Choosing between two ATFs in BMW power steering

[Danus_ex]

The two cheapest synthetic ATF fluids I can find are Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF ($8.28 per quart with tax) and Citgo TransGuard Dexron VI ($5.33 per quart with tax). How do these two fluids compare? Is there any reason to choose the M1 over the Citgo?

The cars I'd use them in are all 1990s BMWs that spec Dexron III.

 

[jrtribology]

What I would like to know is if you have Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF sitting around unopened long enough if it can go bad sitting "on the shelf" (because of detergents settling to the bottom of the container). I have about 7 quarts of this that I haven't used in 5 years ?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Danus_ex
The two cheapest synthetic ATF fluids I can find are Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF ($8.28 per quart with tax) and Citgo TransGuard Dexron VI ($5.33 per quart with tax). How do these two fluids compare? Is there any reason to choose the M1 over the Citgo?

The cars I'd use them in are all 1990s BMWs that spec Dexron III.


PS is not very demanding. I am sure either would be fine.

 

[RiceCake]

Whatevers cheaper. I'd be using the Citgo fluid.

 

[Bandito440]

How about some Valvoline Maxlife?

 

[JohnathanDm]

When I went to the Dealer to buy Power Steering FLuid I thought i was gonna get a magical Bottle of Special Bmw Fluid and all i got was a bottle of Castrol TransMax That Walmart Sell's Cheaper.

 

[danster]

I use Maxlife in my '85. Not all of the bits are that old but the conditioners in the MaxLife won't hurt anything. Change once in a great while and there is no need for a full synthetic PS fluid. It is certainly quite different than what the original engineers had in mind.

 

[chefwong]

YMMV. I tried a couple in my X5.

I tried 3 ATF before M1 Dex 3 was the winner.
For me, noise and feel was best with M1 Dex 3. When I heard that was being phased out with Universal, I picked up 5 more bottles.

 

[OVERKILL]

I'm currently using AMSOIL synthetic ATF in my BMW's power steering. Though historically I've always been a Mobil 1 user with nothing but fantastic results. I had the AMSOIL on hand and figured I'd give it a shot. So far, so good

 

[artificialist]

I have never used any kind of Citgo lubricant, but I have used M1 ATF and it does work well in power steering systems.

 

[chefwong]

The Amsoil ATF viscosity was too light for me...rack sounded noisy as well.

Funny how oil is like food/wine. So subjective...

 

[fcbuff]

M1 ATF here. It has worked great for me and is widely recommended on many BMW forums.

 

[1st5er]

Dexron III or better, but nothing from Citgo.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
JohnathanDm - If they gave you Transmax Z you have one of the best fluids of its type ever made!

 

[Danus_ex]

Since I've already got M1 Synthetic ATF in the power steering systems of two cars, I decided to just move forward with another box of that.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Danus_ex - You made a sensible decision, using an excellent product

 

[nleksan]

Been a long time since I last posted (life caught up to me!

)

Anyway, I continue to use Redline D4 ATF in ALL my BMW's with incredible results