Was just comparing it to Redline/Motul/Amsoil/HPL
Is Maxlife Extended Protection ATF a true full synthetic
- Thread starter FlyingTexan
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wemay
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Not understanding the reason for this thread. But hope you find what you need.
Not sure what the issue is here to be honest......It's a group III. So.........yes. It's fine. Add pack is waaaaaay more important.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I have purchased it twice sitting next to the MaxLife multi …
We have seen that Valvoline tends to use “EP” differently than Mobil or others - so no delusions of grandeur to run it as long as you could Amsoil or HPL … and I won’t … Sadly, the vehicle I have it in is my last easy ATF change …
I never said there was an issue. I just asked if it was a real synthetic.
If you like Amsoil, then just run their ATF for your vehicle. It’s an excellent ATF choice. That said, the Valvoline product is superb as well. Go with whatever brand you like. Both brands have a longstanding history of cult-like followings because those brands provided good alternatives to OE fluids when problems were arising with performance on OE fluid; but was noticeably better on these brands. That was like 20 years ago. If they delivered good results back then, I’d trust them today if looking for alternatives to OE because the track record has continued to this day.
It’s synthetic. Is it Group IV/V? No. There are plenty of available options, though. Do remember that trans fluid does not have to deal with combustion contaminants nor the extreme heat of combustion, so there’s no issues at all with an application-specific Group III formulation.
The Group IV/V do have some additional cleanliness benefits and cold-flow temps, but we get right back to the engine oil argument: just about any trans fluid that meets the manufacturer’s recommendations, is changed on an appropriate schedule and not contaminated, will allow the a fantastic majority of transmissions to outlive the usefulness of the vehicle to the current owner.
The Group IV/V do have some additional cleanliness benefits and cold-flow temps, but we get right back to the engine oil argument: just about any trans fluid that meets the manufacturer’s recommendations, is changed on an appropriate schedule and not contaminated, will allow the a fantastic majority of transmissions to outlive the usefulness of the vehicle to the current owner.
It can legally be advertised as full synthetic. If your personal definition of synthetic is different I don’t know.
I’ve used MaxLife for years in every Subaru I’ve owned at 20-30k spill & fills after I cleared out the old stuff; 4EATs & ML are almost tailor-made for each other. Never any issues.
However, last year I switched my ‘07 Impreza over to HPL Green CC, arguably one of the finest fluids available (I’ve used Amsoil ATL in other vehicles as well).
The Green is on the thinner side of recommended but in line with ML viscosity, but the transmission shifts smoother and quicker than it ever did on ML, and it also sharpened the takeoff from a stop. The ML would be almost “mushy” where you’d give the car gas & there was a slight delay. That is gone with the HPL; any throttle input results in much quicker and linear reaction.
Specs & clean fluid are more important than base oil composition IMO.
Interesting.
For my Honda Fit, it took the 2nd interval on Amsoil’s ATL to reduce transmission case whine that was occurring before. There seemed to be some cleaning on the first run. (After a complete conversion from Honda DW-1)
67k miles was the first run…a darkened pink color. Good layer of accumulation on the magnetic drain plug. (Performed 2 D&F)
49k on the second run, barely a shade under virgin color. (Performed 2 D&F)
41k on the most recent interval; bright pink color (so I performed a single D&F)
Between cleaning and reduced/eliminated transmission case whine (which is common on these), combined with consistent and confident shifting; I’ve been very pleased with the Amsoil fluid as opposed to PO that used regular DW1. Plus, I can extend the interval apparently. Less maintenance and better performance? Win win.
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You should know the answer after eight years on Bitog wouldn't you say?
No.
I guess I classify an oil as full synthetic if it's made from fully synthetic parts like Redline, Amsoil, Motul, etc. I asked because I don't trust marketing and someone saying "Premium Full synthetic" made me wonder if it really is compared to it's neighbors. So it's no more a full synthetic than Liqui Moly oil saying they are. Everyone here bashes them because "They're not a real full synthetic" but somehow seem to gloss over it here. I wanted to know because Amsoil and other's market their product as one way and Valvoline is marketing this as if they put the same cost/effort into this when it isn't. Several here have mentioned the add packs. The Amsoil gear lube seemed to do much better on the bearing wear tests which is lower stress than the tranny. I guess some could say "i don't know why you're asking" and that's fine but I'm asking because if it's made from inferior base oils then I'd rather spend the money and going with top shelf. So many seem to get hung up on the cost of things. To me it doesn't matter, I want the best product. My question was part of finding that, not the end all but part of it. Do I really care if I spend $100 more over a 5yr period? No.
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I'm sure you've heard of the boutique brands, that's where you'll find the "real" synthetics.
Again, I'm surprised after all this time you didn't know that.
Fully synthetic parts? What does that mean exactly? A Group III hydrocracked base stock is indeed assembled from smaller molecules, those are not synthesized but neither are those which compose a Group IV base either.
I will go out on a limb here and say that your response isn't surprising to most anyone in this thread. It is likely what you wanted to opine when you started out. I doubt you really had a question in the beginning if you already knew what the base stock composition was and how it is produced.
As an aside to the Amsoil gear oil tests - it may be instructive to note that this is due to the overall formulation of the oil. I happen to use Amsoil gear oil in my ECHO and Tiguan - but wear protection isn't due to a Group IV base. In fact, PAO in and of itself produces slightly more wear than a linear hydrocarbon chain like a Group III base.
Since I'm likely on ignore with you I don't expect you to comment. But your post above is a common and misguided understanding of the meaning of "synthetic" and synthesis. That's not where it is at here. You'd be better served by focusing on performance, and exactly which performance characteristics you are promoting in your comments.
The answer is yes.
Valvoline makes great products and is a trusted and established brand. Use with confidence if it's available to you at an affordable price.
I've done 2 drain and fills on my mom's 02 Highlander and the trans seems to like this fluid.
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Then why did you repeatedly mention them?
The Valvoline ATF will work well but is not in the same class as HPL, Amsoil etc.
what don't you get?
I didn't know what the base stock composition was hence me asking exactly the question I asked. It was a pretty simple question and apparently the answer is no. It is not a true full synthetic.
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