Opinions on Wall Mart Trans Fluid?

[ricamryman]

After every winter I usually do a simple drain & fill for the transmission at my next oil change. What is your opionion on Wall Mart's SuperTech Trans fluid? I have a 1993 LE 3VZFE V6....134K miles....

[Chris Crash]

My auto shop teacher told me super tech is rebranded something. I don't remember what brand.

But basically, to me all fluids are the same. Unless you're looking for high performance synthetic stuff, but you have an auto and shouldn't even bother with that.

I would just go with super tech.

[fenixus]

it's a decent dino fluid.

walmart's also carries not much more expensive Valvoline MaxLife ATF which (used to be) full synthetic. some people say it's a little thin, but nobody complained yet on results

I personally use Castrol Import Multi Vehicle (synthetic blend) in trans and P/S in both cars with good results.

[carsrus]

Super Tech is good stuff actually. Ive heard good things. I think its Penzoil but im not 100% sure.

But yeah their synthetic is a good deal, along with the other stuff. Most of the store brand walmart stuff is reboxed name brand, but made to walmart specs.

[pmesfun]

Yeah, SuperTech ATF is fine, I run it in my transmission right now and no problem. Same with power steering, but that is now a mix with Valvoline MaxLife, which I also got at Wal-Mart for $3.50.

Oh, do you plan on dropping the pan?

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Yeah, SuperTech ATF is fine, I run it in my transmission right now and no problem. Same with power steering, but that is now a mix with Valvoline MaxLife, which I also got at Wal-Mart for $3.50.

Oh, do you plan on dropping the pan?

At my next service in Sept, I drop the pan & clean out......

[chronoti]

who ever bottle looks the same is who product it is, it general a good rule like store brand soda is normal pepsi

[Silent Runner]

Originally Posted by chronoti

who ever bottle looks the same is who product it is, it general a good rule like store brand soda is normal pepsi

Sorry, but I work for Pepsi, and store brands are definately not made by Pepsico, or that other company Coca... something. They are made by specialized companies that focus on making OK stuff CHEAP. It's a little different in the lubrication business though. Big mass merchandisers like Walmart definitley contract with major oil/lub. companies to produce their own cheaper brand, but it is never exactly the same as, or quite as good as the companies own top of the line products. It's made to give OK results, CHEAP...er

Transmission fluid for a 15-20 year old car though...? as long a it meets the latest standards, it's probably better than what Toyota put in it back when it was new. I know I'm going to cough a little and put a put a nasty expensive Brand Name 100% sythethic in mine this weekend though.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

Sorry, but I work for Pepsi, and store brands are definately not made by Pepsico, or that other company Coca... something. They are made by specialized companies that focus on making OK stuff CHEAP. It's a little different in the lubrication business though. Big mass merchandisers like Walmart definitley contract with major oil/lub. companies to produce their own cheaper brand, but it is never exactly the same as, or quite as good as the companies own top of the line products. It's made to give OK results, CHEAP...er

Transmission fluid for a 15-20 year old car though...? as long a it meets the latest standards, it's probably better than what Toyota put in it back when it was new. I know I'm going to cough a little and put a put a nasty expensive Brand Name 100% sythethic in mine this weekend though.

running dino fluids in gen3 or gen4 Toyotas doesn't make much sense, unless someone really admires changing them very often

which full synthetic brand are you going to put in yours Silent Runner? nasty expensive ... M1 or Royal Purple maybe?

[Silent Runner]

Originally Posted by fenixus

running dino fluids in gen3 or gen4 Toyotas doesn't make much sense, unless someone really admires changing them very often

which full synthetic brand are you going to put in yours Silent Runner? nasty expensive ... M1 or Royal Purple maybe?

Gee, Royal Purple is extra nasty expensive around here, $14/ bottle or so. That would mean $60 for an oil change that will last me 2 years or so and cost about the same as a tank of premium gas... M1?, Redline, another brand name... I'm not going to wade into this debate, just 100% synthetic, and one that isn't a store brand. Even if it's just because I'd rather wear the real thing, not a cheap knock-off.

[fenixus]

yup, RP here is $13/qt, Mobil1 is @ $8.50/qt, Redline I don't know as it's not popular in local auto parts stores... so you getting something good, but not common,...hmmm... you are intriguing

i'm running synthetic blends (Castrol IMV) in all ATF circuits on both solaras hehe... was thinking about switching to M1 ATF ... but am also considering much cheaper Valvoline MaxLife ATF (said to be full synthetic) ...

