MolaKule
Staff member
Three ATF's were analyzed by two labs, one a university lab and another a commercial lab to determine their elemental and chemical composition because of on-going debates about the suitability of each fluid for various applications. The three ATF's analyzed were: Genuine Honda DW-1, Valvoline MaxLife, and Idemitsu Type H-Plus.
All ATF's were purchased in early July at the author's expense.
Analytical analysis used was FTIR, C-NMR, and H-NMR on various instrumentation types.
Two of the fluids, Valvoline MaxLife, and Idemitsu Type H-Plus were purchased from a local auto parts store while the Genuine Honda DW-1 was purchased from a Honda Dealer at the parts counter. The price of the Genuine Honda DW-1 and Idemitsu Type H averaged about $8.11 per quart. The price of the Valvoline MaxLife averaged about $5.00/quart.
Note: Only the elemental analysis for Boron down to Zinc will be reported since any elements < 2ppm usually represent some chemical "tag" or very low levels of metal inhibitor chemistry.
This analysis will not disclose any base oil, Friction Modifier, or other possible proprietary compounds. Readers are referred to the respective manufacturers' web sites for ATF properties, claims, and coverage, or "Suitable for Use in" categories. Note: "Suitable for Use In" does NOT equate to equivalency!
All elemental and viscosity values were averaged over the samples.
Original Honda DW-1â„¢ (Part # beginning with 08200-):
Boron - 272
Silicon - 4
Sodium - 3
Calcium - 353
Magnesium - 204
Phosphorus - 2
Zinc - 320
Viscosity@100C - 6.93 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is essentially the same as Honda's Z-1 fluid and is indicative of fluids used in Automated Manual transmissions. To the author's knowledge, no Step-Shift ATF chemical signature compares. Notable is the level of the Zinc compounds needed for the internals of Automated Manual transmissions.
Owners' of Step-Shift automatic transmissions should avoid using this product in any Step-Shift automatic transmission.
 
Label - Valvoline MaxLifeâ„¢ (Part # beginning with 773):
Boron - 272
Silicon - 2
Sodium - 8
Calcium - 230
Magnesium - 3
Phosphorus - 579
Zinc - 3
Viscosity@100C - 5.91 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is indicative of the later Dexron and Dex/Merc series of ATF's based on the original Dexron through the Dexron III(H)) and Dexron VI series of ATF's. It is closely comparative to the GM Dexron VI formulations as well as to their own Dexron VI offering, and can be classified as a low Viscosity ATF. What is notable is a boost in the Ant-Wear Phosphorus compound of about 200 ppm.
The manufacturer claims coverage, or "Suitable for Use in" (no equivalency claims) for Honda/Acura's Z-1 and DW-1. I do not see how this could be the case when compared to the DW-1 analysis above.
Valvoline could claim coverage of Idemitsu's fluid because Idemitsu Type-H is claiming coverage of Honda Z-1 and DW-1 (see below), but this would be a gross overstepping of "read-across" coverage, and nowhere in Valvoline's PI sheets do I see "Suitable for Use in" Idemitsu Type H-Plus applications.
 
Label - Idemitsu Type H-Plusâ„¢ (Part # beginning with 30040090-):
Boron - 30
Silicon - 2
Sodium - 3
Calcium - 265
Magnesium - 2
Phosphorus - 245
Zinc - 3
Viscosity@100C - 5.91 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is indicative of the fluid used in many Asian-made Step-Shift automatic transmissions. As you can see from the MaxLife comments it is very similar to the GM Dexron series.
However, the Idemitsu label claims, "ATF Type-H plus Engineered for Honda Z-1 and DW-1." Again, looking at the analysis for the Original Honda DW-1, I fail to see how this could be the case.
Conclusion: While this article may not settle all debates, one should closely examine these analyses and educate themselves on the various offerings and claims in order to determine "suitability" for their vehicles' transmission.
All ATF's were purchased in early July at the author's expense.
Analytical analysis used was FTIR, C-NMR, and H-NMR on various instrumentation types.
Two of the fluids, Valvoline MaxLife, and Idemitsu Type H-Plus were purchased from a local auto parts store while the Genuine Honda DW-1 was purchased from a Honda Dealer at the parts counter. The price of the Genuine Honda DW-1 and Idemitsu Type H averaged about $8.11 per quart. The price of the Valvoline MaxLife averaged about $5.00/quart.
Note: Only the elemental analysis for Boron down to Zinc will be reported since any elements < 2ppm usually represent some chemical "tag" or very low levels of metal inhibitor chemistry.
This analysis will not disclose any base oil, Friction Modifier, or other possible proprietary compounds. Readers are referred to the respective manufacturers' web sites for ATF properties, claims, and coverage, or "Suitable for Use in" categories. Note: "Suitable for Use In" does NOT equate to equivalency!
All elemental and viscosity values were averaged over the samples.
Original Honda DW-1â„¢ (Part # beginning with 08200-):
Boron - 272
Silicon - 4
Sodium - 3
Calcium - 353
Magnesium - 204
Phosphorus - 2
Zinc - 320
Viscosity@100C - 6.93 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is essentially the same as Honda's Z-1 fluid and is indicative of fluids used in Automated Manual transmissions. To the author's knowledge, no Step-Shift ATF chemical signature compares. Notable is the level of the Zinc compounds needed for the internals of Automated Manual transmissions.
Owners' of Step-Shift automatic transmissions should avoid using this product in any Step-Shift automatic transmission.
 
Label - Valvoline MaxLifeâ„¢ (Part # beginning with 773):
Boron - 272
Silicon - 2
Sodium - 8
Calcium - 230
Magnesium - 3
Phosphorus - 579
Zinc - 3
Viscosity@100C - 5.91 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is indicative of the later Dexron and Dex/Merc series of ATF's based on the original Dexron through the Dexron III(H)) and Dexron VI series of ATF's. It is closely comparative to the GM Dexron VI formulations as well as to their own Dexron VI offering, and can be classified as a low Viscosity ATF. What is notable is a boost in the Ant-Wear Phosphorus compound of about 200 ppm.
The manufacturer claims coverage, or "Suitable for Use in" (no equivalency claims) for Honda/Acura's Z-1 and DW-1. I do not see how this could be the case when compared to the DW-1 analysis above.
Valvoline could claim coverage of Idemitsu's fluid because Idemitsu Type-H is claiming coverage of Honda Z-1 and DW-1 (see below), but this would be a gross overstepping of "read-across" coverage, and nowhere in Valvoline's PI sheets do I see "Suitable for Use in" Idemitsu Type H-Plus applications.
 
Label - Idemitsu Type H-Plusâ„¢ (Part # beginning with 30040090-):
Boron - 30
Silicon - 2
Sodium - 3
Calcium - 265
Magnesium - 2
Phosphorus - 245
Zinc - 3
Viscosity@100C - 5.91 cSt
Commentary and Opinion: The chemical signature for this ATF is indicative of the fluid used in many Asian-made Step-Shift automatic transmissions. As you can see from the MaxLife comments it is very similar to the GM Dexron series.
However, the Idemitsu label claims, "ATF Type-H plus Engineered for Honda Z-1 and DW-1." Again, looking at the analysis for the Original Honda DW-1, I fail to see how this could be the case.
Conclusion: While this article may not settle all debates, one should closely examine these analyses and educate themselves on the various offerings and claims in order to determine "suitability" for their vehicles' transmission.
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