OTOH, Amsoil syn ATF is working fine in mine.

 

Change my tranny fluid every Oct BUT for $1.00 more a quart (x 3) will stick with Toyota fluid, instead of Castrol. The bad thing is the nearest Toyota dealer is 13 miles away. :?

 

cool

Thats all good . - use what works for you

I just thought I would share something that has shown a very positive result in my RAV

I think the most important thing with any auto trans is avid exchange of fluids on a routine basis, wether is T-IV-Amsoil-Castrol or in my case DEX VI.

Have a good weekend

 

I'm not sure that Dexron VI is the same as the Toyota required 3309 (IV), as per this link http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_Dexron_VI_ATF.aspx It shows a separate listing for 3309. I know that Castrol Mutli Import will work, I used a quart of it once.

 

not listed

Yup you are right , on the castrol bottle or website is is not listed -

However on the Dexron VI bottle from supertech fluid(walmart) - their bottle states compatible with toyota T-IV, JWS 3309 and WS fluid.....that is where myself and others got the idea to use the fluid in our toyota transmissions.

And so far so good- really good actually - before the winter I plan to do a total system flush with DexVI - I predict this fluid will really excel in our very cold winters.

My auto trans has 150+ thousand Kms on it - and shifts like new........

Do some internet searching for dexron VI and toyota you will see many others using this fluid in their JWS 3309 cases.l

To each is own
Nick

 

Do you have a tranny dipstick?

 

yup

Yes
I have a trans dip stick - that is where I re-fill the trans after a drain .

I am way past warranty - I just came back from a long road trip and got 31mpg - and that was with 4 200lb people and luggage + A/C on for half the drive....I was quite imporeesed.

If you do some research in DexVI it would actually make sense to improve milege.

 

Castrol ATF product line, Dexron VI different than Import http://advanceauto.shoplocal.com/ad...aservices.com/dyn_li/600.0.90.0/Retailers/AdvanceAutoParts/080727_2_cmb_1AL.jpg

 

yes it is

Hi

Yes I do know that it is different than the import fluid - very different actually.

The trans has been preforming very well - anyway it was just an experiment based on other internet users - I think this fluid will excel very well in the winter.

everybody should change their atf - there is no excuse on the rav , you just need to get on your back----its easier than changing your oil...

 

Went to Wal-Mart days ago looked at their house brand of ATF dexron VI and listed as OK for Toyota Type IV but I'm sticking with the real Toyota stuff.

 

Can someone help me decide which auto trans fluid I should use on my rav?

I am changing out the fluid this week and am not sure if I should stick with the good 'ol toyota stuff or go for the synthetic amsoil or dextron. I live in Canada where winters can be brutally cold and Im parked outside. I should note that I change the fluid religiously every August. Any specifics pros/cons... I am particularly interested in the synthetic stuff b/c it doesnt get gunky in the extreme cold.

Can colchiro chime in on this one too? Btw my rav has approx. 73K miles.

Thank you all in advance. The forums have been a great help to me and I try to help out too when I can :wink:

 

canada

I am also in the cold climate belt - 30/40 is not uncommon...

DEX VI- is a great cold weather fluid

I drove 60kms on -35c weather and drained the tranny fluid, it was warm to the touch and not really hot at all-----DEX VI is a lower vis fluid that will really shine in Canada - and can withstand some really hard abuse.

Also mobil 1 syn - their website lists Type IV as an approved fluid now...

So use these fluids with confidense and do 2-3 drain and refills or a full flush before the winter-------

Toyo Type IV is a base fluid <no> - and starts to really break down after 20,000kms------this is based on fluid analysis I have read across the net...

If you decide to stick with T-IV do a drain and refill avery 10-15,000kms....
this fluid can not take the abuse of the full time all wheel drive - our 4.2 trannys can dish out.

what ever you decide - just change often - trannys are shear machines for fluids--- it is in their nature to shear a fluid down.

