I found this interesting TSB released by Toyota regarding their T-IV ATF:
http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/2000/Service Bulletins/tc001t02 ATF Fluid Requirements.pdf
TSB: TC001-02
Title:
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID REQUIREMENTS
Models:
All ’00 – ’02 Models & ’03 Corolla & Matrix
MODEL----- 2000 -----|---- 2001 ----|---- 2002 ----|---- 2003
Corolla A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A245E
ATF----- DexronIII --|-- DexronIII -|-- DexronIII -|--- T-IV
Look at the row for the Corolla. The columns are the Aisin automatic transmission model numbers. Toyota recommends Dexron III in the A245E AT before and including 2002. However, Toyota goes to recommend Type T–IV in the SAME... I repeat the SAME 2003 Aisin A245E AT. There might be some very minor improvements in the AT from year to year. But I doubt anything significant enough to require an ATF with entirely different characteristics. Which leads me to conclude that T-IV is perhaps a higher grade Dexron III. I am speculating that they did this so they can promote their "life time ATF" to raise the Corolla value's because of less maintenance. And would also explain Toyota's naming convention (4 comes after 3) for their improved Dexron III+ ATF.
Here are a few after market ATFs that claim meets T-IV specs and the reason they meet T-IV is because they are already meet Dexron III specs... again this statement is sepeculation:
Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF
Mobil Multi-Vehicle
Mobil ATF 3309 (approved against Type T-IV, JWS 3309)
CASTROL Import Multi-Vehicle
PENNZOIL MULTI-VEHICLE
If the above is true then that would leave a lot full synthetic and synthetic blend alternatives for T-IV ATF users. I believe T-IV is still a conventional as people here and on other forums have stated.
Do YOU agree with what I said?
http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/2000/Service Bulletins/tc001t02 ATF Fluid Requirements.pdf
TSB: TC001-02
Title:
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID REQUIREMENTS
Models:
All ’00 – ’02 Models & ’03 Corolla & Matrix
MODEL----- 2000 -----|---- 2001 ----|---- 2002 ----|---- 2003
Corolla A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A245E
ATF----- DexronIII --|-- DexronIII -|-- DexronIII -|--- T-IV
Look at the row for the Corolla. The columns are the Aisin automatic transmission model numbers. Toyota recommends Dexron III in the A245E AT before and including 2002. However, Toyota goes to recommend Type T–IV in the SAME... I repeat the SAME 2003 Aisin A245E AT. There might be some very minor improvements in the AT from year to year. But I doubt anything significant enough to require an ATF with entirely different characteristics. Which leads me to conclude that T-IV is perhaps a higher grade Dexron III. I am speculating that they did this so they can promote their "life time ATF" to raise the Corolla value's because of less maintenance. And would also explain Toyota's naming convention (4 comes after 3) for their improved Dexron III+ ATF.
Here are a few after market ATFs that claim meets T-IV specs and the reason they meet T-IV is because they are already meet Dexron III specs... again this statement is sepeculation:
Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF
Mobil Multi-Vehicle
Mobil ATF 3309 (approved against Type T-IV, JWS 3309)
CASTROL Import Multi-Vehicle
PENNZOIL MULTI-VEHICLE
If the above is true then that would leave a lot full synthetic and synthetic blend alternatives for T-IV ATF users. I believe T-IV is still a conventional as people here and on other forums have stated.
Do YOU agree with what I said?
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