Trans. fluid in 03' 4x4 Tacoma

From what I understand, Mobile 1 is pretty much the gold standard. If there's anything better or as good, I've not heard any automotive wizards touting it.

That's my thinking on it too, as I use Mobil 1 engine oil also. I'm just confused by the T-IV designation in the manual and on the drain plug itself. The Mobil 1 just said "meets and exceeds Dexron III".

you havent heard the scamsoil quacks yet.

I don't think it's the same,but you may find out by asking a Mobil engineer @

Mobil 1 ATF is excellent but not the right stuff.

You can either buy non-synthetic ATF from Toyota, or try Mobil 1 ATF plus Lubegard black bottle supplement, or buy Amsoil ATF which claims to be suitable for T-IV...but who really knows? If you want something that you know will work without problem, buy Toyota's product.

Regarding "scamsoil," I feel that they make excellent products, I feel that the products are over-hyped and over priced, and I don't find Amsoil's warranty to be reassuring.

If you use anything except the Toyota product and have a transmission warranty claim, do not tell the dealership that you used anything else. It's all red and slippery, so the folks doing the repair probably won't know.

Ken

There is actually a TSB on this -- don't know exact content.

EG003-03 FEB 03 Exhaust System - Sulfur Smell

Thanks for the info. ya'll. I called 4 different Toyota service depts in my area and all 4 said I need a full transmission flush. Now, I understand that maybe the Mobil-1 isn't the same as the T-IV, but does the 2.1qt pan drain and refill of the wrong stuff really warrant a complete system flush? If so, then I'll do it. It's just hard for me to believe 2.1qt of Mobil would ruin about 12 more qts of the T-IV in the complete system. 2 of the service advisors went so far as to say it would cause clutch slippage and eventual trans. failure if I didn't get the flush as soon as possible! Then I talked to another guy who said, albeit whispering, that he would just buy 6 or 8 qts of the T-IV and do 3 or 4 pan drain and refills every few days for a week or two. If I really need the flush I'll do it, its just hard for me to believe that 2.1 qts of Mobil could do all that...

P.S. This is my 3rd V6 Tacoma. Why in the world would Toyota just decide that halfway through a model year, 1 year from the models demise mind you, they would change to such an exclusive fluid. I know d@mn well my other 2 Tacomas used Dex III. I was told some of these 03's have the Dex, and some the T-IV. WTF!!!

Please keep in mind that Toyota's specifications "T-IV" are unique for the reason of retaining services at their dealerships. It takes time and money for oil companies to jump throught the testing and certification hoops that are required to stick the "T-IV" label on their data sheets/packaging. With regard to the Toyota ATF This is merely a game, plain and simple. You would be better off with the Mobil 1 synthetic ATF then the factory fluid. Toyota isn't in the business of manufacturing lubricants and probaby farm out ATF production to the lowest bidder. You would also see benefits if you changed the differentials and engines over to a synthetic lubricant as well. If you had a transmission failure the burden of proof would be on Toyota to prove that it was lubricant related which can be done very simply with an oil analyiss test.

Sincerely,

David Reid

Exxon Mobil just han't gotten the certification yet. Their product meets and exceeds the Toyota spec. Amsoil has completed the testing/certification process and the T-IV specfications is printed on their data sheets and packaging materials.

David Reid

David,

I believe you are correct, and find your information quite logical and well stated. I have a 2002 4Runner that has 20k miles on it. I have chosen to use Mobil 1 Synthetic Transmission fluid. I have alread done one "drain and fill" and plan to do another soon. Eventually the residual amount of factory oil will be minimized. I do not feel that the mixture is in any way harmfull.