Anyone tried Valvoline Maxlife ATF?

There's been a few brave souls trying alternatives. Something like this, so much riding on it: no way I'd use anything but the kosher fluid.

 

I assume Aisin Warner makes the Prius transmission. So I'd trust a fluid sold by them. Heck, they probably make (or at least spec) the fluid for Toyota.
Personally, I wouldn't roll the dice with the Valvoline.

 

I agree, especially since the one Valvoline ATF is advertised on its website as being able to replace four Toyota ATF which have different viscosity levels.

 

My worry not with it as ATF per se, but as an electrical insulating coolant for the Motor/Generators. I doubt Valvoline tested it as an insulator.

 

at 280, you'll never know the cause of death.

 

There's plenty of alternate transxle fluid "support groups" here, folks that'll high-five and back-pat you for going with something else. The other fluids may be ok, who knows.

I just figure: Toyota is very adamant about using Toyota ATF WS, cautions that using anything else could damage the transaxle, so why argue? There's a phenomena I guess, when someone tells you it's really important to zig, you want to zag.

 

I set out to prove you wrong, but you are right, from the 2nd Owner's Manual:



Still, in the third gen Owner's Manual, they change it, no more mention of equivalent, and a warning:



Maybe due to more experience? Who knows, but I figure play it safe.

 

I believe in the US there is a law that prohibits a manufacturer from making a sole source fluid for any car. That’s the reason for that disclaimer.

 

I'm using it and have over 60k miles. No issues.

 

I changed mine with MaxLife two weeks ago, and I'm not worried.

It's listed as equivalent to the Toyota WS, and the Prius transaxle uses it for a far simpler purpose than most conventional automatics. There are no hydraulics or solenoids to foul, it's simply a glorified gear lube to my knowledge. It seems that Prius transaxle failures are rare even when neglected, so fresh fluid that meets the specs should be fine. Valvoline has recommended this fluid for the Prius for years, if there was an incompatibility we would see numerous failures by now.

 

Just saw your location. Howdy, neighbor!

 

They love Maxlife over at Bitog. Lots of Prius running it with no issues at all. They despise WS there though lol.

Our trans is a manual gearbox which would probably run on anything. Its a fantastic piece of engineering really.

The only question is how high a quality GL4 lubricant you desire. I personally have been running Redline D6 for 11 years and 100,000 miles with excellent UOA's.

There's some UOA's in the transmission sticky.

 

132k on the Prius, about 4k ago changed our the pump for the inverter coolant loop. Now replacing the brake accumulator. That was a big hit to the wallet about $1800.

 

Well it doesn't "shift", but I assume it smoothed out.

Was that the first fluid change? I'd speculate you'd have a similar improvement if the replacement fluid was the Toyota spec'd.