Transmission Fluid

For grins, I checked with my local stealership. They use this on 2002 Tundras.

 

Yes indeed, you don't want to void your warranty for obvious reasons, and the dealership doesn't want your tranny to fail during the warranty period and put them on the hook for the repairs; by all means, stay with what is recommended and everyone is happy.
Once the warranty period is over, things often change as to their general recommendations because they have been removed from any liability under the warranty. If the tranny or other parts fail, it is now entirely on you. You might pay them to fix the problem, or you might buy another truck from them, in either case they make a sizeable profit because of the failure.
I'm certain that their sales staff have thoroughly gamed this one out as it pertains to vehicles far past their warranty period. Toyota owners are loyal customers for the most part and they know it. Whether parts, service or new truck sales, they do alright when your older vehicle falters. Planned obsolescence and owner generated failure, for whatever reason, is money in the bank for them.

 

It's dexron lll compatible. That's what is recommended for our trucks. What's the issue? Who do you think makes the Toyota fluid? Toyota doesn't make it.

 

Here follows a video from Weber State University, produced this year, which tells the story of Toyota and its automatic transmission fluids from its first automatic transmission to the current era. It starts to hit home around 23:30 into the video and I encourage 1st generation Tundra owners to watch, at least from this point if not earlier. 60 Years of Toyota Automatic Transmission Fluid - ATF History Part 5 - YouTube


Wikipedia likewise has a few well made points to offer up in this automatic transmission fluid mini-controversy I seem to have created...

Toyota Automatic Transmission Fluid - Wikipedia
Aftermarket Automatic Transmission Fluids
For over 70 years, the oil aftermarket has produced both licensed, and non-licensed, formulations of automatic transmission fluids (ATF)[27]. Today, aftermarket fluids asserted by their manufacturers to be compatible for use in various brands of automatic transmissions continue to be sold under names such as Multi-Purpose and Multi-Vehicle fluids. Non-licensed fluid is typically less expensive, these fluids are not regulated or endorsed by the vehicle manufacturer for use in their transmissions. [Emphasis added.]

Vehicle manufacturer approved and licensed fluids must have the license number printed on the product information label of the container or on the container housing. Non-Licensed fluids do not show a license number. Industry specific terminology on the labels can also help determine if the product is licensed[28][29]:

• Suitable for Use - If the fluid label states the fluid is suitable for use in your vehicle, it is not an approved or licensed fluid
• Meets Requirements - If the fluid label states the fluid meets the requirements for use in your vehicle, it is not an approved or licensed fluid
• Exceeds Requirements - If the fluid label states the fluid exceeds the requirements for use in your vehicle, it is not an approved or licensed fluid
• Approved - If the fluid label states the fluid is approved for use in your vehicle, it is a formally approved and licensed fluid. The license number should be shown on the container. [Emphasis added.]

Buyer Beware
Details of fluid compatibility on the front panel of an ATF container often conflict with the fluid compatibility claims or fluid recommendations on the rear label.

The article goes on to talk about two brands that have been less than forthright - Castol Transmax and Valvoline Max Life.

MERCON - Wikipedia
This entry rehashes a lot of the general concerns about the subject and then closes with two that have likewise been less than honest - O'Reilly Premium Automatic Transmission Multi-Purpose Fluid and Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF.

DEXRON - Wikipedia
A lengthy narrative of GM's Dexron from its beginning to the current era. The first paragraph is relatively important, as this article goes, and the usual suspects of O'Reilly and Mobil 1 show up as rouge brands void of licensing requirements.


In the later part of the video, Professor John D. Kelly, addresses that issue which we have all heard, but few want to acknowledge - use the fluid the transmission has been designed to use.

My transmission has been serviced and I don't believe I will be revisiting it again, so I am done with this thread. Say what you will...I did.

 

Marbles has made good points, specifically about the licensing. What he can’t argue for or against is the exact formula in these aftermarket type fluids and whether they are lacking the fortifications.

My opinion is to use the Valvoline DEX/MERC because if you read the specs it fits a tight range of vehicles that require DEXII/III as the 2002 Tundra requires.

The Valvoline Maxlife seems as if it tries to please a wider range of vehicles which gives caution to me, but others here have used it with no problems.

I’ll post the two spec sheets together so you can see. What I find interesting is the DEX/MERC has a licensing and approvals table (Maxlife does not) which I was hoping Marbles would catch/comment on with his legal slant when I posted this spec way back in post #8 of this thread.

DEX/MERC has the DEXIII licensing per the spec. Its cheap and readily available. A no brainer.