Amsoil Fuel Efficient Forumla (Low Viscosity)

[StevieC]

The Amsoil Fuel Efficient Formula - Low Viscosity ATF (Blue Cap Bottle) like it's brother the regular viscosity multi-vehicle formula (Red Cap Bottle) is excellent.

Just used it in my Highlander where WS fluid is called for. Did a complete change of all 8 quarts. It smoothed out the shifts dramatically cold and warm and seems to have cut down on the "What gear should I be in" identity crisis a bit over the WS fluid. It also has the Transmission Pan Fluid temperature and Torque Converter Fluid Temperature running about 10F cooler than before. (Similar driving pattern and ambient temperature)

I would highly recommend it especially in the 8-speed Direct Shift UA80E / UA80F transmissions in Toyota/Lexus products.

 

[dippschtick]

Good to know! Will be doing my 18 4runner (A750F) in the future with the same fluid. How many miles on the Highlander when you changed it?

 

[CT8]

Does the 2018 Toyota have a thermostat controlling the oil flow to the cooler

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by dippschtick
Good to know! Will be doing my 18 4runner (A750F) in the future with the same fluid. How many miles on the Highlander when you changed it?


10,000km (6,000 miles). I like to get all the break-in wear out of my "Sealed for life, non serviceable" transmissions as soon as possible with a new vehicle. I swapped out the Diff/Transfer case fluids as well and did multiple oil changes in this time as well.

I want to squeeze as many miles out of this vehicle as possible because it certainly wasn't cheap.

P.S. I like your username. I regularly use that lingo when talking about checking the engine oil.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by CT8
Does the 2018 Toyota have a thermostat controlling the oil flow to the cooler


Yes and you can hold it in the open position with a pin. I posted a thread about how to change the transmission fluid and that this should be done during the change to ensure the external cooler circuit is open and included in the flush/re-fill.

I was actually thinking about keeping it in the pinned position in the summer time to keep the transmission running a bit cooler. With the Amsoil it runs about 174F and with the Toyota WS it was about 184-200F (non-towing). I can monitor both pan and torque converter temperatures with my Scangauge thanks to X-Gauges.

It also has a Coolant to ATF heat exchanger on the side of the transmission where it heats up the ATF to coolant temperature before running to the thermostat and then finally to the auxiliary cooler behind the drivers wheel well.

 

[StevieC]

I should mention that I spoke with the Amsoil technical line and their response as follows:

Toyota OE WS fluid - Lifetime fill under normal operating conditions.
Toyota OE WS fluid - 60,000 miles (100,000km) - Towing, Fleet or severe duty applications.

Amsoil fluid - Lifetime fill under normal operating conditions.
Amsoil fluid - 120,000 miles (200,000km) - Towing, Fleet or severe duty applications.

They said that the Fuel Efficient Formula (Blue Cap) is what I should use to be as close to manufacturer spec as possible but that I could use the regular Multi-Vehicle Formula (Red Cap) which is regular viscosity because it's flow characteristics and viscosity was still better than the OE WS fluid so either was suitable.

I chose the lower viscosity fluid because of the really cold temperatures here in the winter. Although they both flow really well at insanely cold temperatures when looking at their specs.

 

[Trav]

Yep Amsoil ATF fluids are my favorite too, great stuff!

 

[buster]

Amsoil has always made top notch ATF's. Good to know the EF is just as good.

 

[StevieC]

Yeah it's really nice, I think perhaps the transmission has had time to adapt because it feels even better than the first 100km. I have about 600km on it now since the change. (Drive a lot for work).

 

[jongies3]

I don't care what anyone says, there's no such thing as lifetime anything when it comes to ATF, oil, grease, or anything lubricant related. Considering almost all vehicles operate under severe conditions, even under normal conditions, oil breaks down over time regardless. Unless you like buying transmissions, I suggest you don't buy into that nonsense!

