Changing the transmission fluid ATF WS

If it were me, I’d use it.

 

+1

Toyota says the fluid in the transaxle is good for the life of the car. They warranty the hybrid system of 10 years and 150K miles in some US states. You have to infer they expect the car to last significantly longer than that -- let's be ultra-conservative and say 12 years.

So the ATF is good for 12+ years if it's being used in the transaxle, but only good for 5 years sitting unused in an unopened container?


OP: I say use the fluid you have. If you decide not to, I'll pay for shipping if you'll send it to me!

 

Yes, if we go by the information Toyota has provided it can last 12+ years in the sealed transmission, 5 years in a full sealed bottle, and shouldn't be stored for any length of time in a open half used bottle. I dont know why, but I'm smart enough to know that I don't know what I dont know. Has Toyota ever released the specific ingredients in their proprietary ATF WS? And how each of the ingredients respond to atmosphere?

I dont see the point of saying it has a 5 year shelf life if it has a 10 or 20 year shelf life, what's in it for Toyota to make something like that up? This isn't an item most people stock up on when it goes on sale, they buy it as needed and use it quickly.

 

The main take-away for me, maybe better to recycle that left-over I've had sitting around.

 

When I changed the ATF in my 3rd Gen, I used the partial quart container I had left over from changing the ATF in my 2nd Gen a couple years earlier. It looked exactly the same, the only difference I noticed was it had a slightly more bitter taste to it. 60K+ miles later and all is fine. I'd do it again, and in fact will do it again as I'm due for another ATF fluid change in the Gen-3, and I'll be using the partial quart left over from the aforementioned change 2.5 years ago.

(BTW, I was just kidding about tasting the ATF... I only do that with motor oil )

 

I was waiting on that BTW lol. I have a left over bottle, almost full. I'll mull on it.

 

There's likely a rationale, but more'n likely overkill?

 

Because the chemicals break down over time.
But, that's kinda strange that it is "lifetime" fluid, that only lasts 5 years????
And it lasts a lifetime in the transmission and you use it, then only 5 years sitting on the shelve?
THAT, I don't understand....

 

Some company says a car has 200k km - ~124k miles lifetime...