
- Thread starter rob1715
- Start date
Personally, I have had success using multi-vehicle ATF's as long as it is not a Honda.
For example, I did a 3x drain and refill with Amsoil ATF in the fiancee's 07 Accord about 2 years ago. Initially, the shifts were a bit more "crisp" but were very acceptable. After about 20K, the shifts became extremely harsh and sloppy - especially the 1-2 shift. The Amsoil fluid was still bright red.
So, I performed two drain and refills using Honda DW-1 spaced 100 miles apart and the shift quality has been mostly restored to normal.
On the other hand, we have used hundreds of gallons of Maxlife ATF and Kendall VersaTrans LV in place of Nissan Matic-S with zero issues.
I'm thinking you might need a metric to measure by. I mean, let's say someone put in Maxlife into a transmission, changed it every 30k from new, and the transmission broke a hard part (gear, sun shell, whatever) at the 250k mark. Fluid fault? What if instead the clutches were toast at that 250k mark instead? How do you determine normal wear and tear from effects of wrong fluid?
I suspect that wrong fluid usage will have immediate consequences due to different friction modifiers causing shift quality to change. But I don't know if it would translate into short trans life... a softer shift should wear things faster, but if it takes 200k to wear something out... was that normal wear and tear?
I'm not sure about wrong fluid being able to be used for say 100k but causing rapid wear-out of the transmission. They are all oils with similar properties and purpose. Short of CVT oil they all have to deal with the same bits. It makes me think that it would be a long time for wrong oil to do anything, like well past 100k. Shift quality aside that is, and wrong fluid aside (ATF4+ vs Type F as you mention).
I too have had success with MV fluid, specifically Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle. I'm currently using in five vehicles including my son-in-law's 2012 Ford Fusion. it appears to work well.
A user on here had a GM transmission fail after switching to Valvoline Maxlife. I admit the timing was a bit unfortunate and he even sent a sample to Valvoline; he continued to badmouth the product even tho 100s of people have used it with no issues.
The apparent unvocalised premise of his position was "a properly maintained transmission will never fail" which is a bit tenuous.
I use Maxlife in my friends Tundra which calls for Dex3.
Originally Posted by simple_gifts
A user on here had a GM transmission fail after switching to Valvoline Maxlife. I admit the timing was a bit unfortunate and he even sent a sample to Valvoline; he continued to badmouth the product even tho 100s of people have used it with no issues.
The apparent unvocalised premise of his position was "a properly maintained transmission will never fail" which is a bit tenuous.
I've been following this stuff since about 2001 and never have I heard of maintenance enthusiast BITOGer type using a suitable for use ATF, and having their AT fail because of it.
I have used it in Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu and domestic products without issue.
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Originally Posted by simple_gifts
A user on here had a GM transmission fail after switching to Valvoline Maxlife. I admit the timing was a bit unfortunate and he even sent a sample to Valvoline; he continued to badmouth the product even tho 100s of people have used it with no issues.
The apparent unvocalised premise of his position was "a properly maintained transmission will never fail" which is a bit tenuous.
I use Maxlife in my friends Tundra which calls for Dex3.
I have used it mostly in older Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans with great results; certainly never a failure.
Recently I switched to Idemitsu specific blends in the newer cars, just because.
I will continue to use MaxLife in the older vehicles.
No problems with Maxlife although a small sample of three cars.
I've had luck with MaxLife in Nissans but I didn't like the feel in Toyotas that need T-IV. I've also used it in a Subaru that called for both ATF-HP and DexIII with success as well.
For years and on many different vehicles I have been using the Valvoline Max Life with great success. Have used it in everything from Kia to medium duty diesel trucks. Often it improves the transmission shifting and down shifting. The only time I have not used it is on my daughters Honda Accord. I use the Honda supplied $tuff. And I have used Castrol CVT fluid in the Nissan Rogue.
2006 Acura TSX, auto, 250K miles (best car I have ever owned)
Up until 100K, only OEM fluids, after that, a collection of Castrol Multi, Valvoline Maxlife, Valvoline Import, Idemitsu, with the occasional OEM, every 6-10K drain and fill.
Car is running like a top, with the exception of the AC. Usually these compressors go out WAY before 200K, so I'm lucky. New one and condenser going in this weekend.
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Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by simple_gifts
A user on here had a GM transmission fail after switching to Valvoline Maxlife. I admit the timing was a bit unfortunate and he even sent a sample to Valvoline; he continued to badmouth the product even tho 100s of people have used it with no issues.
The apparent unvocalised premise of his position was "a properly maintained transmission will never fail" which is a bit tenuous.
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Just put Maxlife multi vehicle in my 2002 Tacoma with 217k miles. It's now shifting extremely smoothly, unlike before. It was also about a quart low beforehand. Shame on me for not staying on top of it.
I'll do a second and third drain and refill in the coming weeks with more Maxlife.
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Originally Posted by rob1715
Been searching on the internet for ATF stories on how MV ATF fluid ruined a transmission - Castrol Multi-Import is bad - Maxlife ruined my transmission - etc... Probably 15 different ways to construct that sentence it but can't seem to find hits. I'm not referring to wrong applications such as putting ATF4 in a GM truck or Honda DW1 in a Toyota, but using a multi-vehicle ATF that someone used for the correct application, and the trans still went bad specifically due to the fluid. Are ATF fluids that interchangeable? Been using Castrol IMV in my 03 Toyota Matrix for 25k miles and it seems to be doing pretty well. 2019 Sorento I will still use SP-IV.
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Odds are that people who do use MV fluids in their cars also change it much, much more frequently than the average person. I think every mechanic that works on transmissions will say that fresh fluid is the most important factor (after "right" fluid, i.e. not putting CVT fluid in a non-CVT or vis-versa or ATF+4 in a trans that doesn't use that type).
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