I would like to maybe give this and severe gear a try in my Tacoma differentials, heard great things about both. Currently has Service Pro synthetic multi vehicle ATF in the transmission which is made by ConocoPhillips but I don't know how good it is, been in there a year and still looks and runs fine. Was one of the few synthetic ATF brands I could find that met the Toyota Type-IV spec my transmission requires so I went with it.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by StevieC
(Drive a lot for work).

I never would have guessed, given your Sante Fe's mileage.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by Garak
Originally Posted by StevieC
(Drive a lot for work).

I never would have guessed, given your Sante Fe's mileage.

I really wanted to do a million kilometers in that thing... I feel like I settled for 535,000.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by jongies3
I don't care what anyone says, there's no such thing as lifetime anything when it comes to ATF, oil, grease, or anything lubricant related. Considering almost all vehicles operate under severe conditions, even under normal conditions, oil breaks down over time regardless. Unless you like buying transmissions, I suggest you don't buy into that nonsense!

I would like to maybe give this and severe gear a try in my Tacoma differentials, heard great things about both. Currently has Service Pro synthetic multi vehicle ATF in the transmission which is made by ConocoPhillips but I don't know how good it is, been in there a year and still looks and runs fine. Was one of the few synthetic ATF brands I could find that met the Toyota Type-IV spec my transmission requires so I went with it.


I'm of the same school of though regarding "Lifetime" fluid. My dad's Caravan which is a 2012 is supposed to have a lifetime fill Mercedes transmission. I changed the fluid 4 times along with the filter and it now has 300K on it and shifts like new. (I drove it originally for my job and then bought it at the end of the work lease) I will be doing the same with my In-laws 2017 Caravan with the first change at 50,000km (full exchange) and I will keep doing the changes on my Highlander by doing a Spill/Fill every 50,000km so it always has some fresh fluid in there and because there is no serviceable filter.

This is the first vehicle I have personally owned with a differential/transfer case so naturally I used Amsoil Severe Gear being a fan of their other products and after reading the raving reviews in the off-roading community about how tough the Gear Oil is and the lower temperatures they are experiencing with it. Heat = enemy so anything I can do to keep my Diff/TC cool is worth it.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by StevieC

I really wanted to do a million kilometers in that thing... I feel like I settled for 535,000.

Running a vehicle for 1,000,000 is a commitment and a lot of work. The one taxi did it.

 

[StevieC]

I was almost there and with an engine that wasn't burning oil or leaking any and with the original transmission that was shifting as good as new. Then the camshaft snapped and shattered my dreams. Oh well Highlander 1,000,000 here I come.

 

[Garak]

The Chevy small block flattened its cam and was replaced. But, it burned oil. No leaks, though.

 

[Silverado12]

FWIW my 2000 Mustang GT never had its rear diff oil changed and I changed it w/ Valvoline 75W-140 syn at 110,000 miles. It had some wear to the spider gears. The 2010 Mustang GT got its rear oil changed when the car had 45K miles on it. That oil looked really good w/o any noticeable wear to the gears. I agree, there isn't such a thing as lifetime lube. We'll see how the newer Mustang looks once it has some higher miles, but I'm confident it will look ok.

 

[RonRonnster]

StevieC - sorry if I missed it, but did you use the OEM ATF or the Signature Series ATF? My Yukon uses the same Low Viscosity formulation and I'm looking to get the transmission drained and filled before the snow flies.

 

[StevieC]

I used the Signature Series Fuel Efficient Vehicles formula. (Blue Cap)

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-prod...omatic-transmission-fluid/?code=ATLQT-EA

 

[BrianF]

I have been using Amsoil LV ATF since 2014 in my TB. I think it has over 60,000km on it now (224,000km total). Runs great in all temperatures. Only concern with the Amsoil is the cost. Up here you are about 15$ a quart before tax, which is very pricey. Maxlife is 35$ for 5 liters with tax and PetroCan Duradrive is just over 7$ a liter tax in. Both are easy to find in stores/dealers.