ATF fluid choice/HELP ASAP PLEASE!!!

Okay so recently i flushed my Tacoma 2001 DC auto (drain and fill) with castrol for imports from Advance Auto and after serious hard shifting i did some researching and have found several threads where people say ONLY use Toyota T-IV or amsoil/mobil etc.


ANYONE on here ever change with castrol for imports and have a problem?


I need some input before i buy this transmission next week and swap it out, i had two shops check out my trans and both people said its higher pressure in the transmission than it should be. Does this sound right? Im sure a wrong viscosity liquid can cause pressure issues in a pressurized system so should i do a complete flush?? Thanks for your fast response!


ryan

 

Okay so im east coast and its too late to talk to the local dealership so i called a CA dealership and explained the problem and was told that they solve several different transmission issues from transmission slipping, to hard shifting to wobbles from incorrect fluid. He said they typically charge $144 for a full flush. So monday im going to call my local dealership and try and get it done asap. my theory is even though its a gamble and may not fix it im about to drop $1,000 on a 40k mile trans and fluid anyway so maybe it will work out! wish me luck


Ryan

 

Anyone else wanna chime in?

 

I flushed with 53k and had Toyota do it, every time I try to save a buck it bites me in the ass, so I bit the bullet and payed Toyota, I never was a fan of switching fluids , same goes for coolant!

 

I had the dealership do a flush with no ill effects, except to the wallet. Truck had 86K on it at the time.

 

I did a Drain and fill on my 02 auto. with M1 synthetic ATF. And I helped with my hard shifts.

 

I bet your hard shifting is gone after you change the fluid. I always use oem trans fluid in toyotas. It is cheeper from the dealer than synthetic at discount auto parts.

 

I hope thats the case, I dont like spending over $1,000 on a salvage yard trans and fluid if $150 will do, what did the rest of you pay for a dealership flush?

 

just picked it up, drove about 5miles so far feels much better, ill know more when the engine is cold but it definitely helped a lot so far.

$175 later, but thats better than a new trans

 

Had the dealership flush my tranny a while back & they used Valvoline Max Life.

 

Runs amazing, like a new truck now. Not sure if anyone else has had or will have this issue but castrol for imports was not good for my truck. i will probably do the dealership route or the home made flush from now on but with M1, amsoil or Toyota T-iv

its so nice to have my truck back

 

I always use Valvoline Max Life. It's T-IV compatible.

 

Chemical compatibility is a measure of how stable a substance is when mixed with another substance.

Why take a chance when a transmission overhaul can cost upwards $2500.00 just to save a few pennys! My $0.02

 

Make sure to recheck the fluid levels, as the FSM has it wrong on the amount of fluid needed, leaving it quite low if the tech just followed the book instead of bringing the trans fluid up to temp and checking/topping off.

 

I am pretty sure (please correct me if I am wrong) your truck calls for dex 2 or 3. Just look on the tranny fill cap. If it does do yourself a favor and don't put in T-iv. Just go to the dealership and they sell valvoline dex merc that will work just fine in your truck. I paid 3.99qt at my local toyota dealership. Truck took a hair over 4 quarts, do the drain and fill a few times 500 mile intervals till the fluid comes out cherry clean.

Actually they told me that if i brought my truck in for a tranny service they would be puttin in valvoline dex merc!
good luck

 

does anyone have a write up for the drail/fill on the auto tranny?

does the same proceedure include the filter replacement?

 

Just do a little research. Maxlife is running perfectly fine in MANY T-IV transmissions. Valvoline would not recommended it if it were not ok to use.

As far as saving pennies. Last time I checked the price of T-IV at the my local dealership, the Maxlife is more expensive by nearly a dollar a quart. I just prefer it.

From Valvoline specs

Recommended for use where the following fluids are specified:Ford MERCON®, MERCON® V, MERCON® SP and LV
GM DEXRON, DEXRON II, III and VI
Toyota and Lexus Type T, T-III, T-IV and WS
Allison TES 295 and 389
Nissan Matic-D, Matic-J and Matic-K
Honda and Acura ATF Z-1 (except CVT)
Mercedes NAG-1
Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III
Kia SP-II and SP-III

 

I've heard horror stories about what has happend after people changed tranny fluid brands. I think there is a reason the factory uses a certain type, and you should not deviate from what is recommended. I've changed mine twice in 70,000 miles and put the stuff Toyota recommends back in it. Mine shifts great. Rumor is that the autotranny that is used for the 1st Gen trucks is a really great and reliable tranny. And i've seen trucks with well over 200K that is still shifiting and working great.

 

I recently purchased some MotoMaster ATF to top up my PS fluid...It says for use in vehicles previously service by Dexron III on the front and says suitable for use in vehicles requiring Dexron II on the back...Should I be using this type/brand? Thx Matt