Falcon,
I have information to further back up your findings!
This comes from a Motor forum from Malaysia!
Please follow the post made by "fido" about half way down on the page.
http://www.motortrader.com.my/asp/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=185&whichpage=29
Fido actually contacted Hyundai!!! This was the reply from Hyundai - Specifically, it reads:
And only Hyundai SPIII is approved for use in Hyundai vehicles beginning with the 1996 model year. Use of aftermarket additives or other types of ATF, such as Chrysler/Mopar ATF+3, Dexron and Mercon, are not approved for use in Hyundai vehicles and may affect driveability or damage the transaxle. Damage caused by a non-specified fluid is not covered by your new vehicle limited warranty. (http://www.hmaservice.com/webtech/iindex.asp?id=394890107#_394890107)
So ATF+3 is incompatible to SP-III!!!
From: BVelex
Below's the reply from Hyundai with regard to ATF on Hyundai vehicles:
Dear Sir,
First of all, thank you for your contacting us. The SP-III has the optimal values of chemical and physical properties that meet your transmission's specification such as viscosity, oxidation stability, thermal characteristics, and etc. Consequently, for reliable usage of your vehicle, we strongly recommend
you that the genuine SP-III must be used. If you have any difficulties to find SP-III, these are the alternatives;
BLENDER Product Name (Market)
Nippon Mitsubishi oil DiaQueen ATF SP III
Chevron Diamond ATF SP III
Mobil DiaQueen ATF SP III
BP Autran MM-SP III
BP(ALMC) Mitsubishi diamond spectrum ATF SP III
BP Autran MM-SP III
Premier DiaQueen ATF SP II M
If any question should arise, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you again.
Best regards,
I. Y. Jin
Quality and CA coordinator
Overseas Service Team
Hyundai Motor Company
Also replies on the older Hyundai and Mitsubishi SP II version from BP Singapore:
Question : Find TQM-ST spec meets lower SP requirement i.e. SP-II not SP-III. From your email addr, am i right your company also carries BP products? If so, think there is a product called BP Autran MM SP-III....available in the market? Just a general question, why is it so difficult to find SP-III ATF?...why Castrol Syntec ATF be also made to meet SP-III requirement?
Answer : Yes, Premier Lubricants is fully owned by BP, which sells BP lubes, Duckhams and Castrol (after acquiring Castrol in 2000) Autran MM SP-III conform to SP-III, but is not available in Singapore. Mitsubishi limited the approval on SP-III (and even SP-II) to oil companies, the only product which is available in the market is Diamond brand, distributed by Mitsubishi itself.
More information includes:
SP-II ATF has been used as a factory fill for Hyundai automatic transaxles since the production dates shown below. Previously, type 7176 ATF was used as a factory fill.
SP-II is blended to a different specification than type 7176. It has a different additive package and was designed to give ideal friction characteristics to the new transaxles used by Hyundai. The benefits of SP-II are:
The low temperature shifting characteristics of the transaxle have been improved, due to the low temperature characteristics of SP-II.
The chemical stability and oxidation resistance of SP-II has been improved, which allows a longer maintenance interval.
And more to add,
The 2001 Hyundai Shop Manuals specify "SPII-M" automatic transaxle fluid (ATF) for use in automatic transaxles; however, "SPIII" ATFhas been installed in all 2001 model year Hyundai vehicles beginningin July, 2000. SPIII is a new ATF formulation that provides thefollowing improvements to SPII and SPII-M:
Improved low temperature viscosity
Improved friction modifier additives to provide superior shift quality
Currently, only SPII (P/N 00230-18000) is available to your dealership. SPIII will be made available later this year.SPII has most of the benefits of SPII-M and SPIII, including goodlow temperature viscosity and oxidation resistance for long lifeof the ATF. No durability or shift quality conditions will occurif SPII is used on 2001 vehicles. SPII and SPIII are compatibleand can be mixed in any proportion; however if more than 10 SPII is mixed with SPIII, the benefits of SPIII will be reduced.
Never mind all the technical specs, just look at the listings and it's clear you may be on to something. If I can't get information from Mitsubishi or Nippon, then Hyundai can help.
I did try to pull up the links in the article but they are too old and were off line. If you have more to add please reply back.
