I would never put the word "best" in a sentence with Maxlife.
Valvoline Maxlife ATF, the best for all applications?
- Thread starter FTTSHO
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I have an '08 G35X and I might use non-Nissan ATF fluid in it. I bought it from my sister with 95k miles and in that time, she had the ATF drained and refilled twice by dealers, so it presumably got Nissan Matic J or S. It's at 175k miles now and I've done multiple drain and refills and can't notice anything other than gear changes definitely feel "nicer" after the changes.
There's rather loose evidence that Matic J is simply Castrol Transmax J (and labeled Import Multi Vehicle in the US) and coincidentally, when Nissan switched to Matic S, Castrol released their full synthetic ATF. In the case of my transmission, JATCO supplies the same one to Subaru and they don't "require" Matic J or S.
Nissan Matic-D for my old Sentra. Dextron VI is the claimed equivalence, but it's not
I used max life in a 2018 kia optima at around 30k because it would flare when it was stone cold. Still flared with maxlife. Did a TSB at the dealer, still flared. Just a quirk of the transmission. One noticeable change was the down/up shifts were much quicker. It was a great improvement.
For my wife's 18 Camry 2.5, I used idemitsu LV at around 60k. I think i did two D&F and it fixed the reverse clunk when cold and shifts were much quicker and smooth.
I'd say the viscosity matters more than the friction modifier. It also helps to do a TCU re-learn, because it adapts to the friction modifier. Heck, I'm willing to bet the the worn clutch material acts as a friction modifer as well, which is why the TCU can adjust. Not everyone has the scan tool to do the re-learn.
For my wife's 18 Camry 2.5, I used idemitsu LV at around 60k. I think i did two D&F and it fixed the reverse clunk when cold and shifts were much quicker and smooth.
I'd say the viscosity matters more than the friction modifier. It also helps to do a TCU re-learn, because it adapts to the friction modifier. Heck, I'm willing to bet the the worn clutch material acts as a friction modifer as well, which is why the TCU can adjust. Not everyone has the scan tool to do the re-learn.
I like Valvoline Maxlife. Works well in my truck as Dextron VI. It isn't as good in my Mustang though. I think its too thin. I just changed it out to Ford Mercon V and the transmission shifts so much nicer.
I've used Maxlife when I felt it closely fit the viscosity of the vehicle it was going into. Over the years, probably put it in at least 5 vehicles with no ill effects. My brother and sister in law chose ML for their Rav4 calling for WS. So far, no issues after about a month.
I've used it in multiple Hyundai/KIA and Toyota vehicles with no issues. Shifting was much firmer on the Toyota RAV4. I've used Valvoline Transmission fluid for Hybrid vehicles on a Camry Hybrid with no issues as well.
Maxlife atf was the best when it was $17.99 gallon and full synthetic was an upgrade.
The main Point is the maxlife technology which nowadays depends on if you are over 150k miles and how many extreme conditions you expect.
The main Point is the maxlife technology which nowadays depends on if you are over 150k miles and how many extreme conditions you expect.
I can say that I’ve used maxlife in a handful of Toyota transmissions including couple spec WS and absolutely worked fine in all of them. I did a full cooler line flush on a Honda automatic and it didn’t seem to hurt anything but it already had an occasional torque converter shudder that may have felt more noticeable when it happened with the fresh fluid. May not have been, but just paying more attention to it hoping for an improvement. Hondas are supposedly very sensitive to auto trans fluids, so I’m glad my accord is manual.
I put Maxlife in my Toyota U760E and it shifted a lot better than it did with Castrol Transmax (because the Castrol was too thick). Anyhow, I then added 6 oz of Lubegard Platinum and its performance improved some more. Next, I used a scan tool and reset the TCM to factory settings. Shifts were a bit rough for a couple of short drives but then they improved to the best ever. I don't know about other transmissions, but I had the most joy when my transmission was able to "learn" its new ATF's characteristics.
there is nothing special about Toyota ws fluid.... and technically if you go right to AISIN and look in their own WS fluid who makes these transmissions its not even the same formula fluid that Toyota even sells. The Toyota WS fluid has been reformulated once again not too long ago if you do a little research. but anyway, i maintain a lot of vehicles for all my friends and family tons of Hondas and Toyotas and i have owned tons of Hondas and Toyotas as well. i know a lot of people on here will always say stick with oem and that's fine im am that way with a lot of things and that's fine, if that's your choice with atf then so be it use it.
have personally used maxlife atf in over 30 Toyotas spec for ws and in prob 20+ Hondas over the years including my own for transmissions that call for DW1 over the years
In my personal opinion DW1 fluid is trash. Every car i have ever owned or worked on that spec DW1 would have to have the fluid changed every 15k miiles and you could feel it and always came out looking like trash esp in any v6 honda
have never had 1 single issue in all these vehicles i have changed over the years in any of these cars.
to be honest maxlife has always felt much better esp in Hondas.
