remarks on valvo's dex/mex full syn maxlife!

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southernjeeper

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I just purchased a gallon of this brand yesterday as I just have begun to go on this notion that I need to change my transmission fluid once a year because all the towing I have done over the past months since the beginning of 2013.

I usually just run the blk bottle of castrol or valvoline and Imguessing with my Tacoma having 166,000 miles on it now that I need an extra kick of life to the transmission life.

Has ny of you ever switched to the full synthetic of this brand? I don't think it would hurt anything, correct? I'm not going to change the filter myself due to no lift and it is a PITA to have tried that task years back on my Cherokee. This past May I had the filter changed and boy did it need it as there was residue in the pan and magnets that are there for a reason.

Thanks for the advice.
Have a great new year.
 
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I cant comment on it as an ATF, but works great as a P/S fluid. I am sticking with the OEM fluid for ATF, but guessing its very similar for most part.
 
I've had great results with Maxlife ATF in my Fords and a Nissan.
Haven't heard anything about Volvo.

Someone will chime in here with experience soon.
 
my experience is related to automatic transmissions mated to the D16Y7, 1ZZ-FE (Corolla & Celica), 2ZZ-GE, and an 06 2AZ-FE (this is the 5 speed auto transmission).

ATF by how well they performed in these applications:
1. Amsoil ATF
2. Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF (this is suppose to be a Blend)
3. Maxlife ATF
4. Castrol Full Synthetic Dex/Merc ATF claims it is compatiable with Toyota Type IV.

Then I gave the Certified ATF from sams club a shot, with lubeguard red additive, this combo is now the second best performing in the vehicles listed above.

The 06 Camry's automatic transmission stopped functioning (car stopped moving slowly) one day after it had a Transmission Flush(done @ 150k) from NTB, I have no idea what fluid they used, though it was at the full mark, this was during Summer. I performed a Drain & Refill with Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF, and it started to function flawlessly again, and the transmission now has 205k and still functions flawlessly!
 
I have switched several Toyota transmissions (in Toyotas, Lexus, and one Chevy (yes)) to MaxLife ATF. Have also put it into two GM transmissions. A few at around 100k miles and others higher. All are running perfectly, the highest mileage one now has 250k on it and works flawlessly, no leaks, etc.

For your '99, I'd do a drain/fill now and then one each year for 2 years (3 total), then every 30k. After 3 drain/fills, you should be at about 88% "new" fluid (given average total volume and pan size), so to speak, through the fractional dilution of the old fluid. If your transmission is performing OK now, no reason to do it all in one go if you don't want to. I usually do that myself though, and as long as you do it carefully pumping it out via a cooler line, for example, and refilling, doing a whole swap is not a bad idea.

This is the best bang-for-the buck ATF around. Works great in PS systems, too, so swap that out at the same time.
 
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Red 5 quart jug of Dexron VI?

Or the blue jug of Dexron III?

My 02 Saturn specs Dexron III,
and is not Dexron VI compatible...

The VI is slipperier, the III is thicker, but will shear down
to nearly the viscosity of the VI...

I would use III if that is what the transmission specs,,,
 
Originally Posted By: 01_celica_gt
my experience is related to automatic transmissions mated to the D16Y7, 1ZZ-FE (Corolla & Celica), 2ZZ-GE, and an 06 2AZ-FE (this is the 5 speed auto transmission).

ATF by how well they performed in these applications:
1. Amsoil ATF
2. Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF (this is suppose to be a Blend)
3. Maxlife ATF
4. Castrol Full Synthetic Dex/Merc ATF claims it is compatiable with Toyota Type IV.

Then I gave the Certified ATF from sams club a shot, with lubeguard red additive, this combo is now the second best performing in the vehicles listed above.

The 06 Camry's automatic transmission stopped functioning (car stopped moving slowly) one day after it had a Transmission Flush(done @ 150k) from NTB, I have no idea what fluid they used, though it was at the full mark, this was during Summer. I performed a Drain & Refill with Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF, and it started to function flawlessly again, and the transmission now has 205k and still functions flawlessly!


What set of criteria are you using to come up with these conclusions?
 
All Maxlife ATF is now labeled Full Synthetic and has been for a few years.
I've used it without problems as have many others here.
It's often available really cheaply as well.
We do have one member here who is convinced that it caused a catastrophic failure of his transmission, but everyone else here seems to have had good experience with Maxlife ATF.
 
Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
Red 5 quart jug of Dexron VI?

Or the blue jug of Dexron III?

My 02 Saturn specs Dexron III,
and is not Dexron VI compatible...

The VI is slipperier, the III is thicker, but will shear down
to nearly the viscosity of the VI...

