When did Mobil 1 ATF become so fragrant?

[Carmudgeon]

Last time I used Mobil 1 ATF, circa 2007, it was considered a "multi-vehicle" formula even then.

Five years later, and at least one shelf-pull (due to "labeling?") later, I just did a fresh flush with the current formula, and boy, it's fragrant, like a gear oil.

I don't recall it being quite so smelly last time around.

 

[Donald]

Maybe your nose got more sensitized? Most ATFs don't smell great going in and even worse coming out.

We could have a poll of what was your smelliest ATF?

 

[LeakySeals]

Take a whiff of Maxlife ATF. Like vomit.

 

[Boomer]

You indirectly raise an interesting point about Mobil 1 ATF. I think the current stuff is basically sold as a Dex III material whereas the older stuff said you could basically pour it into anything (nissan, etc). Did they find that their multi-vehivle formulation was causing issues? I have never been a believer in using these "one fluid fits all" ATFs. If that really was so, every manufacturer would just use the same multi-vehicle formula and be done with it. The inventory savings would be tremendous. Its funny how folks on here are oftern very picky about coolants (and rightfully so) but seem to swallow the multi-vehicle ATFs like the label was torn out of the Bible.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Boomer
You indirectly raise an interesting point about Mobil 1 ATF. I think the current stuff is basically sold as a Dex III material whereas the older stuff said you could basically pour it into anything (nissan, etc). Did they find that their multi-vehivle formulation was causing issues? I have never been a believer in using these "one fluid fits all" ATFs. If that really was so, every manufacturer would just use the same multi-vehicle formula and be done with it. The inventory savings would be tremendous. Its funny how folks on here are oftern very picky about coolants (and rightfully so) but seem to swallow the multi-vehicle ATFs like the label was torn out of the Bible.


I have faith that the Amsoil multi-vehicle ATF is an excellent ATF for the vehicles its spec'ed for. Its for many but not all. They do have more than one ATF. As Amsoil has said, the ATF specs from various vehicle manufacturers overlap and thus it possible to make an ATF that is somewhat multi-vehicle ATF.

 

[Dave Hess]

Yep, I stay away from mulit vehicle ATF that says it OK for 15 different manufacturers.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Yep, I stay away from mulit vehicle ATF that says it OK for 15 different manufacturers.



Why? People grossly overhype the differences in ATF types. Amsoil works. And Amsoil differentiates when necessary.

As for smell, Amsoil ATF is somewhere between cat urine, fish urine and horse urine. It's the amine additives.

 

[simple_gifts]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Yep, I stay away from mulit vehicle ATF that says it OK for 15 different manufacturers.



I am assuming you mean for apps that specify something other than Dex/Merc?

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
Take a whiff of Maxlife ATF. Like vomit.

True that. Compared to Z-1, ML has a very strong odor. But, I sure like the price and the way it's working in the applications I'm currently using it in.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Yep, I stay away from mulit vehicle ATF that says it OK for 15 different manufacturers.



I am assuming you mean for apps that specify something other than Dex/Merc?



If its listed in the Amsoil website as OK for your vehicle, I would use it with confidence. I cannot speak for the other brands of ATF.

 

[bmwtechguy]

The stong smell is from all the additives. The newest long-life formulations seems to smell the worst, perhaps due to the sheer amount and type additives to deal with the expected life of the fluid. The latest Shell ATF for the 6 and 8 speed BMW ZF automatics is stronger-smelling than hypoid gear oil by far.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Take a whiff of Maxlife ATF. Like vomit.


I am going to pay for this one. But I got my oldest when I was teaching him how to change the oil on my wife's car. I was showing the various fluid tanks, what to look for, the different dipsticks motor oil and ATF. First I showed him the motor oil and had him smell it and asked him if he smelled any gasoline. Then I had him pull the ATF dipstick out told him to take a deep whiff. That was a terrible thing to do to my son.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

Wolf's Head Universal synthetic smells like a Pig Farm...

Synthetic ATF's always seem to smell worse.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Wolf's Head Universal synthetic smells like a Pig Farm...

Synthetic ATF's always seem to smell worse.


There are no more pig farms. They are now pig industrial complexes and smell worse than an old pig farm. They generate pig poo like there is no tomorrow.

 

[dave1251]

Well I live near a cow industrial complex. I rather smell ATF.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I used some Castrol Transmax IMV this weekend and it had a very mild smell. Honda's OEM ATF also has a rather mild smell. Valvoline MaxLife ATF, on the other hand, has a very strong odor. Valvoline's IMV didn't smell very good either.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Maybe I have a bad nose - but I didn't think transmission fluid smelled that bad?

 

[Whitewolf]

Originally Posted By: Carmudgeon
Last time I used Mobil 1 ATF, circa 2007, it was considered a "multi-vehicle" formula even then.

Five years later, and at least one shelf-pull (due to "labeling?") later, I just did a fresh flush with the current formula, and boy, it's fragrant, like a gear oil.

I don't recall it being quite so smelly last time around.


Perhaps that might be when they changed the formulation without you knowing? Hence the wisdom of sticking to licensed OEM approved products.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Maybe I have a bad nose - but I didn't think transmission fluid smelled that bad?




Some don't.. Classic Dex/Merc isn't bad... some of the new Synthetic ones are a bit foul. Syn gear oil is worse than conventional gear oil for smells.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Some don't.. Classic Dex/Merc isn't bad... some of the new Synthetic ones are a bit foul. Syn gear oil is worse than conventional gear oil for smells.


I think that's it.

Not that I go around sniffing oil like some here do, but what struck me is that odor the wafted out and was quite noticeable from just the open container, or even just the open PS reservoir.

I've learned to expect that from hypoid gear oils, but not ATF.