Oil Analysis, Redline D6 ATF 30k miles

nice! does it burn any?

have you looked in the egr circuit yet?

 

I don't want to kick over the wasp nest, but maybe this needs a disclaimer? Toyota is adamant in the Owner's Manual, that any alternative to Toyota ATF WS fluid could damage the transaxle.

 

oops!

 

Toyota doesn't condone it. Please, a disclaimer? For the unwary? Or do you see that as "caving"?

For the record, this is the one item that Toyota is very emphatic about, they don't say you need to use Toyota coolant (they come close though), engine oil, brake fluid. But for the transaxle fluid, they say:



Grammatically a bit fractured, but still clear.

 

Toyota doesn't say anything about having to use Toyota motor oil. Please, put a disclaimer regarding alternate transaxle fluid dangers, in the initial post.

 

Lets not get off-topic: please put a disclaimer in your intial post, regarding Toyota's stance regarding alternate transaxle fluids.

 

TheChip: Based on this analysis, have you come to a conclusion on how long you will go before changing the ATF again?

 

Yeah, Thanks for posting these results!

I recently bought an '11, Level 5 with the ATP option and 181k miles on it.
Back with a gasser Prius as a back up to my EV!!
I planned to change the ATF immediately but when I got it Safety Inspected at the dealer I got to see the Service Record. The previous original owner had it changed twice during its life !

Anyway, I'm considering Mobil 1 ATF HP which is lower viscosity version of M1 ATF when I do it in the future. I think I used D6 with a previous Prius I had.

ps.
I am definitely in the camp of using the best lubricants available for my cars.
To argue that the Toyota's house brand has special mojo is silly.
This is the stuff dealers put in old Echo's on up to new Tacoma's.

 

To the manufacturer, "lifetime" means until the emission warranty expires.

 

Redline D6 ATF according to the Redline spec sheet is compatible for applications calling for Toyota WS ATF. It is more than fine. It's basically Redline's solution for all modern transmissions calling for thinner fluids for fuel economy these days. BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Toyota, Honda, etc. This fluid is for all of them.

Its published tested specs has it slightly thicker at cold and hot temps than the stock fluid, which theoretically means it would offer greater shear resistance under hot temperatures which should be in line with the OP's intended use. On the flip side it might be more mechanical drag/friction which would simply mean worse gas mileage. But I'd think any difference either way would be negligible.

Toyota WS ATF viscosity:
23 cSt @ 40C
5.45 cSt @ 100C

Redline D6 ATF viscosity:
30.3 cSt @ 40C
6.3 cSt @ 100C

 

And by the way, Toyota/Lexus does not manufacture any fluids. I think Exxon makes it.Toyota just tells them how they want it.

 

So far: a lot of other fluid manufacturers are saying their product is ok. And Toyota? No comment?

A transmission failure will more or less "brick" the car. Sure an alternate may be fine, but why second-guess Toyota, where's the upside in this? Convincing yourself it's somehow smoother, superior?

Meh, carry on.

 

I'll bite at this one

Toyota buys its motor oil from Mobil1, not sure about the Transaxle, guessing the same.
Watched a utube, somebody took an M3 and changed out the engine, tranny and rear end with Red Line, the car was Dynoe'd wth the old fluid then again with the new fluid, a 10% increase in torque at the rear wheels, eye opening.

So....using synthetic red line fluid for the transaxle is a good move, it's in all ways superior to the cheapest possible stuff Toyota uses, which is synthetic.

Meh.

 

Toyota has nothing to gain by specifically and explicitly OK'ing the use of an aftermarket fluid. Also not sure if you were aiming your post at me, but I for one am not second-guessing Toyota. Quite the opposite actually. I'd just use the factory recommended and/or required fluid on a car like this--a commuter car. No need to go Redline. All I'm saying though is that its fine if one does... As long as oil meets spec, it doesn't matter the brand.

I used to go through this with the BMW crowd. People would always ask WHAT OIL DO I USE. My answer was always use Genuine BMW oil--it's the easiest and safest choice. But I also said HOWEVER IF YOU DO want to go with another brand, simply make sure the oil meets spec. For BMW that would be ACEA A3/B3. (A european standard for euro cars required by euro brands). Excellent HTHS properties, among others. Pretty much all the major brands make an oil that meets that spec as well as many other specs.

The "new" Toyota WS ATF is the oil pretty much all modern Toyota/Lexus auto boxes use... which means it's common... which means all major oil manufacturers make an equivalent.