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

Gee, Royal Purple is extra nasty expensive around here, $14/ bottle or so. That would mean $60 for an oil change that will last me 2 years or so and cost about the same as a tank of premium gas... M1?, Redline, another brand name... I'm not going to wade into this debate, just 100% synthetic, and one that isn't a store brand. Even if it's just because I'd rather wear the real thing, not a cheap knock-off.

[Silent Runner]

Thank you Fenixus, intriguing is nice! Honestly though, I'm trying to put some investment in my really new transmission now, and not after I've half cooked it. from what I've read and researched this ATM is maybe one of the weakest links in Gen3's record. Not a bad one really, but I suspect many are hitting the junk yard right now, after the owners find out how much it's going to cost to rebuild or replace them. Most that show up in our local pick and pull, don't have major damage or rust, and are in pretty good shape, including nice clean oil free tailpipes. Aside from a few with 5spds, that are generally pretty beat-up, you have to think that the $2-3K job of a rebuilt ATM, probably put them there.... Now think you want to buff up the engine. MAF, timing good for 15-20hp., do a little y-pipe, maybe another 10-15hp. Now even with simple mods your making 215-220hp. Thats close to 20% more hp/maybe torque already. P&P the heads, and you've still got a car that looks and sounds stock but it's punishing that auto. trans with maybe 30% more than it was turned loose with. Even at this stage you should be thinking about doing your absolute best to preserve your 2-3k investment in your transmission.... at least I am.

[fenixus]

makes sense

I agree that automatic transmissions are the weakest links on both gen3 & 4, especially if someone drives with original Toyota fluid down to car's end (a very short one haha)

at least gen3 had oil coolers so no engine oil sludging issues (which were common on gen4 4cylinder 5s-fe when dino OCI is overlooked).

good luck!

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

Thank you Fenixus, intriguing is nice! Honestly though, I'm trying to put some investment in my really new transmission now, and not after I've half cooked it. from what I've read and researched this ATM is maybe one of the weakest links in Gen3's record. Not a bad one really, but I suspect many are hitting the junk yard right now, after the owners find out how much it's going to cost to rebuild or replace them. Most that show up in our local pick and pull, don't have major damage or rust, and are in pretty good shape, including nice clean oil free tailpipes. Aside from a few with 5spds, that are generally pretty beat-up, you have to think that the $2-3K job of a rebuilt ATM, probably put them there.... Now think you want to buff up the engine. MAF, timing good for 15-20hp., do a little y-pipe, maybe another 10-15hp. Now even with simple mods your making 215-220hp. Thats close to 20% more hp/maybe torque already. P&P the heads, and you've still got a car that looks and sounds stock but it's punishing that auto. trans with maybe 30% more than it was turned loose with. Even at this stage you should be thinking about doing your absolute best to preserve your 2-3k investment in your transmission.... at least I am.

[islandboy57]

Meh. I use SuperTech ATF on the gen 3.5. Yes, I'm sure I can find better ATF but the car just made 16 years old and quite frankly, shifts just as smooth as my gen 5.5, so I'm happy. I just do a drain/refill every year or two. It just rolled over 90K miles (my gen 5.5 is at 43K) and is probably the best looking AND running older Camry around town

I also use SuperTech synthetic oil ($19 for a 5qt bottle is cheap) on my aunt's '06 Corolla. I don't have any complaints. I once ran it for 14 months (only about 4K miles though) w/ an OEM YZZF1 filter and as far as I can tell, there were no problems. I ran the same ST oil for about 10 months on an '05 Avalon and had no problems either. The Avalon has 32K miles on it and the Corolla has 19K miles so as you can tell, the annual mileage of each is very low so I didn't worry.

[Silent Runner]

My final opinion/thoughts on Walmart Transmission fluid? Royal Purple ended up being $12.50 a bottle now, ($50 total) down at my local speed shop. So it was an extra $16 dollars to go over and beyond the local M1 cost, with some left over to change up my power steering fluid. (4 bottles) Whadya think guys,... another $20-25 maybe to go for the best stuff available to preserve and protect your $2000, or a hell of alot of work transmission, the best you can?


I should note that I was anxious to change my fluiid since I recently learned I have been running the car with about 3/4 quart too much fluid. This didn't seem to cause any trouble, but the fluid (Redline ATF), was rather dark and dirty after 40K km., or 26K miles. So I really wanted to change it. So far, there is a perceptable improvement in shift quality and timing. It even sounds better.