Maxlife ATF - Soft/sluggish shifting in Previa

[The Critic]

Despite my recent experience with Maxlife ATF, I decided to give it another chance by using it for a transmission service on my father's '92 Toyota Previa.

Prior to the service, the Previa's transmission shifted pretty well. Shifts were positive, quick and just a hair harsh. The old fluid had turned light brown, and was Castrol Dex/Merc with 48,000 miles on it. When the Castrol fluid was installed, I had done an 8 qt flush (the trans only holds 6 qt total).

This time, I did cooler-line flush with 8.5 qt of Valvoline Maxlife ATF. The unit only holds 6 qt total, so most of the fluid was replaced. This is the Maxlife bottle with the "full-synthetic" wording on the label. After the flush, I noticed that the transmission shifts very soft/smooth, and the shifts are no longer as quick as they were before.

Is this is a bad thing? I don't know. I certainly preferred the shift feel of the old fluid. Is it normal for Maxlife to behave this way in an older Dexron-II spec'ed transmission? One thought which came to mind immediately, was that Maxlife may be more friction-modified for the other applications, and is causing my transmission to shift more "softly."

Thoughts?

 

[Clevy]

I'm guessing the new fluid is slightly thicker because no viscosity has been lost due to use yet.
Thinner fluid will shift harder. I noticed every slush box I ever owned in winter the shifts were soft until the fluid got hot then shifts were faster and harder. I think that's what you are noticing.
Give it 15000 miles,it will get more firm.

 

[meep]

@critic, your guess makes sense to me. it's probably more "friction modified" than good 'ole dex II. If you don't want to dump it, you might try just a splash or two of lucas in there. it's grippy and syrupy. Bit of a crude black art when you start tuning fluids by mixing them, but it can be done. The TC in my sig runs a weak trans that I've "tuned" by adding additive a touch at a time until a good compromise is reached. or you can pull the ML, or live with it.

I tend to not be a fan of sluggish shifts myself--- has the van always shifted quickly since new? or did it shift like this when new? It might be ok...

 

[Voltmaster]

You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.

Oh really? Why is that?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

The transmission in your previa has had EVERY fluid under the sun specified at one point. It's been in millions of vehicles - Toyota, Jeep, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi. And each of those manufacturers has specified their own fluid.

They are a long lived transmission - I wouldn't bother with maxlife - just get cheap Dex/Merc III and call it a day.

And put on a cooler. They generate ENORMOUS amounts of heat!

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.

Lot of good that did with some Honda units. I have used Amsoil and Maxlife in dozens of Japanese units over the years without issue. I agree some OEM fluids are better suited for some units but Dex/Mercon based ones could care less from my experience.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.



thats a pretty generic reply.

his "car" is so old there was no special atf at the time.

just dex2

now fast forward to a 2012 model.. thats decent advice.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
I'm guessing the new fluid is slightly thicker because no viscosity has been lost due to use yet.
Thinner fluid will shift harder. I noticed every slush box I ever owned in winter the shifts were soft until the fluid got hot then shifts were faster and harder. I think that's what you are noticing.
Give it 15000 miles,it will get more firm.


Vehicle has racked up 48k in what, 21 years? To go 15k would take another 7...

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I'm guessing the new fluid is slightly thicker because no viscosity has been lost due to use yet.
Thinner fluid will shift harder. I noticed every slush box I ever owned in winter the shifts were soft until the fluid got hot then shifts were faster and harder. I think that's what you are noticing.
Give it 15000 miles,it will get more firm.


Vehicle has racked up 48k in what, 21 years? To go 15k would take another 7...

The van has 134k on it. It has racked up 48k in the last three years.

Originally Posted By: meep


I tend to not be a fan of sluggish shifts myself--- has the van always shifted quickly since new? or did it shift like this when new? It might be ok...

As far as I can remember, it has always shifted quick and a tad harsh. It has also only seen Dex-III fluids. This is the first time that any "multi-vehicle" fluid has been installed.

 

[mrgrim]

Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.


I would, if the manual specifically stated to use an OEM-only fluid out of risk of damaging a transmission. However, if it just says OEM or equivalent (like my particular Nissan for example), then I'd use whatever is spec'd.

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.



thats a pretty generic reply.

his "car" is so old there was no special atf at the time.

just dex2

now fast forward to a 2012 model.. thats decent advice.


^^^this^^^

dex VI would probably work just fine, as it is in-pedigree with dex III....

and the days of two ATFs (dex vs type-F) are gone... the new "multi's" may all actually be too HFM for an old dex unit.

but in all honesty, I'm surprised it acted differently at all...

 

[RF Overlord]

I know the MaxLife Brigade is gonna picket me, but this is exactly why I am distrustful of one-size-fits-many fluids.

What was wrong with the Dex fluid that made you switch?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
I know the MaxLife Brigade is gonna picket me, but this is exactly why I am distrustful of one-size-fits-many fluids.

What was wrong with the Dex fluid that made you switch?

Nothing. The Castrol Dex/Merc fluid was just due for replacement after 48k. I chose Maxlife because I already had 3 qt of it on the shelf.

 

[TrevorS]

If you're not happy drain the Maxlife and use something else.

You seem to do enough work that you could reuse the Maxlife on something else more suited to it.

 

[RF Overlord]

Dump it. Install Castrol Dex/Merc again. Have beer. Lesson learned.

 

[Tones]

I don't see a reason to get a new/fancy fluid with this one. It just uses good 'ole Dex III. I agree with others I would just use what works best. The best fluid I have used with my Tundra is Mobil 1 Dex III. Nice firm shifts, which this transmission is known for.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
You should always use OE ATF specially in the Japanese cars.

Lot of good that did with some Honda units....

A fair point, not much benefit to those folks using that superb oem Honda ATF Z-1.

And I must have missed the memo, now running MaxLife in three Asian vehicles, two Honda's and a Tacoma. With over 25k using it on a Civic and ~15k on the Taco, every bit as good the spec'd overpriced [censored] Z-1 and nothing special spec'd DexII/III. But I only do a single d&f and run a substantial interval before the next d&f. Perhaps the secret to my success.

But really, the OP's vehicle specs Dex II and it needs oem?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Dump it. Install Castrol Dex/Merc again. Have beer. Lesson learned.


Interestingly enough, the shifts seem to have gotten a bit firmer. I have driven about 150 miles since the fluid change. It would be unusual for a 1992MY vehicle to have an adaptive transmission, so I think any changes must be a chemical reaction of some sort between the fluid and the friction material?

Also, the fluid was bright red after the change. Remember, I had flushed 8.5 qt through a 6 qt system. This is how the fluid looks today:



It has already turned somewhat tan. I wonder what's going on - cleaning?

 

[The Critic]

Update: had to drop the transmission pan (and replace it with a new one due to a stripped plug), so I ended up adding another 3qt of fluid.

After about a week of driving, the shifts seem to have gotten better, but they still don't quite have the quick, crisp feel that they used to. My dad is happy with the Maxlife, so that's all that matters. :lol: