MaxLife vs Toyota WS

[GR_CoB]

Another happy report on Maxlife ATF. Vehicle is 2009 Scion XB with 76k miles. Asks for Toyota WS fluid. What drained out looked like liquid poo, as it was very brownish dark color and I couldn't shine a light through it. Factory fill I guess. But I replaced it with 3.5 quarts of Maxlife ATF (full capacity is just under 10 quarts) and everything shifts great and don't know how to properly explain it, but shifts feel more "crisp" in a good way. And it feels .0000007 milliseconds quicker lol. But seriously - does feel better. Will report if it randomly blows up because I haven't used WS and instead used a proven and cheaper full synthetic

 

[MolaKule]

I would do another drain and refill before winter since it appears you have 72k on it.

The new fluid will pick up some of the old FF trash along the way.

 

[QuietPortage]

I did the same with my old Tacoma, and also at 72k. Someone will be along any minute to tell you about the miracle that is WS and how you've destroyed your transmission.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2701768/

 

[Mainia]

Drain and fill another time, drive it on the hwy and come back and dump and fill again. 3 dump and fills minimum. No waiting 3 to 6 months from now. Get the burnt old [censored] out asap!

.

 

[Revving2Redline]

 

[GR_CoB]

My signature is outdated. At 76k miles now. And that is my plan - to replace as much of that fluid as possible, even though the transmission never had a problem shifting so far or overheating with some spirited driving that I have done at 6500 feet. So even though the fluid looked nasty - it still did the job, but I suspect it's on its last leg.

 

[Kira]

Good, timely catch. Feels good, doesn't it?

I emptied "liquid poo" from a pal's trans while storing a purchased car for him. I just HAD to do it again before he picked it up.

I shifted it through gears and started and shut it down while stationary due to it having no plates.

The second drain was satisfactorily filthy too.

Get that fluid clean before Winter.

 

[JC1]

You should remove the pan on the scion and clean it and replace the filter as well.

 

[Kestas]

Following posts on transmission fluid for years, I see people using Maxlife "successfully" for every application. I get the impression that all stores need to do is only stock Maxlife ATF on the shelves, and the DIY public would be covered.

I guess the bigger question is -- "How important is it use the factory specified transmission fluid in any application?"

 

[lexus114]

does that trans have a dipstick?

 

[GR_CoB]

Originally Posted By: JC1
You should remove the pan on the scion and clean it and replace the filter as well.


I was going to do it at 100k, unless I get any issues before then.

 

[GR_CoB]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
does that trans have a dipstick?


Yes it does, I was surprised. I worked on a lot of Toyotas/Scions/Lexuses and the only vehicles that had dipsticks were on Toyota T-IV fluid. Every WS fluid vehicle had a sealed transmission.

 

[ryanschillinger]

It's probably the 4 speed auto then. My 13 Corolla wants WS but has a dipstick. Why not do a cooler line flush and get it all out and replaced with fresh new fluid? I did that at 30k and again at about 65k replacing with maxlife and no complaints from the car or me. Car has over 80k on it now. Never dropped the pan.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: ryanschillinger
It's probably the 4 speed auto then. My 13 Corolla wants WS but has a dipstick. Why not do a cooler line flush and get it all out and replaced with fresh new fluid? I did that at 30k and again at about 65k replacing with maxlife and no complaints from the car or me. Car has over 80k on it now. Never dropped the pan.


when you do a cooler line flush, is the oil automatically at the right fluid level afterward? since i have no stick its much more of a pita to check afterwards.

 

[Kestas]

In that case you'll have to measure all that comes out, and put that much back in, plus a bit more to account for clingage loss.

 

[road_rascal]

Originally Posted By: Vlad_the_Russian
Originally Posted By: lexus114
does that trans have a dipstick?


Yes it does, I was surprised. I worked on a lot of Toyotas/Scions/Lexuses and the only vehicles that had dipsticks were on Toyota T-IV fluid. Every WS fluid vehicle had a sealed transmission.


My '12 Rav4 V6 with the 5 speed auto has a trans dipstick. I'm thinking about doing a couple drains and fills using Maxlife.

 

[blupupher]

Did a drain and fill in my wife's '12 xB @ 30,000 miles with Maxlife. I plan on doing it every 20,000 from now on.
The fluid I drained out did not look too bad and I did not notice any difference in shifting, but was not expecting it to either. Just a preventative thing.

 

[Y_K]

Per Toyota TSB WS is not to be mixed with anything else and even overflow fluid must be discarded: not be re-used. Apparently, they think it is quite reactive. FWIW

 

[MaximaGuy]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
when you do a cooler line flush, is the oil automatically at the right fluid level afterward? since i have no stick its much more of a pita to check afterwards.


I did a return line flush on my ES with RL D6, 8Q out and 8Q in (that is the capacity of the transmission), no level checks etc.
Quite happy with D6 and the WS is quite dirty and worse than the T-IV I drain from my other vehicle (I had 50K on the ES when flushed).
I did loose 2MPG on D6 which I am slowly gaining back - if you ever flush always reset the ECU by draining the battery.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: MaximaGuy
if you ever flush always reset the ECU by draining the battery.


You mean disconnecting the battery?