I would use III if that is what the transmission specs,,,


This post needs some addressing, first DexronVI does not have a different coefficient of friction than DexronIII. Secondly the mineral DexronIII will shear much lower than the DexronVI.

DexronVI is a direct replacement for DexronIII since it's the same coefficient of friction with more shear stable base oils and additives as well as better oxidation control.

See Molakules post here

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3014880/Improvements_in_DexronVI_over_




Also I use Maxlife in my triple edge 4T65e I love it
 
Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
Red 5 quart jug of Dexron VI?

Or the blue jug of Dexron III?

My 02 Saturn specs Dexron III,
and is not Dexron VI compatible...

The VI is slipperier, the III is thicker, but will shear down
to nearly the viscosity of the VI...

I would use III if that is what the transmission specs,,,


I think you are referring to the valve body problem that causes reverse slam. The recommendation is using Amsoil Torque-Drive. It is also about $50 a gallon. It is very sheer stable. The valve body performance is dependant on the transmission fluid viscosity as I understand it. Since I had reverse slam 190,000 miles ago I pay attention to the fluid and Torque-Drive has been best for my 1999 SL2 at 262,000 miles.

Maxlife may work or may not work long term in a Saturn transmission. I am not going to experiment at this point. Other transmissions may not be as picky.
 
Thanks to all of you. I changed just the fluid this afternoon and don't cringe I added a half to 3/4 bottle of trans tune.

I'll have to add a bit more of the maxlife fluid as the book says it takes just over 2qts and I put in the trans tune and 1 1/2 of the maxlife. I'll see if the trans tune is just a concentrate or is it good enough to substitute a half a quart or just under the quart of plain transmission fluid that being the maxlife full synthetic.

I paid about 17-18 dollars at the local Walmart for the gallon jug.

Thanks
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: 01_celica_gt
my experience is related to automatic transmissions mated to the D16Y7, 1ZZ-FE (Corolla & Celica), 2ZZ-GE, and an 06 2AZ-FE (this is the 5 speed auto transmission).

ATF by how well they performed in these applications:
1. Amsoil ATF
2. Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF (this is suppose to be a Blend)
3. Maxlife ATF
4. Castrol Full Synthetic Dex/Merc ATF claims it is compatiable with Toyota Type IV.

Then I gave the Certified ATF from sams club a shot, with lubeguard red additive, this combo is now the second best performing in the vehicles listed above.

The 06 Camry's automatic transmission stopped functioning (car stopped moving slowly) one day after it had a Transmission Flush(done @ 150k) from NTB, I have no idea what fluid they used, though it was at the full mark, this was during Summer. I performed a Drain & Refill with Castrol Multi-Vehicle Import ATF, and it started to function flawlessly again, and the transmission now has 205k and still functions flawlessly!


What set of criteria are you using to come up with these conclusions?
how smoothly it shifts, especially during cold, when the atf is warm, I can't tell when it shifts unless I sit there and watch the tach.

But the honda's I used to own 96-00 civics/94-97 accord (4 cylinder), you could almost always feel a "thud" especially during cold shifts.
 
Use it in our Honda with no issues. That car is a beast on transmission fluid. Yearly changes (or about once every 10-11k OCI, lol!) are needed to keep it shifting well. It usually gets changed in the spring to give it new fluid for the summertime.
 
Trans tune and maxlife are the only fluids i dump into my transmissions now. Trans tune disolved whatever gunk got dislodged into a solenoid or valvebody after getting my trans flushed. After 3 drain/fills with maxlife and trans tune my trans problems went away and i often forget I even had problems. I also leave 1/2 can of trans tune in the fluid since the directions say its safe to do so, but i will probably just fill with maxlife on my next service.

Btw, i thought i was about to pay for a transmission rebuild. Car was at the trans shop and everything, sick to my stomach that a dealer trans flush killed it. After getting the diagnoses from the trans shop that "there's nothin wrong with yer transmission", i used trans tune as a last resort. It immediately started getting better. Did a 3 maxlife fluid exhanges with trans tune and it kept getting better everyday.
 
I tried lubegard red as well. It made things worse and thats when i went to a trans shop.

Symptoms in my car were 1-2 shift slip when trans was cold, and falling out of lockup and then slamming back into lockup when accelerating, especially when going up hills on highways. When the car was in lockup torque converter i couldnt accelerate without it slipping and slamming back into lockup. Also, it had developed a slight delayed engagement going from park to drive or park to reverse.

All fixed now.
 
Nearly 2wks after change the truck seems to be getting mileage. I don't know if it is because not keeping my foot on the gas or the fact the truck drives (shifts) smoother and I don't need to use the gas as much.

Overall I'm pleased.

I'll be using it from now on til the truck falls apart. Which is highly un-doubtful... It's a Yota.

I see what I get soon for true highway mileage. I'll post my mileage difference.
 
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