I just tried a search,(no big surprise I couldnt find my answer) Re: the Toyota type-IV fluid. First off is this fluid synthetic?? and is it any good at all?? Personally,I`m not sure if I like this stuff.Shifts seem to be sloppy on it.
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Toyota type-IV fluid
- Thread starter lexus114
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It's not synthetic. It's weight is pretty much the same as any universal ATF (it's not really thin like WS). Most seem to think it's like a Dexron III with different friction properties. It's OK, and it's pretty cheap at my dealer (about $4 a quart, about what you'd pay for any other non-syn ATF at an auto parts store).
I've read some good experiences with both Amsoil and Mobil 1 synthetics.
You might try searching for Mobil 3309, which is the non-toyota branded product.
I've read some good experiences with both Amsoil and Mobil 1 synthetics.
You might try searching for Mobil 3309, which is the non-toyota branded product.
lexus114
Thread starter
I see you have a Highlander (the sister vehicle to mine) what do you use in yours? And as far as this fluid not being Synthetic,thats probably why it gets toasted so quick.BTW,I have the Wolf`s Head Synthetic universal fluid in now and it seems to work well.
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I've been using the Amsoil ATF in place of the T-IV with very good results. Redline and Schaeffer's also make excellent synthetic replacement atf.
Toy gearboxes are mainly Aisin-Warner type, so you shall consider adhering to JWS-3309 variety (which is equivalent to T-IV fluid).
Of all the non-OE type of ATF I've researched so far, only Castrol import MultiVehicleATF and Mobil ATF-3309 (or Esso equivalent 3309) meets the spec. for use in gearboxes specifying T-IV.
Just done a drain and fill on my wifey's o4 camry with Castrol IMVATF and it's been shifting fine.
Q.
Of all the non-OE type of ATF I've researched so far, only Castrol import MultiVehicleATF and Mobil ATF-3309 (or Esso equivalent 3309) meets the spec. for use in gearboxes specifying T-IV.
Just done a drain and fill on my wifey's o4 camry with Castrol IMVATF and it's been shifting fine.
Q.
lexus114
Thread starter
Originally Posted By: Quest
Toy gearboxes are mainly Aisin-Warner type, so you shall consider adhering to JWS-3309 variety (which is equivalent to T-IV fluid).
Of all the non-OE type of ATF I've researched so far, only Castrol import MultiVehicleATF and Mobil ATF-3309 (or Esso equivalent 3309) meets the spec. for use in gearboxes specifying T-IV.
Just done a drain and fill on my wifey's o4 camry with Castrol IMVATF and it's been shifting fine.
Q.
Quest,the Wolf`s Head universal fluid meets the T-IV specs. as well.
Toy gearboxes are mainly Aisin-Warner type, so you shall consider adhering to JWS-3309 variety (which is equivalent to T-IV fluid).
Of all the non-OE type of ATF I've researched so far, only Castrol import MultiVehicleATF and Mobil ATF-3309 (or Esso equivalent 3309) meets the spec. for use in gearboxes specifying T-IV.
Just done a drain and fill on my wifey's o4 camry with Castrol IMVATF and it's been shifting fine.
Q.
Quest,the Wolf`s Head universal fluid meets the T-IV specs. as well.
Maxlife ATF meets the T-IV specs as well; been using it in my Tacoma without issue
The approved oil for the Aisin transmission is ATF 3309. 3309 is listed for T-IV & GM 9986195. Mobil is the supplier for 3309. Mobil also has a just out ATF (multi vehicle)that states it is suitable for host of vehicles transmissions that includes 3309. I can't find either Mobil products locally but, others have bought the T-IV at local Mazda dealers for less than $5 per quart.
lexus114
Thread starter
But what are your over all opinions on the Toyota fluid? Good,Bad,??
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Quest,the Wolf`s Head universal fluid meets the T-IV specs. as well.
Doode!
Where I live, I cannot get Wolfshead or similar. I can get Esso if I call the bulk oil distributor.
Q.
