When you can get T-IV under $5.25/qt it doesn't make much sense to gamble with a multi-vehicle fluid. I noticed that some ATF like ST Merc V said you could use it for T-IV. Who are you going to believe with these multi-vehicle fluids when some of them tell you Merc 5 can be used in place of JWS3309?
Endlessly debating ATF with myself
- Thread starter fishbone
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M1 Lube Shop won't do it. If it doesn't have cooler lines, they don't touch it. I'll do it myself then and save the labor expenses, I'm more than prepared to tackle it as long as I can figure out a way to fill it without using the "dealer tool".
I haven't decided if I want to go the quick easy route or the thorough route which would involve dropping the pan to replace the filter. My shop told me that if it shifts fine now, to not worry about the filter. But then again this thing has 70K miles on the factory ATF which is not even synthetic. A new filter is at least 70 bucks from what I have seen, pan gasket ain't cheap either. What do you guys think? Do it or just do the ATF and call it a day?
Amsoil is specced as replacement for JWS3309, that's what I'll use.
I haven't decided if I want to go the quick easy route or the thorough route which would involve dropping the pan to replace the filter. My shop told me that if it shifts fine now, to not worry about the filter. But then again this thing has 70K miles on the factory ATF which is not even synthetic. A new filter is at least 70 bucks from what I have seen, pan gasket ain't cheap either. What do you guys think? Do it or just do the ATF and call it a day?
Amsoil is specced as replacement for JWS3309, that's what I'll use.
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Isn't the filter on this just a strainer? It would be probably a waste of time replacing it. At most I would buy the pan and filter gasket and drop the pan to inspect and clean it and maybe the strainer. I would probably just drain the fluid and not bother with all that.
Yeah, it looks like a strainer. The kicker is, the [censored] gasket costs more than the filter and more than the ATF. It's $70 everywhere I looked.
Here's the filter, looks like a strainer to me.
Pelican Parts 2006 Cooper S Filter
It is actually listed as a strainer on other sites.
Here's the filter, looks like a strainer to me.
Pelican Parts 2006 Cooper S Filter
It is actually listed as a strainer on other sites.
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i did 3 changes on my 2008 subaru with REGULAR dex3 at 30,000 miles, (this will replace about 7/8), followed by 2 changes of Valvoline synthetic - results in 75% synthetic Valvoline multi purpose, with 25% conventional dex3. the resulting transmission runs and shifts 100% perfectly, including high speed runs of 80 mph for a couple of hours. 12,000 miles later, it is still 100%, so i think it is probably safe to do this.
"Suitable and compatible" doesn't cut it for me. I want a fluid the is approved and meets the required spec. Mobil 1 makes a separate AT fluid spec'd as #3309 which is T-IV. Just because it is suitable or compatible does not mean it is the best options and usually these one-size-fits-all will work but, are not as good. JM observations.
Agree 100% w/Eddie ^^^
Who says it's "suitable"? If it truly was, then it would be approved by the relevant manufacturer.
When dealing with something as expensive and complicated as an automatic transmission/transaxle why mess around with questionable fluids when the proper fluids can be had for only a few dollars more?
Who says it's "suitable"? If it truly was, then it would be approved by the relevant manufacturer.
When dealing with something as expensive and complicated as an automatic transmission/transaxle why mess around with questionable fluids when the proper fluids can be had for only a few dollars more?
Originally Posted By: fishbone
.... The Mini unit is an Aisin-Warner 6EAT that, from what I have read around, uses the same or similar ATF as Toyota Type-IV...... So who do you believe? The manufacturer or the lubricating guys.
The Aisin-Warner is Toyota IV, Mobil 3309, and a half dozen other formulae.
I would go with one of the synthetics - I am using Mobil 1 ATF in my Toyota that calls for Toyota Type IV.
.... The Mini unit is an Aisin-Warner 6EAT that, from what I have read around, uses the same or similar ATF as Toyota Type-IV...... So who do you believe? The manufacturer or the lubricating guys.
The Aisin-Warner is Toyota IV, Mobil 3309, and a half dozen other formulae.
I would go with one of the synthetics - I am using Mobil 1 ATF in my Toyota that calls for Toyota Type IV.
I agree with the degree of hesitance in using the WRONG ATF. That being said, here is my argument for being OK with using something like Mobil 1 or Amsoil synthetic.
There is ZERO incentive for the manufacturer to do the testing and approve of any other ATF not already on their list. Not only would this cost them money, they would get nothing in return.
I mean, if we are going by this line of reasoning, even Toyota's Type IV is NOT on the approved list, and technically NOT a suitable replacement. Heck, maybe it is the same basestock but with a different additive package.
Since Mobil 1 makes their own JWS 3309 fluid, this tells me they know what they are doing. They know the specs. As such, what reason would they have to clearly quote, black on white, that their universal synthetic ATF is suitable replacement for JWS 3309 if it was not suitable? Universal synthetic ATF are universal because they supposebly are better than the OEM specs of non-synthetic ATF. In Amsoil's case (or any other synthetic ATF manufacturer for that matter), they have zero reason to risk themselves to lawsuits from customers using their ATF that is the wrong spec. They do their own in-house testing.
Why not just use Mobil 1's 3309 fluid? Because it is not synthetic and the procedure to drain/fill the ATF is not fun on these trannies. I don't want to see myself in this situation 30K miles down the road. I want to use a good synthetic ATF that can hold up for 50-75K miles.
There is ZERO incentive for the manufacturer to do the testing and approve of any other ATF not already on their list. Not only would this cost them money, they would get nothing in return.
I mean, if we are going by this line of reasoning, even Toyota's Type IV is NOT on the approved list, and technically NOT a suitable replacement. Heck, maybe it is the same basestock but with a different additive package.
Since Mobil 1 makes their own JWS 3309 fluid, this tells me they know what they are doing. They know the specs. As such, what reason would they have to clearly quote, black on white, that their universal synthetic ATF is suitable replacement for JWS 3309 if it was not suitable? Universal synthetic ATF are universal because they supposebly are better than the OEM specs of non-synthetic ATF. In Amsoil's case (or any other synthetic ATF manufacturer for that matter), they have zero reason to risk themselves to lawsuits from customers using their ATF that is the wrong spec. They do their own in-house testing.
Why not just use Mobil 1's 3309 fluid? Because it is not synthetic and the procedure to drain/fill the ATF is not fun on these trannies. I don't want to see myself in this situation 30K miles down the road. I want to use a good synthetic ATF that can hold up for 50-75K miles.
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I see your dilemma. You want a better synthetic base oil, but by doing that you don't get the exact additive pack. I think the T-IV could probably easily take you 50K miles with a complete change. While the non-spec oil might have a better base oil if the additive pack isn't as close to spec, you may not get more and better service life. If I had to guess, you'd be all right because electronic transmission are adaptive so might compensate for the add pack.
Then again we put about 12K miles a year on the car and may not have it for longer than 3 or 4. Maybe I should just go with the JWS-3309 from Mobil 1 or Type IV and call it good. Since I am doing a drain and fill, I will most likely end up not replacing the whole ATF.
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Here is the source for 3309 and it is on sale. http://www.avlube.com/
Here is a prior thread discussing T-IV equivalents and it has links to other similar threads.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1352230/
Here is a prior thread discussing T-IV equivalents and it has links to other similar threads.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1352230/
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