Toyota Dealership not using OEM fluid

Just a note for whatever it's worth. I went into my local dealership to grab a couple bottles of ATF-WS fluid. The guy said if it was alright that it's not the OEM bottle and he showed me the aftermarket fluid. I was suprised they didnt have it and asked him is that what you guys are using right now? He said yes. I asked why aren't you using OEM toyota fluid and he said because it was backordered. I had to drive half an hour to another dealership where they had the OEM fluid. So, I guess my point is be careful if you're crazy about what kind of fluid is going into your Tacoma. I'm betting the people who had their transmission flushed or drained had no idea about this or maybe they were informed, who knows.

 

^Which one are they using?

 

I don't trust dealerships and if someone is working on my vehicle, I have to be there in person to inspect.

My mom's Camry died because JiffyLube or some popular auto place (can't remember the name) putted anti-freeze in her car. We only found out after the fact. Of course, it died not too long after she passed away.

 

this brand but the ATF-WS fluid type

 

same here, i do all my own work aside from mounting/balancing tires and alingments. I would do them if I had the machines but thats very expensive.

 

I think this happens more than we’d like to know. I went to a local Honda dealership and it was the same thing with the air filters, they only had an aftermarket one, I wonder if they tell people that get them installed

 

IIRC Idemitsu is OEM for Subaru fluids. I used Idemitsu oils with great success, never their ATF.

 

Good to know its OEM for another brand, just uhhh maybe not good that its subaru

 

When my 08 had the frame replacement done the tech doing it was subbed out to do them by the job! He was a great guy I bought an oem rack lines tie rods etc.
Had them in the back with body mounts new 5100s for the rear and oem intermediate steering shaft. They installed for free and he thanked because the dealer supplied aftermarket stuff and charged Toyota prices.

haha my wife drives Subaru’s 3rd forester damm solid rig but doesn’t hold value.

 

as a former Subaru technician, let me tell you, often fluids will be oem... but might not all be. lot of your parts are from your local autozone/oreiley/advance, napa.

and for Idemitsu... yeah since i got my Tacoma its has every oil change with it. its decent quality oil. heck, sold my f350 with a transmission and Transfer case full of Idemitsu fluids. because they are equivalents to the oem fluids.

 

Idemitsu fluid is actually good. For a flush it's perfectly fine. For a partial drain-fill or top-up it's best to stick with the same brand for the greatest additive compatibility.

 

this happens all the time, especially since covid shutdowns.

my brothers dealership had to buy out the local auto parts stores of 0-20 during covid. their oem dealer ordering system had a note that they couldn't place an order for 0-20 until 2028...

 

Same, even when I get my Tacoma, I won't have a garage for it. Underground parking which is pretty dark.

 

Y'all do realize Toyota doesn't make any fluids or filters, right?

They are produced by the low bidder and get Toyota packaging.

 

get that Subaru to the PNW. sold a 2003 outback a couple years ago with 300k on it for 4k

 

^^^ He’s right you know…

 

oh yeah 100% Covid was a mess in the dealerships. heck i had friends calling me to find parts because they knew I had spares of a few things.

 

you know if you go to a dealership that has the "guns" full of fluids. you know that is not an "oem" it comes in a huge truck and gets pumped into a holding tank. until used.

 

And this is why we have specifications

Nothing magical about OEM fluid, it just comes from someone else and gets a new label. Heck, not impossible that they change suppliers at some point and now the "new" fluid isn't the same as the "old" fluid.

There are specifications and standards on these things in part for just these reasons.

 

Or Alaska. Subarus were seemingly half of all the cars on the road when I lived there. Awesome in the snow. Back in 2000s Anchorage Continental Subaru dealer was the best selling deal;er in the country.