 

At the Walmart oil section today looking at the Dexron VI and it starting to sway me in it's direction. My vehicle needs type T-IV and wife's Dexron III. The Dexron VI will fill both needs. Also, may use it in both vehicles for power steering change. If Walmart had it in gallon size I might have bought it. Quart price was $3.44. Went to bob the oil guy and found this interesting discussion, as follows http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1217344#Post1217344 Thanks, Cinder for the heads-up on this product. :thumbs_up:

 

Bought 3 quarts of Dexron VI from Wal-Mart and replaced fluid in RAV4 yesterday. Noticed that it seems to be thinner than the Toyota brand Type T-IV. Should be good until next year.

 

winter

Hey Guys -

So far I have 50% of DexVI - I will do a fukll flush before winter -
The shifts have really smoothed out especially the 1-2 shift -
Also this fluid will really excel in very cold weather....

try doing another drain and fill with dexVI the shifts will get better and possibly better MPG depending on what is in your trans already - the dex is slightly thinner than type-iv

 

One thing I have not seen mentioned in this thread (or I may have missed it...) was * Compatibility with transmission seal materials *
I found this hard lesson out with the power steering pump on my '92 Integra after using non Honda PS fluid in it. Guess it wasnt that bad of a lesson since it didnt cost that much to replace the seals. Anybody care to report any issues or is Dex IV a godsend for Toyota transmissions?

 

RE: DEX VI vs. T-IV

I have used 3309, T-IV and Amsoil Universal Synthetic in my automatic transaxle. If the fluid is a recomended substitute, it should be good enough. Otherwise, there would be law suits against the oil manufacturers everywhere. They also can't go and use the "Toyota or T-IV names" on the bottles with out some sort of permission. I am on my second RAV4, but this one sits more than it is driven. I am disabled. I beleive having fresh, clean fluid in the tranny is key to longevity of the unit. Just like in the engine, if it is maintained, it should, should being the key word, last a long time. I have done 3 simple drain and fills on mine and the fluid is filtered by a Magnefine, in line filter. Very simple to do and cheap insurance. I broke open the first filter and found fine particles and ferrous particles stuck to the magnet. It is doing it's job. I took that magnet and stuck it to the bottom of my engine oil filter to catch ferrous particles in the oil. Maintainance is key to keeping anything mechanical running.

 

The dealer just put Dex in my 2002, said that was now the recommended fluid.

 

I just put Dex IV in the Rav4... Wow, I am surprised. No more bucking or slipping. I'm sold! And that was only after 4½ quarts. I thought the Rav4 was headed for the big salvage yard in the sky, maybe I can get 300,000 miles out of it like I did with my '82 Celica. OK, maybe 200k... the transmission fluid looked bad and the magnets were coated. We will see... :thumbs_up:

 

Re: winter

Hey Guys -

So far I have 50% of DexVI - I will do a fukll flush before winter -
The shifts have really smoothed out especially the 1-2 shift -
Also this fluid will really excel in very cold weather....

1-2 shift got smoother? Does this mean that it is taking the clutch-packs longer to engage? I have always been a proponent of quicker shifts. The longer a car/truck takes to shift into the next gear, the more heat that gets generated. I will be getting a tranny cooler installed (as are on all my autos) but after that, this seems interesting. Not looking for smoother shifts though if it means taking the clutch packs longer to engage.

 

I used castrol dextron III mineral oil. And its working same as T-IV .

 

I know this thread is really old, but can anyone tell me about their long term experience with Dex VI? any transmission issues?

 

Been using the supertech stuff from walmart for 3 years now (1 drain and fill per year), and so far no problems at all.

 

Almost 2 years and going strong! : I wound up replacing the ECU as the shift problems returned, however I changed the fluid again with Dex IV. No problems at all. Fluid is still bright red.
Yet another marketing ploy by Toyota to buy overpriced supplies.

Spok... Dex III ??? Really? :shock:

 

4 years on Dex VI. Still no problems.