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.

 

[Hall]

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

Notice the Honda p/n on the label ? That is Honda-spec fluid, not Idemitsu's "version" of HCF-2.

https://www.idemitsulubricants.com/product/cvtf-type-h2 - that is their knock-off fluid. Note it's not even offered in anything larger than 5-quart ?

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.

The point is, Idemitsu has (at least) two different formulations for ATF and for CVT fluid and so on. They produce "Type H" fluid that has no similarities to the OEM Honda DW-1 that they also produce. You seem to think that the fluids are identical and just put into different packaging.

 

[Exhaustgases]

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.

Because they don't like me to be right. I first posted the link.

 

[Carlostrece]

Because they don't like me to be right. I first posted the link.

Was it they or one person? If it's mainly one person you could hit the ignore button. I finally did and I feel good. I don't like controversy, especially when it's just contrarianism over frivolous malarky. All anyone needed to do was look at your link & photo.

You were correct and you proved it. I'm sorry it took me so long to return to this thread that I started 2 months ago. I haven't been coming back here because my questions were answered long ago, partly in this thread and elsewhere online. I would use Idemitsu Type H Plus instead of DW-1.

I should have looked at your link & photo sooner. The reason I didn't look at them sooner was because I never doubted you. I finally went and looked at your link & photo because of the needless controversy. You were right and you have proof.

The whole argument/controversy was unnecessary for 2 reasons. It's debatable if it was on topic for this thread. If it was on topic, it was only peripherally on topic. Also, if anyone had looked at your link & photo sooner (in a timely manner) there'd have been no controversy.

 

[Glenda W.]

Is this still going????


Maxlife is perfectly fine for a Honda or Toyota, and everything it claims to be good for.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Is this still going????


Maxlife is perfectly fine for a Honda or Toyota, and everything it claims to be good for.

I and others can appreciate that it seems your volunteering to fix our transmissions if we use that un approved by Honda and Toyota fluid, in our vehicles, and end up with some sort of failure.

 

[Glenda W.]

I and others can appreciate that it seems your volunteering to fix our transmissions if we use that un approved by Honda and Toyota fluid, in our vehicles, and end up with some sort of failure.

I retired years ago. Valvoline will be waiting for an oil related failure….

 

[JustN89]

I and others can appreciate that it seems your volunteering to fix our transmissions if we use that un approved by Honda and Toyota fluid, in our vehicles, and end up with some sort of failure.

This is such a tired cop-out.

And it's "you're".

 

[Hall]

if we use that un approved by Honda and Toyota fluid

Show us where Idemitsu is APPROVED by Honda and/or Toyota.

Hint: To save you the effort, at least with Honda, they absolutely do not approve any aftermarket ATF or CVT fluids.

 

[Carlostrece]

I and others can appreciate that it seems your volunteering to fix our transmissions if we use that un approved by Honda and Toyota fluid, in our vehicles, and end up with some sort of failure.

Idemitsu Type H Plus ATF isn't approved by Honda, but is approved by Idemitsu for use in Hondas in place of DW-1. I'm very confident in Idemitsu.

Maxlife Multi Vehicle Full Syn ATF isn't approved by Honda, but is approved by Valvoline for use in Hondas in place of DW-1. I'm confident in Valvoline. I'm also confident in Glenda's knowlege.

Valvoline Extra Protection Full Syn ATF isn't approved by Honda, but is approved by Valvoline for use in Hondas in place of DW-1. I'm confident in Valvoline.

According to my 2 months of research all over the Internet... Many people are using Maxlife Multi Vehicle Full Syn ATF in Hondas and the vast majority report good results. Many are using Valvoline EP FS ATF in Hondas and report excellent results. Very many are using Idemitsu Type H Plus ATF and all report excellent results.

In fact for VEPFS & ITHP people who have used them in Hondas longterm report they work better than DW-1.

I know one respected BITOG member who told me in a PM that he used MLMVFS ATF in a Honda and had a transmission failure 10K miles later. He is the only person I've heard of having a problem using MLMVFS ATF in a Honda. Dozens of other people all over the Internet who have used it longterm say it's fine. I think it's probably fine, but that's not a unanimous experience/opinion. Whether his AT failure was fluid related we'll never know.

ITHP ATF is unanimously lauded for use in Honda by those who have used it longterm in place of DW-1. In fact, all longterm users said ITHP works great and shifts better than DW-1. I've read the same from longterm users of VEPFS in Hondas, but there are not as many people using VEPFS in Hondas. ITHP is the most popular, widely used substitute for DW-1. In my opinion, ITHP is an upgrade.

