Maxlife ATF Compatibility

[Carlostrece]

I certainly don't pretend to understand the chemistry, etc. My question is, is MaxLife OK for cars like early Hondas and Toyotas? I have to believe there are bazillions of 250K - 300K and beyond transmissions happily running MaxLife.

So, does it matter just because it is not the same? Tha't my bottom line question.

It doesn't matter if it's not the same. It only matters if it's compatible. Some compatible fluids (that have some differences from OEM fluid) are better than OEM fluids.

Based on research I've done in the 2 months since I started this thread, I think Idemitsu Type H Plus ATF and Valvoline Extreme Protection Full Syn ATF are better for Hondas than DW-1.

I think Maxlife Full Syn ATF is a side-grade for shifting, but an upgrade for preventing or reducing leaks in Hondas compared to DW-1.

I explained my reasons and evidence for thinking the above earlier in thread, but that's been lost and overshadowed by needless arguments over whether two different ATF are the same and whether it matters.

Different brands of ATF are not the same, but that doesn't matter. What matters is if they're compatible with the transmission and work well. Sometimes different is better.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Idemitsu doesn't sell an ATF called "DW-1". You claim to have seen a barrel of it though....

People bought those fluids and sent them to a lab to have the composition analyzed.

Post it

The barrel was not DW-1, it was CVT fluid.

Post #6 on this link is the barrel. No one yet has even looked at it.


https://www.crvownersclub.com/threa...vt-fluid.237120/?post_id=1868331#post-1868331

 

[Carlostrece]

The barrel was not DW-1, it was CVT fluid.

Post #6 on this link is the barrel. No one yet has even looked at it.


https://www.crvownersclub.com/threa...vt-fluid.237120/?post_id=1868331#post-1868331

Thank you for posting that. You're correct. It's CVT fluid.

More importantly, the photo clearly shows the label on the barrel says Idemitsu at top left and below that says Genuine Honda fluid.

That's not surprising because Idemitsu makes the various Genuine Honda ATF products. Idemitsu also makes corresponding compatible Idemitsu branded fluids for use in Hondas.

I don't understand why anyone wanted to argue about this or doubt whoever first posted that photo. None of this was worth arguing about.