I know this has been brought up but can we use

(ATF) Synthetic Universal Automatic Transmission Fluid

for the GS tranny?

 

It should be. I remember seeing somewhere that Amsoil and mobil are the only two aftermarket suppliers that meets OEM spec.

 

Well I hope so, because its in my car right now... But seriously, yes it is fine to use Amsoil Universal Transmission Fluid

 

Several RX owners have used it without issue in their trannies. I would be using the stuff too if Amsoil bothered to have a distributor down here.

 

Lexmex is right, I replaced 7 of 9.8 quarts in RX300 AWD's tranny, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220061, after >11K miles, the shift is as smooth as new. Synthetic base stock oil is superior in protection than mineral based ATF

 

i'm definitely gonna have to switch. I've been using toyota atf and I had to drain and refill every 4 months (~800 miles for me). My daily commute consist of stop and go every 15-20 seconds, or sometimes less

I can tell the ATF is not keeping up since the color gets dark within 800 miles. Time for a tranny cooler also.

Anyone know if I can drain and refil with the amsoil instead of having to go for a complete flush?

 

You won't get it all out with just a drain and fill, however, as often as you have been changing fluids, you could do it within a years time... I don't like flushing transmissions...

What I have been doing is every second oil change draining 2-3 quarts out (all that will come out) and refilling... I know this is probably excess, but it doesn't cost me that much as I do it myself... only the fluid itself... BTW, I have been using Amsoil for some time now, it claims to be Toyota T-IV compliant...

 

so all you did was drain and refill? Basically, I'm just hoping the synthetic amsoil would be compatible with the mineral toyota ATF. let me know as I plan on doing this soon. My transmission kind of jerks during the afternoon, hence why i'm getting a tranny cooler soon.

 

yes, compatible, no issues... mine is bright red, it's in great shape (after only three drain/fills) and I've got 180k on mine...

 

If you drain the Toyota T-4 and put Amsoil in there and keep on doing it every other oil change, you don't think mixing the 2 would be bad for it?

 

nah, they're good...

kinda like motor oil, so long as they have similar properties (are designed for the fcorrect application), you can mix/match all day... motor oil, you can mix synthetic and non-synthetic with no issues...

in at least this instance, the same applies for trans fluid...

 

so you guys think that if i switched to amsoil in my GS that i wont have to flush out all the old and wont have to put in like 14qts of amsoil.(which is expensive) ??

 

just realize it won't be a 100% switch... it'll be just 4 quarts of amsoil, but, in doing that, you spread it out, and over a couple changes, then it will be pretty close to 100% amsoil...

 

is it advisable to put synthetic ATF on a high milage car? or would it be wise to go with high milage ATF fluid like the valvoline maxlife?

i have a 98 es300 with 96,000 miles

 

i think it takes about 10-12 trans fluid changes someone here on CL formulated... before you get a 100% fluid change