ATF for a 2009-2010 Rav 4

[buster]

I just put a Fumoto on my brother's Rav 4. (2.5L) He drives a lot and wants to extend his drain intervals. He is now running Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w20 and I will take a sample around 12k miles.

He was asking me about the ATF fluid and I don't know much about the transmission in this vehicle, and whether it would be worth it for him to switch to MaxLife ATF or Amsoil ATF (Low viscosity). Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[The Critic]

ATF-WS. Nothing else.

 

[buster]

Thanks!

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
ATF-WS. Nothing else.


ATL will work great as well.

 

[QuietPortage]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
ATL will work great as well.

+1

Valvoline Maxlife is another option and is working very well in my WS application. Genuine Toyota WS ATF is way overpriced for what appears to be conventional oil. I'm very happy with my decision to use synthetic Maxlife for half the price of WS. If I was planning on keeping the Tacoma for a long time, I would have used the Amsoil ATL.

My Maxlife/WS thread

 

[The Critic]

I could care less whether it was conventional, synthetic or organic. ATF-WS was tested by Toyota for these transmissions in the platforms they are used in. You cannot say that about Amsoil testing ATL in every single possible ATF-WS application on the market.

Besides, I happen to know that the RAV4 that buster is referencing has an extended warranty.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I could care less whether it was conventional, synthetic or organic. ATF-WS was tested by Toyota for these transmissions in the platforms they are used in. You cannot say that about Amsoil testing ATL in every single possible ATF-WS application on the market.

Besides, I happen to know that the RAV4 that buster is referencing has an extended warranty.


Just mentioning how great ATL works in the RAV4. But it seems odd that buster's brother would violate his extended warranty with extended drains in the engine, then suddenly think only Toyota brand ATF-WS is the only ATF that will keep his warranty intact.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I could care less whether it was conventional, synthetic or organic. ATF-WS was tested by Toyota for these transmissions in the platforms they are used in. You cannot say that about Amsoil testing ATL in every single possible ATF-WS application on the market.

Besides, I happen to know that the RAV4 that buster is referencing has an extended warranty.


Just mentioning how great ATL works in the RAV4. But it seems odd that buster's brother would violate his extended warranty with extended drains in the engine, then suddenly think only Toyota brand ATF-WS is the only ATF that will keep his warranty intact.

I think ekpolk has gone through this with the forum before - extended warranties are not warranties, but rather, are service contracts. Magnuson Moss or the usual requires for burden of proof may not apply.

 

[buster]

Well, I'm thinking he will most likely want to stick with 10k mile drains to avoid any warranty issues. I honestly didn't think about that for some reason, now that you mentioned it.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: The Critic

I think ekpolk has gone through this with the forum before - extended warranties are not warranties, but rather, are service contracts. Magnuson Moss or the usual requires for burden of proof may not apply.


This is true. It really depends on what the contract says.

 

[buster]

In this case, I will take Critic's advice and stick with the Toyota Fluid. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: buster
Well, I'm thinking he will most likely want to stick with 10k mile drains to avoid any warranty issues. I honestly didn't think about that for some reason, now that you mentioned it.



I believe the 2009-10 models were on the 5w-20 OR 0w-20 recommendation; therefore, oil changes are still required every 5,000.

The 10,000 interval are on the newer ones where it is 0w-20 only.

 

[buster]

Ok, thanks. Well, 5,000 is to often for the amount of driving he does, and with Mobil 1 Extended Performance I think 10k is a safe OCI. I'll sample it regardless and just let it slide on the oil change interval.

 

[Slick17601]

Go with the Amsoil, at least Pablo won't give you any [censored] when you want to buy it. I decided on a whim one Saturday that I wanted to do a drain and fill on my 2008 Sienna. I thought I was going to have to wrestle the parts guy at the dealer to sell it to me. He kept preaching it's lifetime fluid and it doesn't ever need changed. I said are you going to buy me a new transmission at 100,000 miles? He then sold me 5 quarts.