Toyota ATF or Universal ATF DEXRON III?

[BruceB83]

Ok, I've just spent 45 minutes reading all the threads I've found through the search about transmission fluid and I'm still confused.

I want to do a drain and fill this weekend and don't know what fluid to use. The manual says DEXRON III but alot of people here say only use Toyota ATF because of the special additive it has in it. Well the onlly fluid I can find is ATF T-IV and WS. I know the WS is for the new sealed trannys and the place selling the T-IV says "Do not use this fluid if your manual states your transmission uses Dexron or ATF WS".

So, what to use is the question.

Obviously it's a 3rd gen, but it's a 2001 if that matters.

 

[kball]

Stick with Dex III or a compatible synthetic like Dex VI or Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc

 

[LINY4Runner]

Anything Dexron III and higher is what you'd use on the 3rd Gen.

T-IV is for most Toyotas 03+
WS is for the newest (a few 08+) sealed transmissions

 

[Fseminario]

Same situation as op

Replies are saying to use dex iii or better but based on what I've read isnt T-IV a higher level than dex iii? Doesn't that make it better?

 

[WayneM]

I just did a flush and fill on my 2001 9 month ago. After reading up all the posts on this site, I settled on the widely recommended Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Full Synthetic ATF. It's working great!! My old fluid had 250K miles on it. Flush/fill/replacement with this significantly improved the shifting and general AT operation

BTW, as of 2024-May-3, it is pretty cheap on Amazon. Flush/fill takes 10-qts. I purchased this 3-gal case for $70. It's now $51.
Amazon.com

 

[JoeT4R]

Stick with Dex III or a compatible synthetic like Dex VI or Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc

+1 for the Valvoline MaxLife. I’ve used this in my 4Runner on a few occasions and try to stick with it. I’ve had good results and no issues with shifting or anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brillo_76]

I use max life. Not a good idea to use T4 as Toyota has tech bulletins that T4 is not compatible with the 3rd gen transmissions. Dex III and higher seems to work very well in these.

I actually use Valvoline Max life in my newer Toyota as well That are requiring Toyota WS

I included the bulletins from Toyota..

 

[3bears]

Max life is what i use. walmart used to be cheapest on it,

 

[2TH4IST]

I used max life synthetic as well. Works perfectly. Moderately cheaper then the toyota stuff.

 

[phattyduck]

Replies are saying to use dex iii or better but based on what I've read isnt T-IV a higher level than dex iii? Doesn't that make it better?

Toyota T-IV is NOT a Dexron fluid. A higher level, in this case, is Dexron VI... Valvoline MaxLife is the current champ for price/performance ratio in compatible fluids for the A340 and has Dex III/VI compatibility.

-Charlie

 

[BuffaloBass]

I am doing a mechanical restoration on a 99. The trans was rebuilt by the best local shop. I was told to fill it with DEX IV , although III will work. Again, this is fresh, not the 285,000 core we started with. i should take pics of the additive they also supplied to me to add in.

For a 285,000 core, I would also opt for the high milage potion.

 

[jgue467]

When I installed my Yota1 trans I asked them what fluid they recommended - I should have known the answer - toyota fluid.

Its 10K later and it works perfectly - the fluid isn't cheap though at about $13 a bottle and 12 are needed (including the external cooler).

In another 10K I'll do drain fills with Valvo trans max - Luck all.