Suitable substitutes for the Toyota ATF-WS transmission or transaxle fluid?

Still for me, I'm gonna stay with Toyota ATF WS, just in case. Then again, our local price for the Toyota fluid is very reasonable.

 

in my trans almost 11 years now. Have replaced it 3 times over the last 11 years. The last time It was changed it had almost 40000 miles on it and it looked brand new so if you get that first change done And get that initial break in fluid out your probably good for the life of the trans, it’s a very low wear trans from what I’m seeing, low wear with D6 at least in it.
Have used Redline exclusely in all my cars trans and diffs for over 35 years and none have ever seen a trans shop.

 

Updated summary of alternative ATFs used by people in this thread, so far:

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
0	Member Name	ATF Brand	Type	Total Distance with Alternative Brand ATF
1	danlatu	Valvoline	MaxLife	?
2	Fred_H	Ravenol	T-WS Lifetime	148000 km (91000 mi.)
3	edthefox5	Redline	D6	40000 mi. + ?
4	tvpierce	Aisin	WS	?
5	TheChip	Redline	D6	30000 mi.
6	4md	Yacco	ATF X FE	?
7	Simtronic	Millers	fully synthetic (? MILLERMATIC ATF SPIII-WS ?) (MILLERMATIC ATF D-VI ?)	50000 mi. + ?
8	stanny101	Redline	D6	?
9	mjoo	Redline	D6	8000 mi.

@danlatu @Fred_H @edthefox5 @tvpierce @TheChip @4md @Simtronic @stanny101 @mjoo
Would you like me to change or add anything? Or, you're welcome to DIY if you wish.

 

I have been using the Valvoline max life on both prius so far.
2005 prius has been using it from 129k~205k (sold)
2010 prius has been using it from 60k~117k current
2011 prius has been using it from 297k~305k current

I think the 3rd gen prius' cvt transmission is a bulletproof design. I know it is critical to use brand specific fluid types for transmissions with clutch pack/belt designs because of the friction modifiers. Using the wrong trans fluid can result in slipping or hard shifting resulting in shorter trans life.

 

Yes put me down for 110,000 miles on D6 in my Prius. You know this conversation sends out some kind of bat signal that summons Mendel that will shake his finger at us all and say that’s not what the Manual says it uses and we are all going to die.....lol...

 

They love that valvoline over at Bitog. Lots of Prius owners over there using it.
It’s an excellent transmission. Incredible design. It would probably run on 3 in 1 oil. Lol...

 

No, I just find it puzzling. At least here, Toyota ATF WS is under $10 (can) a litre, and my Manual strongly cautions against using anything else.

I believe 2nd gen Manual does say "or equivalent"? 3rd gen has no such proviso. Maybe the transaxles have changed? Or maybe they had problems?

I just see no upside to being adventurous with something like this. Doubly so if you trade up and someone inherits your gamble.

 

The Millermatic is fully synthetic and exceeds all WS specifications, I don't know if it is available elsewhere but it is well respected here in the UK

 

Thanks everyone for your input!

That's good. Mendel provides balance, and provides good arguments that readers should consider.

When I was young and foolish I risked my life just for kicks. Now I'm old and foolish, and only risk the life of my transmission for kicks. Only a small improvement, but still... Then there's the scientist in me, that likes to experiment, and a tiny bit of rebel that doesn't like to follow the rules without knowing the reason.


Updated summary of alternative ATFs used by people in this thread:

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
0	Member Name	ATF Brand	Type	Total Distance with Alternative Brand ATF
1	danlatu	Valvoline	MaxLife	76000 mi. (2005 Prius 129k~205k)
2	danlatu	Valvoline	MaxLife	57000 mi. (2010 Prius 60k~117k)
3	danlatu	Valvoline	MaxLife	8000 mi. (2011 Prius 297k~305k)
4	Fred_H	Ravenol	T-WS Lifetime	91000 mi. (157k-248k)
5	edthefox5	Redline	D6	110000 mi.
6	tvpierce	Aisin	WS	?
7	TheChip	Redline	D6	30000 mi.
8	4md	Yacco	ATF X FE	?
9	Simtronic	Millers	Millermatic fully synthetic	50000 mi. + ?
10	stanny101	Redline	D6	?
11	mjoo	Redline	D6	8000 mi.

 

I'm for, and against the manual recommendations. If there's a history of substantial/handful transaxle failures due to using toyota WS, I would look for an alternative ATF but there's not enough failures yet so I'll stick to toyota WS. With engine oil, there's enough prius here with burning oil using toyota engine oil therefore I went with mobile 1 advance 0w-20.

 

I'm with Mendel on this one also. Four quarts of WS is cheap and easy to find, why reinvent the wheel?

A lot of the times it isn't the transmission fluid, it's the total package Including additives.

 

Manual trans which is what the g2 trans is doesn’t need a package its just basicly what level of quality you desire in a GL4 lubricant. WS is not even a synthetic fluid. There are better products.
And this is a car forum.
No ones telling you to use it.

The major package in WS is calcium for acid mitigation.Thats why it’s touted as a lifetime fluid.Calcium is also a wear agent. We all know what WS looks like at 100,000 miles on it.

 

The only way to tell if any lubricating oil whether it be engine oil, automatic transmission fluid or even gear oil is to take a sample and send it to a lab for testing. It's all in the science.

https://m.blackstone-labs.com

Your choice may be fine for you but I will stick with WS until I get burnt. Lol

 

Only way to tell what?

 

I agree with that, don't see what lab testing would do: what would you be looking for?

 

Apparently something to do with science.

 

Heavy industry and especially the aviation industry use spectral analysis to determine if say an aircraft engine is about to fail.
By using this technology they can tell if an excess amount of say chrome is present. They know where chrome is used in an engine so they pull the engine before the bearings fail and prevent an accident. Large trucking companies use this process on their engine oils, transmission fluids and engine coolant for the same reason.

All I am saying is that saying one oil is better than another and you like what you use go for it.

 

As far as UOAs I have done 2 so far on the D6 in my trans. There over in the trans stickies. They show excellent wear numbers.

Blackstone is a poor choice it omits the most important number in an UOA the TAN. You have to pay extra for it.

I use Wearguard for UOA's as TAN is included for $25 but they got bought out by Lubeguard and i haven't used them since. But if your looking for exceptionally good wear numbers I have proof
since you asked. But no mention of chrome....

 

I am reasonably concerned about what is in the transmission fluids. GL4 gear oil for instance is low sulfur. GL5 is high sulfur and would eat brass synchros found in some BMW's and Volvo's. I don't know enough about WS v LV auto trans fluids and how it interacts with our CVT. So I'm going to read: http://www.penriteoil.com.au/assets/pdf/tech/Nov2015/Automatic_Transmission_Fluids.pdf

Can you guys recommend any good resources to read from which have the authority to assert facts?

 

Uh oh, Pennzoil says that their LV fluid can not be used in place of WS when in a CVT. What don't I know here.... Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle ATF | United States