Any Personal Reviews of Castrol Transmax ATF

[mongo161]

This is a Castrol ATF for Imports, (For Honda, Toyota, Nissan and other imports) along with Multi-vehicle use. This ATF is not the fluid for domestic vehicles.

Any comments or personal opinions and reviews would be welcome since I plan on using this fluid on some older Toyota vehicles. It is specs for Dexron III and Merc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hypervish]

Yup, I just used it two weeks ago on my RX300. It's spec'd for Toyota Type-IV, and this fluid work's great. It's a synthetic blend.

I believe all they did was change the name from, castrol multi-vehicle import to transmax import multi-vehicle atf.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Running it in my Axiom right now. Isuzu specs Dex III-H. Did one D&R with it a month ago, replaced 6 out of 10 quarts. Until last AT service at the dealer, that's what I had been running for 5 years in Axiom. Dealer screwed up the last ATF service, I moved out of state and had to re-do their job. I replaced their Chevron-III with IMV and could not be happier.

Great fluid, semi-synthetic, great performance in cold weather.
Slightly thicker than Maxlife or Valvoline Dex 3, and I like it better for the older transmission. Transmission shifts good. I used AAP online coupon and picked it up at the store, saved 20%

 

[MysticGold04]

anyone besides AAP carry this in Gallons? I've looked at both Autozone and O'Reilly and cant't seem to find it...

 

[toyota62]

Here in Australia the same stuff call Transmax E.Also you can use Transmax E in Dexron 3 required vehicles.
I am really happy with the performance of the Transmax E in a toyota camry called dexron3 and hyundai elantra called SP3 type ATF.Shifting performance improved a lot on both vehicles.

 

[JC807]

I used Transmax Z in my ZF 6sp auto and it made it much smoother, especially the first shift when cold. it also seems firmer when using manual mode.

all round seems much improved over the genuine ZF lifeguard 6

 

[CharBaby]

I'm on vacation in FL right now. Had to run to W*M with my wife for a beach umbrella/chairs. I took a stroll down the oil aisle and noticed this TRANSMAX for the first time but, no IMV(or others) on the shelves. I haven't seen this at home...YET!

All the different types of Castrol ATF's were all labeled, CASTROL TRANSMAX this or TRANSMAX that. Makes me wonder if Castrol has only changed the name on the bottles and not the fluid inside the bottles.

I've been using the Castrol IMV in 3 cars and it's OK though, it's changed the shift feel in all 3 just a bit. Not good or bad, just different feeling in all 3, coincidently! I still have a boat load of the IMV, enough for all 3 cars, one more time(drain/refill).

 

[Unearthed]

I ended up going with this for my Honda because it is designed for a narrower group of vehicles than the typical multi-vehicle ATFs. I just can't understand how Mobile 1, Pennzoil, etc... are supposed to be for such a wide range of vehicles.

 

[mongo161]

Well, I picked up 12 quarts of this Castrol Transmax for Imports at Advance auto for about $3.60 a quart, using the discount codes. This should do the trick for a couple/three Toyota cars that need a drain and fill before the summer get here.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on this ATF. I'm sure it will work out fine for these Toyota'specs for Dexron III.

 

[tdi-rick]

Originally Posted By: JC807
I used Transmax Z in my ZF 6sp auto and it made it much smoother, especially the first shift when cold. it also seems firmer when using manual mode.

all round seems much improved over the genuine ZF lifeguard 6


Transmax Z is a full syn fluid and is ZF approved

 

[mongo161]

I noticed that Walmart is carrying the Castrol Transmax for Foreign vehicles.

It was on the shelf for $5.58 a quart. Advance Auto Parts has a comparable price with the $.60 off on a quart, for this months sale....$5.69 a quart.

I've not seen the Castrol Transmax for Foreign Vehicles in the Gallon size jugs. They were not at Walmart nor were they at Advance Auto.

However, Walmart did have the Castrol Transmax Dexron/Merc, for domestic vehicles, in Gallon size containers.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
mongo161 - Castrol's (original) transmission lubricants are (were) leaders in each field. Many were originally developed in Germany

Castrol's Transmaz Z is still a leader in its field - I have used it in a wide variety of vehicles - manual and auto over decades and many millions of kms

Recently at the Nurburgring I discussed this (and Castrol R) with some Castrol personnel who like me know and were involved in the history of "Z" - we all agreed that it is a remarkable product that has a most enviable record for perfomance, component life and in service durabilty

Use according to the transmission Manufacturer's recommendations

 

[mongo161]

Thanks Doug for your post.

