Multi-vehicle ATF and CVT Fluids

[Charmet37]

Quick question...How do oil companies blend a universal transmission fluid that works for various makes and models? How can Amsoil, Castrol and many others work in a Toyota, BMW, Ford and many other transmissions?

 

[JavierH19]

The valvoline atf/cvt has the afton hitec 3488 additive pack i think. You'd think these big brands would make their own additive pack but apparently not, they buy it from afton or Infineum or someone else and put it in their blend of base stock. Afton says it's good to use in both but i would only buy blue bottle valvoline cvt fluid and silver bottle valvoline atf.

 

[Charmet37]

The valvoline atf/cvt has the afton hitec 3488 additive pack i think. You'd think these big brands would make their own additive pack but apparently not, they buy it from afton or Infineum or someone else and put it in their blend of base stock. Afton says it's good to use in both but i would only buy blue bottle valvoline cvt fluid and silver bottle valvoline atf.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Pelican]

I view Multi-vehicle ATF as a compromise, may not cause damage in the short run, in the long run no one really knows, but why take a chance? That's my opinion.

 

[JavierH19]

I view Multi-vehicle ATF as a compromise, may not cause damage in the short run, in the long run no one really knows, but why take a chance? That's my opinion.

I've come around to that. Better to spend the extra on valvoline EP atf to put in something like a zf8 instead of cheaper atf/cvt maxlife. Better to spend the extra on valvoline cvt in something like jatco instead of maxlife. Just a bit more but they both must be better blended for their more specific application at least enough to merit the extra cost which isn't much given that you're not changing atf monthly or even yearly.

 

[Glenda W.]

IMO some of these multi-vehicle ATF’s are just better quality oils. They surpass many oem fluids. In my case it fixed my daughter’s Acura RDX trans shudder/rpm fluctuation. Even after the dealer completed the oem fluid flush and computer update because the oem fluid couldn’t handle the heat, it always returned. I did a full flush with Maxlife and never had the problem again. At 125k miles now.