For marketing and greed reasons, Honda isn't going to officially approve another brand of oil for use in Hondas. However, some Honda dealerships use other brands of oils with good results and save customers money.

When respected oil companies approve their products for use in Hondas, it's plausible that it's a valid claim, but each claim has to be validated by research and people brave enough to try it longterm, find out, and post about it. FAFOPAI

In the case of the 2 Valvoline ATF mentioned, they've been researched and used enough that they're known. Same with Idemitsu only moreso in regard to Hondas.

My 1st choice for a DW-1 replacement is ITHP ATF. My 2nd choice is VEPFS ATF. MLMVFS would be my 3rd choice. There's probably other good choices by other oil companies, such as Castrol or Mobil, but I don't have any info on those.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Show us where Idemitsu is APPROVED by Honda and/or Toyota.

Hint: To save you the effort, at least with Honda, they absolutely do not approve any aftermarket ATF or CVT fluids.

https://www.crvownersclub.com/threa...vt-fluid.237120/?post_id=1868331#post-1868331
This says Idemitsu, Honda flluid. just scroll up to the picture.

So I just showed you. Please let me know if you now saw the proof?

 

[Glenda W.]

https://www.crvownersclub.com/threa...vt-fluid.237120/?post_id=1868331#post-1868331
This says Idemitsu, Honda flluid. just scroll up to the picture.

So I just showed you. Please let me know if you now saw the proof?

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Some of the back and forth is crazy, deep breath.

Many things also depend on the particular transmission. One member on Piloteer's defended to no end that the type H plus was the same and best as Idemitsu Type H plus was engineered for Honda unlike others multivehicle. He did admit though (after a while) that he was also adding LubeGuard Shudder Fix because of different shift characteristics from DW-1. It didn't matter what the VOA's showed, he knew it. Again that was in the 6 speed Pilot transmission specifically.

DW-1, NOT changed often enough in my father-in-laws '04 CRV was disgusting brown, shifts were bad. I wasn't maintaining it at that time his shop was. I did 1 D&F with DW-1 and it was better. I did 2 more with DW-1 a week apart and it was back to normal for next like 50k then started having issues. I changed the valve body, didn't help. Tried VML, didn't help. Nursed it along until 2nd gear didn't work anymore and replaced the vehicle. I also had replaced the external filter as that had started leaking, rusting through.

My daughter's '08 we got with 208k from my sister. Along the way dealer did D&F's with Z-1, DW-1 and I think I saw some BG also. I used DW-1 on first D&F, fluid still looked great of whichever was in it. A year later it got VML before her StreetSurvival class and then off to college. Totally off the reservation now it has I think 6 quarts of HPL Blue in it as Dave recommended that over the Green for higher viscosity more closely matching original Z-1.

I'd have no issue using the DW-1 in daughters CRV but prefer full synthetic. Different transmission than Pilot, less weight, less gears, less demand and heat IMO as compared to my Pilot. I also have no warranty on that and no one to blame but me if it drops out of the vehicle.

MY Pilot on the other hand, DW-1 $uck$. I'm waiting for the transmission to trigger trouble codes and hopefully get replaced. I did 7-8 D&F's between dealer and myself in the first 52k of life. Each time the DW-1 was very burnt looking, smelled a bit 1-2 times. I probably did enough to make it last just past warranty will be my luck. If I didn't have the HondaCare for another 1.25 years it would most likely already be on VML, Valvoline EP, Amsoil or HPL. For now it's "stock", no VCM disabled, no extra tranny cooler, dealer doing the D&F's with whatever they decide, probably DW-1. Last empty trailer run (840 lb trailer on scale) 2 adults it got quite warm in the hills and stop signs.

@Carlostrece - Even though older thread and answered by your observations. Here is color of DW-1 that was used and got hot, new DW-1 and new Valvoline Max life.

The curbside above and these below are 2 years apart. Below was in 2020 above in 2022. The above IIRC had transmission cooler hooked up and VCM disabled. Again this is in heavy Pilot, not CRV.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

@Carlostrece - if doing other PM on the CRV there should be an external factory filter, under the radiator, 2 rubber hoses going to it. The one on my '04 started rusting out and leaking. The one on the '08, the bolts were rusted in place so I bought a whole new bracket. The new metal Magnefine fits right in the clamp as an option. Just make sure flow direction is correct. The factory Honda one has a bypass valve in it, some of the aftermarket like Beck Arnely do not. Pilot uses the same one as do many Honda's but rarely changed.

Factory filter flow direction.

Magnefine in factory clamp. I believe flow is from right to left on this picture. There is an arrow on it but verify position of factory one in clamp.