I just did a civic for my friend last weekend where they didn't know when the or if the fluid was changed at the dealer with some nasty dw1 fluid in it. I did a drain and fill, drove it for 5 miles, brought it back did it again, trans feels great. My friend was extremely happy.
i also have a neighbor with a early 5th gen 4R with the A750F trans whos well over 200k miles running on maxlife at since the first drain at 30k so. Run whatever your heart desires. But for any Honda spec DW1 or Toyota Spec WS, Maxlife is an excellent choice.
have personally used maxlife atf in over 30 Toyotas spec for ws and in prob 20+ Hondas over the years including my own for transmissions that call for DW1 over the years
In my personal opinion DW1 fluid is trash. Every car i have ever owned or worked on that spec DW1 would have to have the fluid changed every 15k miiles and you could feel it and always came out looking like trash esp in any v6 honda
have never had 1 single issue in all these vehicles i have changed over the years in any of these cars.
to be honest maxlife has always felt much better esp in Hondas.
I just did a civic for my friend last weekend where they didn't know when the or if the fluid was changed at the dealer with some nasty dw1 fluid in it. I did a drain and fill, drove it for 5 miles, brought it back did it again, trans feels great. My friend was extremely happy.
i also have a neighbor with a early 5th gen 4R with the A750F trans whos well over 200k miles running on maxlife at since the first drain at 30k so. Run whatever your heart desires. But for any Honda spec DW1 or Toyota Spec WS, Maxlife is an excellent choice.
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The low viscousity family like Dexron VI, Toyota, WS, or Mercon LV are all within spec of base oil and additive packages. Even Aisin, who makes Toyota transmissions sell broad range compatible ATF 6+, just like Dex/Merc Maxlife that works with:
• Aisin Warner JWS 3324 / AW-1 • Ford Mercon LV, Mercon SP • GM Dexron VI • Honda ATF DW-1 • Hyundai / Kia SP-IV, SP-IV M, SP-IV RR, SPH-IV • Mazda FZ • Mercedes Benz MB 236.41 • Nissan Matic K, Matic S • Toyota I Lexus ATF WS • JASO M315-2013 1A/1A-LV/2A • VW G 053 001 / G 053 025 / G 055 005 / G 055 025 • VW G 055 162 / G 055 540 / G 060 162
I have been using Maxlife Dex/Merc in Nissan, Honda, Toyota V6, anv various Toyota hybrid. It works very well and Valvoline products are often better than the OEM jacked-up oil. It has its own Lab testing unlike other brands that just rebottle the base oil from big 3 (Chevron, Exxon, Eneos) and additives from big 4 (Afton Chem, Lubrizol, Oronite, Infinium).
There is a reason why Tesla use Dexron VI, it is just much easier to get in any shop.
• Aisin Warner JWS 3324 / AW-1 • Ford Mercon LV, Mercon SP • GM Dexron VI • Honda ATF DW-1 • Hyundai / Kia SP-IV, SP-IV M, SP-IV RR, SPH-IV • Mazda FZ • Mercedes Benz MB 236.41 • Nissan Matic K, Matic S • Toyota I Lexus ATF WS • JASO M315-2013 1A/1A-LV/2A • VW G 053 001 / G 053 025 / G 055 005 / G 055 025 • VW G 055 162 / G 055 540 / G 060 162
I have been using Maxlife Dex/Merc in Nissan, Honda, Toyota V6, anv various Toyota hybrid. It works very well and Valvoline products are often better than the OEM jacked-up oil. It has its own Lab testing unlike other brands that just rebottle the base oil from big 3 (Chevron, Exxon, Eneos) and additives from big 4 (Afton Chem, Lubrizol, Oronite, Infinium).
There is a reason why Tesla use Dexron VI, it is just much easier to get in any shop.
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