Email from Amsoil about ATL trans fluid

[StevieC]

Ok, I didn't understand the first post... I see what you mean now...

Maybe the oil is running too hot and needs an external cooler.

What kind of driving is done with this vehicle?

My Santa Fe has an external cooler and it always looks like it did when first put in all through the OCI.

 

[PT1]

+1 on the trans cooler line flush versus the drain fills. I was 100% drain fills until I did the wifes Lexus last week. Way easy to do and you only need a case to get 95%+ new fluid. The car shifts like new too.

No more drain fills for me. I'll run all my WS cars 50k and flush.

 

[3Toyotas]

Originally Posted By: hate2work

Amsoil ATF has been around for some time now and has proven itself. The WS version ( ATL ) is basically the same fluid, just thinner, so I have no doubt it's a good product and safe to use.

Just guessing, but I'll bet Amsoil did quite a bit of research and testing before releasing ATL to the market.

I'm slowly putting ATF into both of our 06 Toyotas ( which take the T-IV fluid ) with drain and refills every 10k, so far it's working very well. But because of what I've read on here, I'm considering doing a flush on my truck this next time using the ATF product.

Which way should you go? I'd say do the drain and refill this time and keep your options open for what you want to do next time. That gives you plenty of time to think about it, and it will be good for your transmission to get some fresh stuff in there right now


I am counting on the ATL to be as good, and i would assume as well that it's been tested before they released it.

Thanks hate2work; your response is appreciated.

 

[3Toyotas]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
Why start exchanging the fluid at 25k? WS is a very long life fluid. What's your engine service interval?...30k? How about sending a fluid sample to Blackstone ($22.50) or other testing lab every 30k and KNOW what's what instead of guessing and throwing money at what might not be a problem. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with ATL, nor that it isn't any better than WS...I'm saying that WS is good and might remain good for many more miles--and keep money in your pocket.


Well, the truck is used for towing trailers in excess of 8k lbs 95% of the time and i'm a maintenance freak. I've always been a maintenace freak, but not as bad as i am now thanks to all of you here on BITOG. The truck's already had 5-6 D&F's on the PSF system with ATF, all the diffs were switched at 18k to Amsoil severe gear, and the coolant will be switched at 50k along with the brake fluid.

WS may be a good fluid, but long life it's not showing too good of results from what i've seen. And the results were from smaller motors in front of them, not a 400hp motor.

Engine service interval?
Trans interval is 60k severe service, and 100k normal. And IMO, almost all vehicles should be considered severe service.

Your points well taken on the WS, and that is why i don't necessarily think its bad enough to do a full exchange yet. But i would like to get 75% of the contaminants & break in junk out now if possible.

 

[3Toyotas]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
Ok, I didn't understand the first post... I see what you mean now...

Maybe the oil is running too hot and needs an external cooler.

What kind of driving is done with this vehicle?

My Santa Fe has an external cooler and it always looks like it did when first put in all through the OCI.

I beleive the Sienna van is basically the same drivetrain as the Camry, if i'm not mistaken. And i know the camry is hard on trans fluid, and it's more than likely running too hot.
I know my daughters Scion TC needs some attention with the WS fluid, as it's dark marooon in color already with only 17k on the clock. It's the 2.4L / 4-speed auto, which is the same in the camry.

It's got to have something to do with the trans being so close to the motor, with all that heat in there.

 

[StevieC]

Probably right... in your case I would go with a flush then.

 

[Gary Allan]

11 quarts

The Amsoil site says 3.2quarts per drain and fill.

3.2/11= 29%
Evolutions
#1 61/29
#2 37.2/17.7/29
#3 22.7/10.8/17.7/29
#4 13.5/6.6/10.8/17.7/29
#5 8.2/4.0/6.6/10.8/17.7/29 ..now you're, in theory, @ 90+% ATL.

16 quarts.

 

[jaj]

I worked this out once - if you're not able to do an outright change, then with partial changes it takes TWICE the capacity of the system to reduce the original fluid to less than 5% of the total.

If the system holds 11 quarts, then you need 22 quarts put through it. That can be four changes of 5.5 quarts, or 10 changes of 2.2 quarts. Once you've put double through, the remaining original fluid is down to 5% or less.

 

[3Toyotas]

Thanks Gary; much appreciated.

Do i have access to this information on the site?

Can you enlighten me on the numbers a little more?

So basically 5 drain and refills would get me to 90%, in theory?

 

[crinkles]

3toyota's, in my opinion, you would need 7 D&F to get to 90% based on 3.2 coming out and 11 total capacity

 

[crinkles]

 

[Gary Allan]

Brain feit

11 quarts

The Amsoil site says 3.2quarts per drain and fill.

3.2/11= 29%
Evolutions
#1 61/29
#2 37.2/17.7/29
#3 22.7/10.8/17.7/29
#4 13.5/6.6/10.8/17.7/29
#5 8.2/4.0/6.6/10.8/17.7/29 ..now you're, in theory, @ 90+% ATL.

16 quarts.

71% of all fluid (original and all added) should remain and be reduced by that number.
Should read

71/29
50.4/20.6/29.0
35.8/14.6/20.6/29
25.4/10.4/14.6/20.6/29
18.0/7.4/10.4/14.6/20.6/29
12.8/5.2/7.5/10.4/14.6/20.6/29
9.0/3.7/5.2/7.5/10.5/14.6/20.6/29

Yes, about double the sump for 90%+ (as was stated)

I guess this jives with crinkles chart.


..and why a cooler line flush is more productive.

 

[Steve S]

The best benefit would be to do a flush to get pretty close to all Amsoil then do partial changes after that.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: 3Toyotas
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Ok, I didn't understand the first post... I see what you mean now...

Maybe the oil is running too hot and needs an external cooler.

What kind of driving is done with this vehicle?

My Santa Fe has an external cooler and it always looks like it did when first put in all through the OCI.

I beleive the Sienna van is basically the same drivetrain as the Camry, if i'm not mistaken. And i know the camry is hard on trans fluid, and it's more than likely running too hot.
I know my daughters Scion TC needs some attention with the WS fluid, as it's dark marooon in color already with only 17k on the clock. It's the 2.4L / 4-speed auto, which is the same in the camry.

It's got to have something to do with the trans being so close to the motor, with all that heat in there.


It is a 1992 Toyota Previa with the 2.4L 2TZ-FE 4-cylinder engine. RWD, 137HP hauling 5000 lbs.

My dad drives it very, very gently. He rarely goes over 60 mph on the highway. However, he does have a nasty habit of manually shifting it into 2nd on a daily basis to utilize the "engine braking" function.