Toyota Trans What would you use?

[RichR]

I have a '05 3.3 Camry SE 10k.
I want to flush out the initial shavings out of the trans by T-Tec.
I need 16 qts.
The price of T-IV is over $8 a qt no matter where I go.
Thanks to BITOG I see Mobil lists an equivilant
at 1/2 the price.
I called Toyota and the "recommended" only Toyota fluid.
Would you be comfortable with the Mobil ATF.
My mechanic says his Valvoline Maxlife is recommended per their tech-line.
I like Mobil over Valvoline.
HELP!
Thanks
Rich

 

[unDummy]

$8 a quart, what a bunch of thieves!
I haven't been able to find the Mobil(3309) fluid anywhere.
I also don't care for the Valvoline Maxlife.
Use the Pennzoil/QS Multivehicle fluid or Valvoline Mercon-V.
Or, step up to a synth like Amsoil or SpecialtyFormulations.

 

[Ken2]

Is T-IV right for that transmission, or does it require the new Toyota WS? There is no sub for WS.

For T-IV, you can use Amsoil, or Pennz/Quaker State multi-vehicle, or your choice of Dexron-III ATF plus a bottle of Lubegard black-bottle HFM supplement. The Dexron-III ATFs include Mobil 1 and Valvoline Maxlife. Only the T-IV is licensed by Toyota. The others might work OK.

I really don't see the need for a fluid change at this time. Why not just install in inline filter...Magnefine, SPX Filtran, or WIX.


Ken

 

[JohnBrowning]

Contact site sponsor and moderator "Molakule" he owns Specialty Formulations. He can make T-IV for you on reguest. No one tha has used his ATF's or gear lubes has had any complaints!! His stuff is top box!

I would not bother with the T-Tec! I would simply pull the drain plug drain and refill. If you do this every 18,000 miles that transmission will last as long as the engine.

 

[RichR]

Members,
There are two reasons why I want to use T-Tec:
One;The Toyota trans pans are well sealed.That red sealant is hard to get off.And the pan has a good seal why disturb it?
Two;I want to get the initial shaving out of the trans.I have two 65k and 75k Toyota autos and have noticed with yearly drain
and re-fills they were both pretty clean shaving wise.I remember the first 10k changes had some shavings.Unlike the previous Dodge fleet that got worse with age.
This way I think it will stay cleaner longer.
Opinions please,
Rich

 

[olympic]

I use Amsoil universal ATF in my 3 Toyota-built Pontiac Vibes. I'm coming up on 200,000 trouble free miles. I'd also advise installing an external filter. Most Toyotas don't have an internal filter and as you already know their transmissions throw alot of junk into the ATF.

 

[H2GURU]

RichR,
Go with JB on this one if you have a drain bolt on transmission pan. If it does then use only fluid recommended in your owner's manual and do an anual drain & refill. Previous years were DEXRON-3 but I believe yours uses a newer fluid. Monitor the total fluid extracted and make up like amount as Toyota owners manual capacities are notoriuosly off. Doing this service annually, you would never have to even change out transmission screen as these are rugged units.

 

[ChiTDI]

RichR,
Doesn't the transmission have a single drain bolt with a Torx 55 female?

 

[wilnis]

RichR-I was able to find a Toyota dealership that sold T-IV for 3.95 qt in cases, and I also found an oil company in Chicago that sells JWS-3309 in quarts and got a case for 64.65 UPSd to my house. (Boncosky Oil Company) That is an acceptable replacement for T-IV according to my reading. Bill

 

[ekpolk]

I don't think the Camrys have gone to WS in the Gen-5 configuration (the ones they've been making since the '02 MY). I owned 02 and 03 model Camrys (the first got wrecked...) and they were T-IV spec-ed. I'm guessing that the new Gen-6 Camry, due out as an '07 model, will probably go to WS. Looks like Toyota has decided that it needs to keep up with Nissan, which has something like a half-dozen "flavors" of ATF specified for various models.

What is your dealership charging for their ATF flush service? I think the pricing strategy for OEM-special fluids is more complex (and perhaps more evil) than just to rape you at $8 or so per quart. Per qt, the Nissan/Inf fluid is about the same, but a local Infiniti dealership "only" charged me about $150-something for a full flush, including the fluid (they ran twenty-something qts of fluid through it, or so the invoice says). In other words, at least in this case, the fluid is reasonably priced IF you take the car to them for the work. Do you see an ulterior motive in this pricing??? I do. But hey, in the end, their price is not all that far above what an IffyLube would charge for a T-Tech, and at least there's a higher probability that the tech involved knows something about my car. BTW, IIRC, my Toyota dealership charged us $129 for the same service on our Sequoia, an 01 model which had the 4-spd auto, which takes Dexron ATF.

 

[Radhe]

You can buy Toyota T-IV from Camel back toyota in arizona for $ 3.18/ qt. There where I get my supply from to do my flush and fill. Shipping may cost you just $ 8// by UPS ground.

Good Luck

 

[Tones]

I have read that the place to get the Mobil 3309 fluid is from your local jobber/distributor. Have to buy by the case, which would work for your situation.

Try this link.

 

[kenny1773]

I have been told by a couple of Toyota mechanics that the 5 speed auto in the 2005 camry *NEVER* needs to have the fluid changed.

That goes against everything I know about fluid

One person said that if I must change it to be able to sleep at night, to ONLY use Toyota T-IV fluid and ONLY do a pan change (not a full system flush) and to do it at about 100k miles if I have the car that long.

I have a 2005 SE, 5 speed auto, 4 cylinder.

I am not sure to bother changing the fluid or not. Some have also told me that the T-IV fluid is synthetic (or semi synthetic)

If you look in the Toyota manual, no where does it ever say to flush it.

 

[Tones]

Kenny1773

I have seen others call it a synthetic also, but Exxon Mobil's 3309 product meets OEM and is not synthetic, so I don't believe it.

 

[Ed_T]

Wifey's '03 4Runner 4L V6 automatic calls for fluid change at 100k miles IIRC.

Got 62k now. Pulled the stick (this MY might be the last with the stick!?) and the fluid looked just dandy. I'll do a pan drain likely this spring.