Your Opinion Please: Walmart ATF instead of WS

Suitable does NOT mean equal to.

The transaxle ATF-WS is changed infrequently, why not just stick w/ a known fluid.

 

Will they stand behind their product? Will they pay for the replacement of your transaxle if it fails while using their product?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I don’t trust dexron because they’re made for American cars. But if you want to risk it on your 30k$ Prius, it’s personal preference. I would rather go with oem, rather than save a few dollars here and there on fluids.

 

how much savings are we talking?

 

tried it doesnt last as long

 

Until Toyota approves it I'd pass. Even then I'd pass: there's no upside, too much riding on it.

 

Not to say that the Dexron fluid won't work, but you or someone needs to check the electrical ratings.

Toyota WS fluid has a huge advantage over many/most ATFluids in that it is guaranteed to not be electrically conductive at 500V+. This is not something that most vehicles have to care about. But in the Prius and other Toyota/Lexus hybrids the ATF flows around the MGs which have windiings in that voltage region. There have been tests on some ATF here on PriusChat that were found to be conductive in that high voltage region which causes HV isolation leaks and MG degradation.

It is also such an uncommon requirement, I don't think any datasheets list this except for the Toyota WS fluid since that is what it is made for. If this was for a Camry, I'd so go for it. But for a Camry hybrid or Prius... Just buy the genuine fluid. Is this company going to pay to replace your transaxle if it turns out to conduct? Probably not.

 

Marketingtalk to English translation:

= GM has not tested this, but the oil manufacturer promised that it would meet specs, and paid GM a lot of money for the license.

=Has been formulated to meet the Dexron VI specs, and we don't actually definitively know if it would meet any other specs.

=Has not been tested according to these other specs, but we think it will probably perform adequately.


It boils down to how much you trust the manufacturer. Of course Walmart does not actually produce Transmission fluid. They buy it from a manufacturer and have their label put on it.

On one hand, the actual manufacturer might be reputable and deliver good quality. On the other hand, it is known that some reputable manufacturers sometimes deliver some products that are of lower quality to large quantity buyers who insist on greatly reduced prices. And if the manufacturer's brand name is not on the label, how likely is it that their reputation would suffer?

 

There was a thread like this already but it was more of Mobile 1 ATF.

 

you don't have to change the tranny oil to tell them that, it's lifetime.

 

no, do not use it. toyota fluid is worth it.