Unfortunately, Castrol Transmax Z is not an ATF that is readily available in my market.

The closest that I can find in Castrol Transmax is the "Import Multi-vehicle" ATF.

This Castrol Transmax ATF is specifically designed for Honda, Toyota, Nissan and other imported vehicles. IMO....this Castrol ATF should serve my purposes, on a few older Toyota Vehicles that called for Dexron II.

Thanks again for your post....and it is great to hear from you.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: mongo161
This is a Castrol ATF for Imports, (For Honda, Toyota, Nissan and other imports) along with Multi-vehicle use. This ATF is not the fluid for domestic vehicles.

Any comments or personal opinions and reviews would be welcome since I plan on using this fluid on some older Toyota vehicles. It is specs for Dexron III and Merc.

Thanks in advance.

I have used Castrol Import Multi Vehicle in Toyota T-IV, Nissan Matic J, and Honda Z1 applications without trouble.

Also, just because it says it is for import cars, that does not mean it will not work in certain American cars. It works where Dexron III and Mercon get used. Plus, some American cars get Japanese transmissions with different fluid needs.

 

[brianl703]

It has a Mercon V license...

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: mongo161
This is a Castrol ATF for Imports, (For Honda, Toyota, Nissan and other imports) along with Multi-vehicle use. This ATF is not the fluid for domestic vehicles.

Any comments or personal opinions and reviews would be welcome since I plan on using this fluid on some older Toyota vehicles. It is specs for Dexron III and Merc.

Thanks in advance.

I have used Castrol Import Multi Vehicle in Toyota T-IV, Nissan Matic J, and Honda Z1 applications without trouble.

Also, just because it says it is for import cars, that does not mean it will not work in certain American cars. It works where Dexron III and Mercon get used. Plus, some American cars get Japanese transmissions with different fluid needs.



I too am using the Castrol IMV ATF in 3 Asian vehicles with automatic trannys:

'01 Lexus RX-300 ~ 80K miles...Toyota T-IV
'04 Altima 2.5 S ~ 60K miles...Nissan Matic-D
'06 Mazda 3 2.0L ~ 90K miles...Mazda M-V

All 3 trannys act, "juuuuust" a bit differently than they did B/4 doing the D&F's...Not acting poorly(neither better nor worst), just differently! Shift points seem ODD! Especially on cold mornings. Then when they're all warmed up and have been driven for a few miles or so, all seems normal(can't define normal)...just what I was used to!

I can't say if it's the Castrol IMV or just the age of the trannys. All 3 trannys have been maintained very well with regular D&F's. I have written quick reviews on all 3 trannys as compared from how they were B/4 the IMV.
.............................................................................................................................................
Now that I remember, I did buy 4qts of Castrol TransMax High Mileage ATF(I forgot about these 4 qts) for ~ $2.00-$2.50/qt from a PepBoys AutoParts Store discount table(6-8 months ago). They had a whole large table full of discontunued/closeout car products on this table that they(PB's) were getting off of their shelves. Lot's of car cleaning chem's and oils...20W50 etc. CHEAP!

 

[Whitewolf]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
It has a Mercon V license...


It does not have and cannot achieve DEXRON(R) performance requirements.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Originally Posted By: Whitewolf
It does not have and cannot achieve DEXRON(R) performance requirements.

That's a very categorical statement. There is NO Dex III licensing program anymore, and it is too thick to qualify for Dex VI. But Castrol plainly says its ATF is for pre-2005 GM vehicles, ie DEX III(H)

 

[jaj]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
...That's a very categorical statement. There is NO Dex III licensing program anymore, and it is too thick to qualify for Dex VI. But Castrol plainly says its ATF is for pre-2005 GM vehicles, ie DEX III(H)


Castrol says something, while GM is quiet.

As you said "There is NO Dex III licensing program anymore, and it is too thick to qualify for Dex VI." So, because GM cancelled all approvals other than Dexron VI (because Dexron VI is approved everywhere that Dexron-anything-else was ever approved) they won't approve it.

Whitewolf was merely stating "the obvious" - the same "obvious" that you already stated.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

nope, real world shows that DEXVI is NOT always a substitute for DEXIII. Isuzu trannies were specked for DEX III, they perform miserably with DEX VI. Abrupt harsh shifts with DEX VI, go back to DEX III--problems go away.

whitewolf said DEXRON (R), w/o stating the spec. Unless one has first-hand experience with ALL Dexron formulations and ALL transmissions specking any of DEXRON flavors, one should not be making a general statement that Castrol does not meet DEXRON specs