WS transmission fluid is garbage . Get it out of your transmission now

$9 Lubegard 19610 Instant Shudder Fix

https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-19610-Tranny-Instant-Shudder/dp/B0002JMLQU

 

$16 Lubegard 63010 Platinum Automatic Transmission Fluid Protectant, 10 oz.

https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-630...=1522105020&sr=8-1&keywords=lubegard+platinum

 

I'm late on this, sorry if I missed it, but... If I drain the ATF from the pan and replace the fluid with something better, how much of the old fluid still remains in the system - i.e., torque converter, cooling lines to/from and inside the radiator, etc? It seems to me the only way to "get it all" is to take it to a trans specialty shop and have them put it on a machine to run new fluid throughout the entire system ($$$). Oh, I should say I have a 2017 Tacoma, 6-speed auto, 4 cyl.

 

IIRC it's 10 qts, pan holds about 4

 

you should not tow with a toyota there not made to tow

 

So that's why Toyota made a PreRunner with a TOW package...because they were not made to TOW! I had no idea. Thanks for sharing your impeccable knowledge.

 

don't go offroad either they're not meant for it.

 

And stop loading shit in the bed

 

Correct. Damn trucks tend to slip on the slightest camber.

 

Not sure we've really learned much in this thread. It's basically just gone in circles.

Here's what I've done and will do. My daughter's 2010 Yaris was purchased nearly a year ago with 126k miles on it. I decided to service the transmission. It clearly says on the dipstick (yes, it actually has a dipstick) that "change is not needed under normal conditions". As such, you can hang out on YarisWorld and read many threads and posts about folks with 200k miles on their rides having never serviced the tranny. Very few issues.

But I figured it couldn't hurt. Regardless of what side of the fence you're on, I personally feel confident in using MaxLife in my Toyota’s. It's been in a family member's 04 Sienna for thousands of miles without issue. I did 4 drain and fills, including a pan drop and filter change on the Yaris. I'd be willing to bet it was the factory fill. Fluid still had some red color to it and the pan and magnets were very clean. Tranny shifted great before the service. So much for WS being junk. Though there may be nothing special about WS compared to others fluids...I don't believe it's junk.

For convenience and cost I went with the MaxLife. I'd also read many posts from various Toyota forums regarding positive results using MaxLife. We've put about 5k miles on the Yars since the change. Tranny feels just fine. But it did before the change too.



As for my Taco? I'm at 53k miles. I'm under warranty until 125k. So just to eliminate even the possibility of a potential warranty issue I will stick with the WS until the warranty is up. Starting at 60k I will begin a series of drain and fills over the course of a few months to net mostly new fluid.

Beyond 125k....it will be time for another service. I will do a pan drop and filter change. More than likely I'll go with MaxLife based on it's easy OTC availability and it's cost.

 

After this, I immediately added Lubegard's Platinum's additive to my trans (6-speed) and have set up an appointment with a trans shop to have ALL of the WS fluid removed with a true high quality fluid of my choice. Again, when I say all, I mean the torque converter, the cooling lines, the radiator, gears, ALL OF IT! NOT JUST THE PAN! The Price? $89 plus the fluid I supply. The result? Piece of mind that a questionable fluid is completely gone, and the only blame goes onto the mechanics of the Toyota engineers. With the receipts, if the trans doesn't last the life of the engine, I'll have a law suit!

 

Old thread I know. But I actually had my 2016 Tacoma original fluid analyzed at 45,614 miles. Metals were present but at low levels and totally expected for fluid that went through the trans break in period. Detergents and additives were still present and viscosity was within 10% of virgin fluid and well within tolerance range. Several thousand of those miles was in four wheel drive and I live in a very hot climate.

Not sure WS is “garbage”.

 

WS is fine, just nothing special. It’s only a “lifetime fluid” under the most perfect conditions. I mean technically if your trans fails at 150k on the original fluid then the fluid has lasted the lifetime of the transmission?
Even though the fluid is pretty shear stable, I’m of the opinion that regular changes are important to keep contaminants low and to help keep the friction modifiers and other additives refreshed. Some people opt for a full cooler line flush every 30-50k, I think a drain and refill every 20-30k is good enough for the average persons vehicle.

I can get WS from the dealer for nearly $10/quart or I can get Maxlife or another WS compatible (not approved) fluid for $4/quart or less.

I have nothing against WS, I just don’t like the pricing and availability versus the other options. These A750s have been around a long time and aren’t picky about the ATF you use as long as the fluid level is correct.

 

Anyone who believes any ATF is a lifetime fluid is asking for trouble. And even if if I did a drain and fill every year, that’s $36 annually with some left over. I don’t know how it compares to other brands or anything, but cost is the least of my concern when it’s under $4 a month either way lol.

 

@gearcruncher ??

 

195K miles on a September 2014 SR5 4Runner. Running Valvoline MaxLife since 100K with a complete flush done by myself. Long out of warranty so the warranty issues do not apply. Not buying the must use Toyota WS claims.

I added Astroglide to the ATF because it works well on the wife.

 

You have no idea what you're talking about and should always take your truck into a dealer for service.

I did my own flush on our 2014 SR5 4Runner. You simply disconnect the hose from the transmission cooler and do repeated runs, fills, runs until the fluid runs clear. You are simply using the pumps in the transmission and disrupting the recirculation from the cooler.