CVTF Basics

[badtlc]

I'd like to learn more about CVTF as it appears these fluids are much different than traditional ATF and not compatible. It seems there isn't much out there as far a specs for CVTF. Does each company (subaru, nissan, toyota, honda, etc.) make their own unique CVT fluids? Will there ever be a 3rd party market for CVTF?

In addition to this, is there a difference in lifetime for CVTF? I have very little understanding of how CVTs work so I have no idea if CVTF lives a much easier life and should last longer with less maintenance. I'm trying to figure out if drain/fill provides any benefit or if the CVT is so easy on fluid it is a waste of time.

Any links, opinions etc. on CVT and CVTF would be greatly appreciated.

 

[charbaby]

There are 3rd party CVT Fluids from Valvoline, Castrol, AmSoil that I am aware of.
I believe what others have said in terms of CVT drain & fills as compared to the dealer procedure. There are many youtube videos on drain & fills(put back in, what you drained out) as where the dealer wants to make the procedure this long, drawn out big deal. And maybe the dealer is right, IDK. As far as living a longer life, well, they don't seem to have a good reputation.

 

[badtlc]

I'm aware of the more detailed drain/fill procedures. It is a bit annoying but no big deal.

I'm not concerned much about the life of the CVT but the life of the CVTF. The application is so new there doesn't seem to be goo data on 3rd party CVTF products like those you mentioned and they don't necessarily list out specs or compatibility for all CVTs that are out there. I don't understand the differences in CVT fluids nor the stresses the CVTF sees. I thought maybe CVTs might be much easier on fluid than the traditional.

 

[Donald]

I will be using Amsoil CVT fluid for both my Subaru vehicles. When its warm. The only trick I believe is to get the CVT to a certain temp when measuring the fluid level. For that you may need a scanner. Maybe an IR thermometer will do, unsure.

 

[badtlc]

Does amsoil list their CVT as being compatible for your vehicles? Their system doesn't bring anything up for mine. Is there a subaru spec they list that they meet?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted by badtlc
Does amsoil list their CVT as being compatible for your vehicles? Their system doesn't bring anything up for mine. Is there a subaru spec they list that they meet?


Are you clicking the transmission tab at the top or still on the engine tab? It lists Amsoil CVT for a 2018 Forester, all 3 engines.

 

[Kira]

Bought a case of Amalie CVT fluid through amaliestore.com (a best kept secret for lots of good stuff shipped to your door free)
Did my friend's 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander CVT. Matched volume in with volume out and replaced the screen unnecessarily.
The stainless steel screen had caught one lone piece of shiny swarf.
The old fluid was the color of dark maple syrup. There was no suggestion of suspended solids as you see often in old ATF.

There was a "J" designation in Mitsubishi Owners Manual and a "J" was noted either on the bottle or Amalie's website.
I do remember emailing them and that the coverage was quite broad.
I should've posted Amalie's return email.

As basics go, I always assumed a CVTF would be more "grippy" than a tailored hydraulic fluid.
I'd bet the friction modifiers aid the linked belt grab (molecularly, of course) the conical drums.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I have been using Valvoline Synthetic CVT fluid in a Hertz high mileage Altima.
I serviced it twice with maybe 4K miles in between.
Smoothed the car right out.

My process was to replace about what came out and then remove level plug.
The 2nd time a Ebay'ed a dip stick from a 2013(?) Altima and used that.

I bought some Castrol CVT fluid on sale because it is supposed to be good and the Valvoline fluid went up.
I also serviced my old 2013 Accord using HC-2 fluid at about 30K as I recall. Easy peasey.

Lifetime fluid? Fooey.

 

[MolaKule]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4945879/amsoil-cvt-fluid#Post4945879

See post #4703849 and the links inside.

 

[vssjim]

I also know that Lucas sells a CVT fluid as well. There list like most has oe listings on web site

 

[Revving2Redline]

In the Honda I run it 30 min on highway and then changed it. After adding 3.25qts we run it and then reopen the fill plug. Add or drain as necessary. Draining and filling will work sorta, but with burnoff and such it better to do the oem recommended way. I have siphoned out to do sample but nothing else.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted by MolaKule
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4945879/amsoil-cvt-fluid#Post4945879

See post #4703849 and the links inside.



Thanks.

That seems to cover CVTF for belt-push CVTs. Is that application different than the chain-pull CVT applications? What are the critical parts of CVTF? Where do the stresses on the fluid come from in a CVT?

EDIT: From reading the links and sub links, it sounds as if all CVTF is designed the same way and it really doesn't matter the application? If this is true, any idea why Subaru has two different CVTFs that they use and what is different besides the color in those?

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted by Donald
Originally Posted by badtlc
Does amsoil list their CVT as being compatible for your vehicles? Their system doesn't bring anything up for mine. Is there a subaru spec they list that they meet?


Are you clicking the transmission tab at the top or still on the engine tab? It lists Amsoil CVT for a 2018 Forester, all 3 engines.


It wasn't showing anything for my car last week unless I'm confusing it with the redline site.

I do see it now, though.

My issue with what Amsoil and several others show when they reference Subaru is they reference an outdated CVTF that apparently Subaru doesn't use anymore. They all reference the original lineartronic CVTF but now Subaru uses a CVTF-II fluid and a HT CVTF-II for the turbo models. I have no clue what changed in the subaru fluids and whether the multi-vehicles work for this application since it is now a different spec.

 

[JoeJ]

There is an app in Google Play store, search "CTVF". It works with an ELM 327 OBD2 device to monitor CVT temps and a whole lot more. It is called 'CVTz50'.

 

[KGMtech]

There is an app in Google Play store, search "CTVF". It works with an ELM 327 OBD2 device to monitor CVT temps and a whole lot more. It is called 'CVTz50'.

I have this for my Infiniti and my wife's Rogue, works perfectly in both cars, I have Android phone wfiw.