How miles have you put on your car using non OEM ATF.

[Chris142]

07 Fjcruiser. Bought used with 151000 miles on it. The WS fluid was black as used diesel oil.

Did Several drain and fills with Maxlife.

Currantly has 227000 miles on it and shifting great.

 

[tblt44]

2006 tahoe. 251k
Valvoline dex v1 a few times
Now maxlife.
Right around 200k k now with like 5 or 6 fluid changes
2003 Avalanche 239k 3 or 4 changes of maxlife since 119k.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Bought an 03 k24 accord that I’m most sure had some kind of universal ATF in it at 100k. It was clean as could be. Didn’t notice on test drive but once I started driving it daily noticed it’d flare between shifts and had some poor shift qualities. I did a full fluid exchange with Honda atf z1 (it was still available back then) and everything I felt wrong with it was perfect from there on to 250k or so when it needed and engine. Those miles with the oem fluid included drain and fills anytime I felt the urge.

My 17 Mazda 6 had oem Mazda fluid, drained and filled up till 80k or so on a 30k then 15k interval after that. Around 80k or so (just guessing) I started using aisin mazda atf fz (same blue color, etc). I’ve noticed no difference in transmission related anything due to the aftermarket fluid.

Due to my experience with my Honda as well as many customers using the wrong fluids and fixing their issues by simple fluid changes, I won’t run any “universal” atf in most transmissions.

 

[GMBoy]

Not including the hundreds of vehicles serviced with maxlife in my shop - so here are my strict personal vehicle list where I have used non oem fluid

2014 Jeep GC Overland - 202k miles currently and still runs and looks like a new truck. 1st drain and fill with maxlife was at 65k miles. Then again at 120k miles. About to do it again soon. - no issues and shifts great and over 100k miles of use

2020 Jeep Gladiator 78k miles, 1st drain and fill with maxlife at 55k

2016 Ram Limited 157k miles. Maxlife drain and fill at 85k and I plan on another soon.

1994 Corvette 56k miles - Mobil 1 universal ATF at 30k and probably should do again based on age.

1987 Buick Grand National 66k miles - Mobil 1 universal ATF around 15k and 40k miles...should prob do again based on age.

2006 Corvette C6 86k miles - maxlife at 80k

2007 Corvette C6 154k miles - maxlife at 85k and 150k

 

[gman2304]

2005 Chevy Avalanche 5.3 4L60E 248,000 miles with siphon and fills ( got about 3 qts out each time ) once a year using Supertech Dexron equivalent conventional. Never had a problem and shifted like new when I sold it two years ago.

 

[GW.]

My daughters 2016 Acura RDX was switched to Valvoline Maxlife after the TSB didn’t cure the factory fluid shudder. Over 110k miles since the change over and the transmission is still going strong.

 

[TiGeo]

See signature for car info.

Atlas. Valvoline Maxlife red bottle ATF. Not much mileage...~10k mi.

Passat. Valvoline Maxlife red bottle ATF... ~10k mi.

Sportwagen. Liquimoly DSG fluid...80k mi including track use.

All shift perfectly

 

[Panda87]

Amsoil ATL (blue cap, low visc) in 2014 Navigator (6r80) since 145,000mi. Now have 174,000 on it towing a 7500lb camper often at 80mph for a significant portion of that mileage. Runs and shifts like a perfect transmission. Honestly, I feel spoiled by how well it does.

2016 Mercedes GL450 with 7g-tronic. Changed to HPL Green CC ATF since its visc most closely matched the MB fluid visc. Changed that at 110,000mi and it’s been great to the now 125,000mi hauling the fam of 6 to wherever around town. Also hauled the fam and our 14ft utility trailer loaded with all of our luggage and two motorcycles from North Alabama to Philly and back. Total load was around 3200lbs worth of trailer. Did the same load from North Alabama to Southeast Alabama as well. This transmission, even before the change to HPL, was simply never as smooth as the 6r80, however, its improved over the miles of our ownership, so perhaps the TCM has been learning shift patterns to compensate.

 

[donald53]

2005 Toyota Camry 4-cylinder....owned since new...have 182k miles on it currently. Have been using Valvoline Maxlife and do a drain and fill every year since the vehicle had 30k miles which is about 16 years. That would be about 150k miles on Maxlife. Drain approximately 4 quarts, put 4 quarts back in. Shifts beautifully and no noises or whining.

 

[Arc]

Getting ready to change the transmission fluid on my 05 Ram 180k and found Mopar Atf4 on amazon for $44 six quarts. Ive actually never used anything but random brands so this will be a first using Mopar fluid.

 

[amateurbob]

Getting ready to change the transmission fluid on my 05 Ram 180k and found Mopar Atf4 on amazon for $44 six quarts. Ive actually never used anything but random brands so this will be a first using Mopar fluid.

How does that compare in price to the stuff you have purchased in the past?

 

[kschachn]

Hmm. About 450,000 on my Sienna and well over 300,000 on my Accord. A lot of it being Maxlife but some Dexron-VI and back in the day some Mobil 1 ATF.

 

[amateurbob]

Hmm. About 450,000 on my Sienna and well over 300,000 on my Accord. A lot of it being Maxlife but some Dexron-VI and back in the day some Mobil 1 ATF.

Impressive. What years were the sienna and accord?

 

[Panda87]

How does that compare in price to the stuff you have purchased in the past?

When I’ve used ATF +4 in my Ram, it was more expensive than Maxlife. Here are today’s quart prices.

 

[amateurbob]

When I’ve used ATF +4 in my Ram, it was more expensive than Maxlife. Here are today’s quart prices.

View attachment 317596

View attachment 317597

Thanks for doing the legwork. It seems the Mopar fluid is a similar price to the Valvoline MaxLife.

 

[jsean]

I know there is a big split among people that go oem atf and those that happily and successfully use aftermarket.

I am interested in what
1) vehicle you drive
2) the non oem atf fluid you use
3) and how many miles you have used it for successfully.
ideally l would be interested in those that go 200k or more.

1. ‘05 Corolla. 120k miles on Valvoline Maxlife fill and spills every 30 k miles. Still shifts nice and smooth with 221k miles.
2. ‘11 Pathfinder. About 55k miles on Maxlife.
3. ‘08 Focus. About 30k miles on Maxlife.
4. ‘91 Volvo 240. About 50k miles on Maxlife. Sold with 267k miles and is currently at 290k miles. Still shifts smoothly per the new owner.

 

[kschachn]

Impressive. What years were the sienna and accord?

They are 1999 and 1996.

 

[Kurtatron]

2005 Ford Focus 156k miles. Original ATF never changed until 150k miles. Flushed, not drain-filled, to Valvoline MaxLife. No problems 6k miles and 6 months later.

 

[Donald]

When I start to service the transmission on any of the vehicles I have recently owned I use Amsoil ATF. That would be over 100K miles on Amsoil ATF on 2015 F250. And Amsoil gear oil for front & rear differential. Amsoil ATF for transfer case.

Have not serviced the CVT on Crosstrek. They extended the warranty to 10 years so will probably use OEM CVT fluid. Doubt wife will keep the Crosstrek beyond 10 years. If it was normal AT with normal warranty it would get Amsoil at 50K to 60K miles.

I ran Amsoil ATF in older Camry, Jeep GC and Dodge Ram 3/4 ton pickup.

 

[nthach]

I’ve been running Valvoline hybrid ATF in two Toyota hybrids with a combined 100K on the fluid. No problems. Also been running Castrol IMV in a Sienna around the 160-170K mark, almost 200K on it now. I’ve also used it with great success in a Lexus LS400 until it was crushed - from 120K to 300K.