Transmax ATF/CVT Universal as an SP3 match?

[RuralWisc]

I don't have any deep knowledge of ATF's, transmissions and the like... just looking for a cheap / convenient source of some equivalent to Hyundai SP3 for a 2007 Elantra GLS at 240K. (The fluid cooling hoses are accessible, so it's easy enough to do a flush, last done at 120K with Valvoline Import Multi-Vehicle.) When I pull up on-line data for third-party SP3 and some other ATF's, it looks like Castrol Transmax ATF/CVT Universal (Column D below) is a very close match... not what I expected, and it didn't turn up when I searched. Am I missing something? Castrol says that it's "suitable for use where... Hyundai/Kia SP-III... is required," but it also claims to cover "virtually all automatic and CVT transmissions..." and some of the covered fluids, like SP4 and T4, aren't closely matched.

In cold Midwest weather last winter, the Elantra missed a couple of shifts and threw some codes consistent with a clogged ATF filter -- the fluid looks clean, but I'll flush it and replace the filter. I'm thinking that an ATF a bit thinner at low temperatures than the Valvoline Import MV would be a good thing. Thoughts?

~SP-III ~SP-IV ~T-IV A B C D E
KV100, cSt 7.2 5.5 8.0 5.9 6.9 6.0 7.1 8
KV40, cSt 34.1 27.1 37.5 28 36.3 29.5 34.2 36.6
Visc. Indx 185 160 195 163 153 155 179 200
Density@60F 0.845 0.839 0.854 0.844 0.849 0.848 0.849 0.862
Pour Point -45C -47.5C -45C <-42C <-52C -48C -51C -48C
Flash Point 214C 208C 238C 220C ? ? 214C 208C
Brookfld@-40C, cP ? <15K ? 11K 18K 12.5K 9.2K 10.5K
Phosphorus, ppm ? ? ? ? ? 160 ? ?

A) Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF, full synthetic
B) Valvoline Import Multi-Vehicle ATF, full synthetic
C) Valvoline Dexron-VI / Mercon LV ATF, full synthetic
D) Castrol Transmax ATF/CVT Universal, full synthetic
E) Castrol Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle ATF, synthetic blend

Thanks!

 

[rszappa1]

Why take the chance on your CVT... Just use the OEM fluid.... Its not like you are changing it every 5000 miles....

 

[LazyDog]

Just go w/ OEM fluid and you should be fine

 

[Egg_Head]

Why take the chance on your CVT... Just use the OEM fluid.... Its not like you are changing it every 5000 miles....

I don't belive this vehicle has a CVT. The SP3 spec is not picky and you could use anything on your list including DEX iii and be fine.

 

[nbpt100]

I don't belive this vehicle has a CVT. The SP3 spec is not picky and you could use anything on your list including DEX iii and be fine.

I would use the MaxLife ATF. It covers SP3 and it is readily available. If you had a CVT it would be a different spec. No need to overthink it.

 

[martinq]

Any quality multi-ATF should fit your bill and is most likely better than the OE spec fluid. All the ones you've listed look good but my experience (in Canada) is with Valvoline Maxlife ATF in both AT & CVT applications of the last 20 years or so.

I would only use or recommend the OE fluid if it was of better value, convenient or the only option available to you. Personally it's hard to beat Valvoline through Walmart (was $40 / 5L a year ago, now $50).

It is critical that you pull the pan and for inspection / cleaning (specifically the magnets). I recommend dropping the pan for magnet inspection / cleaning annually for the first three years and use that as your benchmark. Once an AT is broken in and clean, the fluid should last for the mfg recommended service intervals. Clean fluid helps the fluid stay clean, especially if the magnets are "working".

 

[JTK]

Transmax Universal is suitable for use in all Hyundai / Kia automatics. It will be fine in this vintage of a Hyundai AT (4AT I believe?).
I've run Transmax Universal ATF/CVT in Nissan CVTs and conventional GM 6 and 9spds. It's currently in my 2021 Equinox and 2021 Traverse and has been for ~20K miles in both.

 

[RuralWisc]

Thanks for the input, everyone. The 2007 Hyundai Elantra is one of those cars with a normal-use maintenance schedule that just specifies inspecting the fluid every 15K miles and replacing it at 105K miles (with no explicit mention of the filter). Then again, the maintenance schedule ends at 150K miles, so I suppose that's when Hyundai gives up caring, which says a lot. It would make sense to do earlier, and more frequent, fluid and filter changes -- especially for those of us who try to get 300K miles out of a car. Those old Elantra transaxles were pretty reliable, so I should have been nicer to it.

Anyway, it's not hard to replace the fluid and filter on this car, so that's the next car project... when the weather improves.

 

[martinq]

Thanks for your thoughts, sounds good. Please update us later if you can.

 

[Jimzz]

The Valvoline Import Multi-Vehicle ATF is onsale for around $20 a gallon and will work very well. Similar to Maxlife but has a higher viscosity. I just used it in a 2015 Accent and works well.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Maxlife will work fine in it

Any modern LV will be fine where SP-III is called for.