Valvoline MaxLife 773775 Dex/Merc or Castrol 03521 Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle ATF

R

Recoil Rob

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Flushing transmission on 97 T4R. Both about the same price, $68 for 3gals on Amazon, free shipping. One better than the other?
 
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I used the Valvoline Maxlife.

I did 2 drain and fills with 3 gallons (500 miles apart).

Made a huge difference. I almost don't feel the shifts on part-throttle situations now. I don't feel the down shifts when I stop real fast and start up immediately, before I used to feel what I thought was it down shifting back to 1st.
 
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I've used Pennzoil multi vehicle which is a dex III equivalent. I've used it in my cummins, CJ (with a A999) and Saturn for years. The cummins has 160,000 and never been apart, the CJ has 160,000 and never needed anything when taken apart to check clutch plates and the Saturn has 200,000 on it.

I will be putting it in the Yota too. Mobil makes a synthetic dex III.

I also think ill be putting a remote trans cooler on it like I did the CJ.
 
I have run the Castrol IMV fluid, buddy of mine has used it for 70,000 on his Cruiser. I like it.

I had a friend who used Maxlife, and it slipped on him from time to time in a Landcruiser with the AF343. His mechanic said that with it being able to be used as a replacement for WS, it may be too thin for a tranny calling for Dex II. He used the aformentioned Pennzoil and has been good to go. I have used Maxlife in GM transmissions with great results but never in an Aisin.
 
Interesting, bumping this up from last year..

I am in the middle of changing some ATF but cant decide between these exact two choices.
Valvoline or Castrol..

Funny side note, called a transmission shop just to see how much a flush would be, they said they wont touch any cars with more than 85k miles. He also said that our transmissions tend to be rated to need a rebuild at 120k miles.
I am pretty sure he is talking out of his a$$..

any way, anyone wanna chime in on their opinions which of the two options you recommend?
Thanks!
 
awpsome said:
Interesting, bumping this up from last year..

I am in the middle of changing some ATF but cant decide between these exact two choices.
Valvoline or Castrol..

Funny side note, called a transmission shop just to see how much a flush would be, they said they wont touch any cars with more than 85k miles. He also said that our transmissions tend to be rated to need a rebuild at 120k miles.
I am pretty sure he is talking out of his a$$..

any way, anyone wanna chime in on their opinions which of the two options you recommend?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Either ATF will work perfectly fine. I have used Castrol and I am using Valvoline now. My transmission shifts great with both. That guy is talking out of his ass. A rebuild at 120k? Maybe on a Chrysler transmission...
 
I wonder if there's any benefit to running Dex VI instead of Dex III in our transmissions? The Dex VI is supposed to be backwards compatible.
 
some new factors to add to the decision.

Castrol is a synthetic blend BUT its a thicker oil than the Valvoline which a lot of people seem to like.

Valvoline has a good following as well and is full synthetic, rated more for the "high mileage" aspect of it but is a thinner oil.

Im probably way over thinking this and probably wouldn't even tell the difference if it came down to it. Doesn't help they are both same price which doesn't allow me to buy the cheaper one haha
 
I used to feel what I thought was it down shifting back to 1st.
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My local toyota dealership didn't have any in stock so I said F it and went with Valvoline Max life full sythetic and a quart of Lucas stop slip and it immediately started shifting smoother. Don't know which was the cause though. Hope it continues to do well.
 
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