Tranny Fluid option/opinions for 98 ES
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for my weekend project i'll be doing some maintanence. when doing tranny drain/fill on 98 ES what fluids do you guys use? manual says dexron II,III. and i was thinking about buying mobil1 synthetic atf. i always thought toyota/lexus always recommends toyota atf/iv fluids only but oh well. any brands, type you guys prefer?
thanks
thanks
#2
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Amsoil ATF, but any of the other synthetics such as Mobil 1 ATF, Redline or Royal Purple are a big improvement over the non-synthetic Type IV fluid. We already have a bunch of people using the 4 synthetics mentioned above in the RX300 (which have a greater strain on the same basic transmission, the U140, as the ES300), and I haven't heard of any issues. I use Amsoil ATF personally.
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yeah i believe it's for 02-06 ES300s, on my 02 ES u had to use TOYOTA ATF TYPE IV, that's why i was kinda confused on 98 ES300. well i will be running Mobil1 Synthetic ATF from now on
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i believe if your owners manual says TOYOTA TYPE IV you can not subsitute with anything, but if it says Dexon II, or Dexron III you can subsitute with any Dexron compatible Fluids including Synthetic, I would check owners manual first before switching
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Any of the synthetics I mentioned above are compatible with Type IV.
See,
Redline,
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=51&pcid=9 (Popular applications: Toyota Type T-III and T-IV, Honda ATF Z1, NissanMatic D & J, Diamond SP-II, SP-III, Mazda ATF M-V, most BMW, Audi, VW automatic transmissions)
Mobil 1,
https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English...hetic_ATF.aspx (Also suitable for use in vehicles that specify the following fluid requirements: Toyota T-III, T-IV)
Royal Purple,
http://www.royalpurple.com/transmission-chart.html (Toyota Type: T, T-III, T-IV)
Amsoil,
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx (AMSOIL Synthetic Universal ATF is recommended for transmissions, hydraulics, power steering and other applications requiring any of the following specifications: Toyota Type T-III and T-IV)
See,
Redline,
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=51&pcid=9 (Popular applications: Toyota Type T-III and T-IV, Honda ATF Z1, NissanMatic D & J, Diamond SP-II, SP-III, Mazda ATF M-V, most BMW, Audi, VW automatic transmissions)
Mobil 1,
https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English...hetic_ATF.aspx (Also suitable for use in vehicles that specify the following fluid requirements: Toyota T-III, T-IV)
Royal Purple,
http://www.royalpurple.com/transmission-chart.html (Toyota Type: T, T-III, T-IV)
Amsoil,
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx (AMSOIL Synthetic Universal ATF is recommended for transmissions, hydraulics, power steering and other applications requiring any of the following specifications: Toyota Type T-III and T-IV)
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The only official T-IV compatible is Mobil ATF 3309 https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English..._ATF_3309.aspx
Older M1 ATF did not compatible with T-IV.
Older M1 ATF did not compatible with T-IV.
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I've been running M1 synthetic ATF in both my 98 ES and my wife's 03 RX without any problems. Absolutely no leaks, both are shifting better, and I haven't noticed any slipping. I recommend switching to some sort of syn if you don't go M1. I'll be doing another drain and fill on both the Lexus' pretty soon and M1 is going back in.
For those who said that if the manual states "toyota" then you have to put in Toyota fluids is wrong. There is legislation that states an auto maker can not dictate what brand fluid, but can only state what quality/formulation.
Ferrari tried to make people buy "ferrari oil" for their cars at $100 a quart back in the day.
For those who said that if the manual states "toyota" then you have to put in Toyota fluids is wrong. There is legislation that states an auto maker can not dictate what brand fluid, but can only state what quality/formulation.
Ferrari tried to make people buy "ferrari oil" for their cars at $100 a quart back in the day.