Quest,the Wolf`s Head universal fluid meets the T-IV specs. as well.
Doode!
Where I live, I cannot get Wolfshead or similar. I can get Esso if I call the bulk oil distributor.
Q.
I'd echo your opinion that it shifts soft, perhaps too soft.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
lexus114
Thread starter
Originally Posted By: bepperb
I'd echo your opinion that it shifts soft, perhaps too soft.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
"it shifts soft, perhaps too soft."
Could be yet another reason it gets toasted so quick. A more firm shift is better for the clutches. I wish they made a moderate shift kit for this trans. Although its biggest defect is the planetary gear set,and aluminum shaft.
I'd echo your opinion that it shifts soft, perhaps too soft.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
"it shifts soft, perhaps too soft."
Could be yet another reason it gets toasted so quick. A more firm shift is better for the clutches. I wish they made a moderate shift kit for this trans. Although its biggest defect is the planetary gear set,and aluminum shaft.
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When I bought my wife's Highlander (same engine/trans as yours) the fluid was very brown, but the trans was shifting okay. I suspect the original fluid was never changed in 75,000 miles. So the trans shop dropped the pan, changed the filter, and refilled with T-IV. I did one drain and fill, and I need to get under it now and do a full fluid replacement. (just crossed 90k miles) I have 8 bottles of T-IV sitting in the garage just waiting. After those are gone, I'm contemplating either Castrol IMV or Maxlife. I usually do 15-20k drain and fills to keep the fluid somewhat fresh.
My truck is a different story. It also is probably due for a full fluid replacement, but it has an external cooler, and it already has had several drain and fills at its mileage.
My truck is a different story. It also is probably due for a full fluid replacement, but it has an external cooler, and it already has had several drain and fills at its mileage.
Originally Posted By: MysticGold04
When I bought my wife's Highlander (same engine/trans as yours) the fluid was very brown, but the trans was shifting okay. I suspect the original fluid was never changed in 75,000 miles. So the trans shop dropped the pan, changed the filter, and refilled with T-IV. I did one drain and fill, and I need to get under it now and do a full fluid replacement. (just crossed 90k miles) I have 8 bottles of T-IV sitting in the garage just waiting. After those are gone, I'm contemplating either Castrol IMV or Maxlife. I usually do 15-20k drain and fills to keep the fluid somewhat fresh.
if you are doing the 15K drain and fills and not ragging that car out you are doing good.. T4 is better than Dex3.. T4 isnt that bad though its deff not a 100k mile atf for sure.. i would treat it like a dex3 atf.. change frequently
My truck is a different story. It also is probably due for a full fluid replacement, but it has an external cooler, and it already has had several drain and fills at its mileage.
When I bought my wife's Highlander (same engine/trans as yours) the fluid was very brown, but the trans was shifting okay. I suspect the original fluid was never changed in 75,000 miles. So the trans shop dropped the pan, changed the filter, and refilled with T-IV. I did one drain and fill, and I need to get under it now and do a full fluid replacement. (just crossed 90k miles) I have 8 bottles of T-IV sitting in the garage just waiting. After those are gone, I'm contemplating either Castrol IMV or Maxlife. I usually do 15-20k drain and fills to keep the fluid somewhat fresh.
if you are doing the 15K drain and fills and not ragging that car out you are doing good.. T4 is better than Dex3.. T4 isnt that bad though its deff not a 100k mile atf for sure.. i would treat it like a dex3 atf.. change frequently
My truck is a different story. It also is probably due for a full fluid replacement, but it has an external cooler, and it already has had several drain and fills at its mileage.
Originally Posted By: bepperb
I'd echo your opinion that it shifts soft, perhaps too soft.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
Just to clarify, Toyota doesn't say that T-IV is good for 100k miles. It's their WS fluid they make that claim with. The T-IV needs to be changed much sooner than that.
I'd echo your opinion that it shifts soft, perhaps too soft.
It doesn't have great very cold weather performance. It won't shift into fourth until about two miles from start if it's below 0 farenheight.
