Transmission fluid choice - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Ezlife45 · 06-09-2022, 08:07 PM

Has anyone compared Valvoline maxlife transmission fluid to the Toyota WS factory fluid? My local dealer has WS for somewhere around $12/qt but the Valvoline is much more affordable.

bootown · 06-10-2022, 08:47 AM

Yes, and Valvoline MaxLife ATF works perfectly fine in transmissions that call for WS. Speaking from personal experience.

Bluesky 07 · 06-10-2022, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezlife45

Has anyone compared Valvoline maxlife transmission fluid to the Toyota WS factory fluid? My local dealer has WS for somewhere around $12/qt but the Valvoline is much more affordable.

This has been debated here forever, just do a search. You can usually get WS for ~$8/qt. shipped from Toyota’s online parts store. Maxlife may be fine but IMO there’s something fishy about it claiming to meet so many manufacturers’ standards when those standards are often mutually exclusive. Highly recommend watching this video starting at the 34:46 mark before making your decision. Maxlife is specifically discussed & the guy seems to know transmission fluid.

FWIW, I use WS b/c I prefer the peace of mind that comes with knowing it works.

lewdog998 · 06-10-2022, 01:38 PM

making friends with your local toyota parts counter helps. They can adjust prices very easily and to make OE not such a tough pill to swallow. Most of these guys are car guys and DIY people too. I have personally received very good discounts and extras, from my dealer.

Ezlife45 · 06-11-2022, 09:29 PM

i wonder about my dealer sometimes. Not in a bad way necessarily. I can get Toyota 0W20 for 5.xx a quart but the WS is 12.xx.

BlackWorksInc · 06-12-2022, 01:39 AM

I used to be more critical about using factory WS, but it's been around long enough now that I'm sure just about everyone probably makes a fluid that meets our exceeds it, much like how T-IV was back in the day. That being said, Maxlife and Amsoil have had good reviews and a good sample size to show that at the very least they aren't destroying your transmission if you use them.

We're currently having supply chain issues for a lot of things and are using Idemistu TLS-LV ATF for our WS ATF, seems to work fine so far.

SurferUK · 06-12-2022, 04:30 AM

1 year but not a huge amount of miles on Motul Multi ATF. Nothing to report other than a transmission that seems completely happy.

Bluesky 07 · 06-12-2022, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezlife45

i wonder about my dealer sometimes. Not in a bad way necessarily. I can get Toyota 0W20 for 5.xx a quart but the WS is 12.xx.

Here’s WS from Toyota for $9.07/qt. shipped (use code FREESHIP at checkout). It’s obviously more expensive than aftermarket but as infrequently as a fluid exchange is necessary, the difference isn’t that significant for me.

AuSeeker · 06-12-2022, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesky 07

Here’s WS from Toyota for $9.07/qt. shipped (use code FREESHIP at checkout). It’s obviously more expensive than aftermarket but as infrequently as a fluid exchange is necessary, the difference isn’t that significant for me.

It says "Local Pickup Only"

Bluesky 07 · 06-12-2022, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuSeeker

It says "Local Pickup Only"

Well damn. Missed that. But many dealers now have online stores with substantial discounts so maybe the OP has one in their area.

AuSeeker · 06-12-2022, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesky 07

Well damn. Missed that. But many dealers now have online stores with substantial discounts so maybe the OP has one in their area.

I looked at numerous other online dealer website and they all either said "Not For Sale" or "Local Pickup Only"....a few had a link to dealerships more local to where they see you are and I found a dealer about 20 miles away(in Savannah Ga.) that sells it for $8.69 a quart but has a 24 to 72 hour wait on any orders so they have time to get it shipped in if they don't have any in stock, almost all others were up around $12 or so.

So I'm due for a flush so I'm probably going to place a order for 12/14 quarts here soon and hopefully they can fill it so I can come pick it up.

00289ATFWS - Toyota Genuine Toyota Automatic Transmission | Chatham Parkway Toyota, Savannah GA

BlackWorksInc · 06-12-2022, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuSeeker

I looked at numerous other online dealer website and they all either said "Not For Sale" or "Local Pickup Only"....a few had a link to dealerships more local to where they see you are and I found a dealer about 20 miles away(in Savannah Ga.) that sells it for $8.69 a quart but has a 24 to 72 hour wait on any orders so they have time to get it shipped in if they don't have any in stock, almost all others where up around $12 or so.

So I'm due for a flush so I'm probably going to place a order for 12/14 quarts here soon and hopefully they can fill it so I can come pick it up.

00289ATFWS - Toyota Genuine Toyota Automatic Transmission | Chatham Parkway Toyota, Savannah GA

Not surprising, there's issues in the supply chain resulting in a lot of the fast moving parts and fluids being either backordered until "to be determined" or just weeks out at the moment.

AuSeeker · 06-12-2022, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWorksInc

Not surprising, there's issues in the supply chain resulting in a lot of the fast moving parts and fluids being either backordered until "to be determined" or just weeks out at the moment.

I'm hoping with Savannah being a port city with 1000s of shipping containers coming in daily the dealerships in this area may be first in line with incoming shipments.

lewdog998 · 06-12-2022, 11:07 PM

Conducting a quick price search.....
Maxlife is about 30 per gallon or 7.50 a quart.
Toyota ws is about 9.50 a quart.
So its only $20 extra to go with oe and use 10 quarts.
For me $20 is worth the piece of mind of going with exact spec.

McLoven1t562 · 06-21-2022, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog998

Conducting a quick price search.....
Maxlife is about 30 per gallon or 7.50 a quart.
Toyota ws is about 9.50 a quart.
So its only $20 extra to go with oe and use 10 quarts.
For me $20 is worth the piece of mind of going with exact spec.

It's like spending a little extra on Toyota Red Coolant & Distilled Water......WORTH IT!!! lol

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