Some of you may remember I got convicted of mistreating my AT's about 6 months ago. After watching all of John Kelly's Weber State YouTubes I felt so guilty that I had mistreated my AT's that I went
and purchased Toyota T-IV, WS and Dexron III for all my cars. I had been using a well known synthetic ATF in all of them. I had been using it for about 250K in my LS400. So please read this very
carefully and don't try and read my mind. My wife can't read my mind after 37 years so I know you can't just by reading my texts for a year or two.
As soon as I changed the fluid, I thought I noticed one of my cars shifted differently. Some psychologists on this forum said I had "wishful thinking bias" or some such disorder. Maybe it
was "positive prejudicial conformation." I'm not sure but I think they were saying I was imagining changes taking place that were not really happening to justify my decision in changing ATF's.
My brain was trying to prove my point by messing up my sensory input.
Without going into detail, initial shifting patterns did change but it wasn't due to the fluid.
Please note, obviously using this synthetic ATF did not affect the longevity of my transmission as far as I can tell. I think you will agree over 305,000 miles is a decent run on any transmission.
However, after many miles here is one observation that I know is not bias. It has been noticed by my family. It is repeatable. It was my wife who pointed it out to me. I hadn't noticed until
she said something to me and then my son and daughter vouched for her. It was my wife that didn't like to ride in the LS400 because of the sporadic jerking on take off.
TADA>>>Here is the change in shifting that has happened with my 305,000 mile LS400. Before there would be many times it would jerk on take off from a standing still start. Not every time but
about 1/2 the time. Almost a "whiplash" jerk. I had cleaned the throttle body, disconnected battery, etc trying to get a smooth take off. I finally just accepted it as "it is what it is." It has done
it for as long as I can remember. It has done it for years. I have had my baby since 2001 and she is my favorite car of all time. There will never be another as reliable as she.
Well, this "jerk" is gone. It never happens. My standing start take offs are like all my other cars. I don't know if there is a mechanical reason for this. I don't know if changing the fluid to what
the car maker calls for stopped the jerking. I don't know if the transmission has gotten older and more "worn out."
All I know is the jerking on take off is gone. Kaput!