At 40,000 miles it looked like it was ready to be replaced. Pretty dirty. I drained and replaced four quarts. I can't imagine how it could be a lifetime fluid. 100,000 miles seems about the max, and obviously I go sooner.
I picked up a bunch of M1 for 4.00 a quart, I'll be using that and replacing the filter I think at 60,000 miles if I find time.
Just to clarify, Toyota doesn't say that T-IV is good for 100k miles. It's their WS fluid they make that claim with. The T-IV needs to be changed much sooner than that.
"Just to clarify, Toyota doesn't say that T-IV is good for 100k miles."
Absolutely they do. My owners manual states that under normal duty, the T-IV is a lifetime fill. On the dipstick itself, it states that under normal operating conditions, the fluid never needs to be changed.
I guess you're right. They don't say the T-IV is good for 100,000 miles. They say it's good for more.
You can actually go here, to Toyota's own website. Scroll through all 120,000 miles of the maintenance schedule. Never a mention of a Transmission fluid change.
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=8&y=2004&int_id=24&done=1
Absolutely they do. My owners manual states that under normal duty, the T-IV is a lifetime fill. On the dipstick itself, it states that under normal operating conditions, the fluid never needs to be changed.
I guess you're right. They don't say the T-IV is good for 100,000 miles. They say it's good for more.
You can actually go here, to Toyota's own website. Scroll through all 120,000 miles of the maintenance schedule. Never a mention of a Transmission fluid change.
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=8&y=2004&int_id=24&done=1
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T-IV is not a lifetime fluid, is not synthetic, is not Dexron-III, is not a universal fluid, IS 3309.
None of the universal fluids meet the spec for 3309. Many are close enough that they work fine. If a trusted brand says, "recommended for T-IV," that's good enough for me.
For the soft shifts, clean the transmission with Auto-Rx. Follow the directions exactly.
None of the universal fluids meet the spec for 3309. Many are close enough that they work fine. If a trusted brand says, "recommended for T-IV," that's good enough for me.
For the soft shifts, clean the transmission with Auto-Rx. Follow the directions exactly.
My shifts were soft from the start. I think that's probably how Toyota wanted them, just like the suspension or my 70 series tires. Definitely not a cleaning issue. I love that AutoRX seems to be a fix for any symptom that has no obvious cause around here. It's our version of bloodletting.
I would agree with you that it's not a lifetime fluid. Unfortunately, Toyota bills it as one. I'm always a little sketchy of people who claim they meet standards. But in this case, Mobil makes the 3309 so if they say their M1 meets the spec, well, at least someone there knows what the spec is.
I would agree with you that it's not a lifetime fluid. Unfortunately, Toyota bills it as one. I'm always a little sketchy of people who claim they meet standards. But in this case, Mobil makes the 3309 so if they say their M1 meets the spec, well, at least someone there knows what the spec is.
lexus114
Thread starter
Originally Posted By: bepperb
"Just to clarify, Toyota doesn't say that T-IV is good for 100k miles."
Absolutely they do. My owners manual states that under normal duty, the T-IV is a lifetime fill. On the dipstick itself, it states that under normal operating conditions, the fluid never needs to be changed.
I guess you're right. They don't say the T-IV is good for 100,000 miles. They say it's good for more.
You can actually go here, to Toyota's own website. Scroll through all 120,000 miles of the maintenance schedule. Never a mention of a Transmission fluid change.
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=8&y=2004&int_id=24&done=1
Yep,mine states the same thing.
"Just to clarify, Toyota doesn't say that T-IV is good for 100k miles."
Absolutely they do. My owners manual states that under normal duty, the T-IV is a lifetime fill. On the dipstick itself, it states that under normal operating conditions, the fluid never needs to be changed.
I guess you're right. They don't say the T-IV is good for 100,000 miles. They say it's good for more.
You can actually go here, to Toyota's own website. Scroll through all 120,000 miles of the maintenance schedule. Never a mention of a Transmission fluid change.
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=8&y=2004&int_id=24&done=1
Yep,mine states the same thing.
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