Why would they release a universal atf/cvt fluid if they had doubts it wouldn’t work and possibly have lawsuits etc..?
I emailed Castrol and asked if I could use The universal atf/cvt since the local auto parts stores were out of transmax cvt, they recommended against it since they are slightly different. I wish I would have kept the email to see the exact wording.
I have since wondered if I would Have done 3 drain and fills and had gotten the majority Of the transmax out would I be ok like I did when I did a 3X drain and fill from ns-3 to transmax cvt. Never know now
Sorry I didn’t word that right. Yes, they advised not Mixing the the universal atf/cvt and the transmax cvt together.I'm confused?
Castrol told you NOT to use transmax universal ATF/CVT in a NS-3 application or suggested that you NOT mix it with transmax CVT fluid?
Either is stated as being suitable for use in NS-3 applications.
That's weird that the Transmax CVT cannot be mixed with the Universal ATF/CVT fluid. If the Universal ATF/CVT fluid is applicable for CVT's then there must be a Friction modification (DI) clash between it and the Transmax CVT fluid.we
Yes, they advised not Mixing the the universal atf/cvt and the transmax cvt together.
But like I said I’m sure I could do a 3X drain and fill with the universal and be ok
I wish I would have kept the email to get the exact wording. I guess I could always email them again and have them reply againThat's weird that the Transmax CVT cannot be mixed with the Universal ATF/CVT fluid. If the Universal ATF/CVT fluid is applicable for CVT's then there must be a Friction modification (DI) clash between it and the Transmax CVT fluid.
It also makes me wonder why other blenders have not used the Afton Universal ATF/CVT DI package.
LOL!How’s the experiment working out?
I'm sticking with OEM fluid for my CVT. Your single unselfish act of taking one for the BITOG team isn't sufficient to change my behavior. LOL....I did a drain/fill of the CVT fluid in my 2019 Nissan Pathfinder today using Castrol Transmax universal ATF/CVT fluid. Currently 70K miles on the vehicle. I've done 6 drain/fills total on the CVT since we bought the vehicle used in 2019 with 25K miles on it. The first 5 were with genuine Nissan NS-3 fluid. My plan all along has been to go with a suitable for use aftermarket CVT fluid once I was beyond the 5yr/60K mile powertrain warranty.
For the sake of all that is BITOG, someone had to do it! LOL We shall see how it goes.
CVT fluid is cheaper than CVTs. If it's driven around the city lots of in dusty condition it's a good practice.Is there a particular reason you've done 6 drain and fills in 45k miles?
It's been in there almost 9k miles at this point. CVT still CVTing.Any updates so far? I highly doubt anything negative to talk about
When I talk to the Castrol rep about that new ATF universal by the sound of her voice is she sounded like she didn't have a lot of confidence of letting that fluid be mixed with anything else. It's one of the few times I could see people running the fluid up on jack stands for 10 to 20 minutes and then exchanging it out for more. In a standard car that holds nine quarts I would have had to do a bare minimal of three or four changes just to feel comfortable with it. I don't have a lot of faith in these multiple automatic transmission fluid slash CVT universal fluids.I did a drain/fill of the CVT fluid in my 2019 Nissan Pathfinder today using Castrol Transmax universal ATF/CVT fluid. Currently 70K miles on the vehicle. I've done 6 drain/fills total on the CVT since we bought the vehicle used in 2019 with 25K miles on it. The first 5 were with genuine Nissan NS-3 fluid. My plan all along has been to go with a suitable for use aftermarket CVT fluid once I was beyond the 5yr/60K mile powertrain warranty.
For the sake of all that is BITOG, someone had to do it! LOL We shall see how it goes.
That's a good call there. The inner thought process is when you have fluids that are more compatible it would seem that they have to stretch the boundaries of what a fluid can and can't be and what it can tolerate and what it can't. Shear stability would be in question at the very least. Back in the day even in the early eighties and nineties I used to hear my folks always using Phillips 66 fuel and the trop Arctic synthetic blend. They hated using anything other because they were afraid of incompatibilities. If you look at the premium brands that are boutique style they make a CVT fluid and it's only for cvts. Unless you're like me or a few others you're better off just buying a bottle that is specific for CVT. I will say I did enjoy using the Castrol because of the red. It used to scare the technicians at first but then they got used to seeing it and it didn't bother them. It's just a dye and nothing more nothing less.Just me...
But I wouldn't use a supposed " universal" atf for both regular ATF and CVT...
Regular universal ATF fluids are fine because Dexron and Mercon plus other specs do overlap quite a bit.
The CVT fluid operates off of traction coefficient vs friction coefficient for regular ATFs. There's a big difference in those two types of additive dynamics that make each on their own work effectively and correctly. From what I have read on here from extremely knowledgeable members that would be a point of concern in using a fluid like this.
It's why every regular ATF states clearly and unequivocally not to use CVT fluid in them and the same is true vice versa....
There's darn good reason behind that.
But hey... If someone wants guinea pig their own vehicle to see how it goes.. .
I say good luck.
the dealer snake oil purveyors(MOG, BG, Wynn’s) would be all over this. Many dealers don’t use OE fluid if a customer pays for a trans “flush” or a spill & fill.It also makes me wonder why other blenders have not used the Afton Universal ATF/CVT DI package.