Alphard 3.0L MNH10W Automatic Transmission Fluid change

[MarkATH10W]

Hi All,

 

Some lessons learned from the recent transmission oil change at 90,000km with unknown history:

 

Compatible Type-IV ATF fluids with the correct viscosity (7.3 @ 100c)

 

**Caution** None of the lube shops I contacted had the correct fluid in stock, although they assured me it was compatible.  The universal fluids (regardless of brand) they had in stock had a viscosity of around 5.5 @ 100c, closer to the ATF-WS used in newer vehicles.  They finally looked it up when I started talking numbers and realized they had to special order compatible fluid (JWS 3309 spec)

 

Synthetic:

1. Motul Multi ATF - viscosity of 7.6 @100c ( I chose this)
2. Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage ATF fluid has a viscosity of 7.2 @100c (hard to find in Canada)
3. VALVOLINE IMPORT MULTI-VEHICLE (ATF) FULL SYNTHETIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID: 6.9 @100c (hard to find in Canada)

 

Non-Synethetic:

1. Mobil™ ATF 3309 (research in forums indicate that this is the exact same manufactor as Toyota branded T-IV fluid; easy to find in Canada but not synthetic).

 

Regarding method: Drain and fill method was selected due to:

• ease/cost
• do not trust technicians from lube shop to do a flush (requires disconnection of clamp by ATF oil cooler). 
• the oil pickup filter is a coarse filter which typically shows no buildup at this KM (source: car care nut, licenesed toyota mechianic) therefore dropping pan, replacing filter, scraping old gasket, replacing gasket is not necessary at this point.

 

Other information:

 

The Toyota Type-IV will quickly discolour, not indicating degradtion in performance... however, the synthetic fluids seem to hold their color as reported on internet forums.

[MarkATH10W]

AMSOIL online store is quite good in terms of pricing within North America, I will be using AMSOIL moving forward with this branded oil:

 

AMSOIL Signature Series Multi-Vehicle 100% Synthetic - viscosity of 7.5 @100c

less viscosity variation,  better pour point (performance) at freezing.

 

AMSOIL OE Multi-Vehicle 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid - viscosity of 7.5 @100c

25% cheaper than Signature series

[Lou]

Good info Mark,

 

End of month I am planning to replace transmission oil in my 2005 facelift 3.0 5 speed U151E. Mine is around 110k kilometres.

 

I will go with dynamic oil change. 

I checked original Toyota oil prices here in Europe and it's around 15gbp per liter. I think to stick with that.

 

Did you change your filter? I am debating (in my head) about that now.

Do you or anyone knows amount oil that goes to that transmission.

 

Lukas

 

[MarkATH10W]

5 hours ago, Lou said:

Good info Mark,

 

End of month I am planning to replace transmission oil in my 2005 facelift 3.0 5 speed U151E. Mine is around 110k kilometres.

 

I will go with dynamic oil change. 

I checked original Toyota oil prices here in Europe and it's around 15gbp per liter. I think to stick with that.

 

Did you change your filter? I am debating (in my head) about that now.

Do you or anyone knows amount oil that goes to that transmission.

 

Lukas

 

 

1) I decided to not change the filter even though i had 2 spares; It is a low pressure pickup filter (at the pan) and very coarse.  Based on peoples documenting their findings of filter media, it is typically not dirty at all.  The amount of labor and risk to scrape off old gasket maker (holds in the gasket) reinstall a pan is not worth it.

2) regarding the drain and fill: On my 4speed automatic transmission, there are 2 drain locations, one at the pan, and one on the round transmission housing.  I believe this allows us to drain almost 100% in a drain and fill, unlike our USDM models where there is only 1 drain at the pan and will rid about 50% of total volume.

3) consider getting synthetic fluid if the 5 speed calls for non-synthetic, i think thats biggest gain.  Hope the information above is useful for you choose this route.