the gm T-IV is supposed to be the "same" as toyota T-IV, correct? it is only used in the toyota based Vibe, and the Daewoo based Aveo, as far as i know?
if that is the case, i believe there is a AMSoil ATF that is Toyota T-IV approved. so it might be the same for royal purple stuff.
Royal Purple does have Toyota Type-IV availableOriginally Posted by petrified.rabbit
just a heads up here. i talked to someone at royal purple and they said we need to use max atf
You're all correct. As for the fluid being brown at 28,000 miles, I had the same thing happen. I actually changed the fluid three times because the drain and fill interval only replaces 2.2qts of fluid out of 8 qts. That's like changing your underwear without taking a shower!There is no serviceable filter in these trans; it's a screen and you need to crack the case to get at it, so the only way that thing gets changed is if it's in the tranny shop for a rebuild. Anyway, I work at a Chevy store and the fluid is prohibitively expensive, even with my employee discount. As someone else said, the Toyota T-IV is the exact same fluid and it costs about $4.50 a quart. Since I've been using that, it seems like it lasts longer as well. I don't care how "high quality" that fluid is; there is no way in hell that it is normal for ATF to turn brown at such a low mileage like that. I think GM beefed on the formulation, just like when they started using DEX-COOL in the cooling systems about 15 years ago and it would turn brown after a year and a half when the **** was supposed to last five years or 150,000 miles. By the time you got to either, your coolant was a bunch of thick brown sludge and your cooling system was shot to hell. Change the fluid at around 25-30,000 miles and don't hesitate to have it flushed....9 quarts of Toyota T-IV and BG Soft Shift formula will do it and save you a ton of headaches and money down the line. As for GM, I wouldn't be surprised at all if not putting a service interval for the trans in their literature came back to bite them in the ass big time.
It's not the size that counts, it's how you handle it!
2007 Chevy Aveo LS
I have an '05 hatchback with 61000 miles on it and Ive had to change the fluid twice already.
The first time I was just checking fluida and noticed it was almost black and that was right around 27000 miles.
Last week I had to smog the car to renew my registration and it started throwing codes just before I was gonna get it smogged.
As soon as the light goes on you just automatically check your gas cap and fluids, sure enough the trans fluid was dark again.
I live in Nevada where our summers are hot as hell. I think that might have a "little" to do with it but not much.
Im wondering if I can get an "external filter and trans cooler" for it as an added precaution.
It is Dexron III. The A/T on all Aveos is the Aisin 81-40LE. Here is the reference: http://lacetti.com.ua/manual/EN/documen ... ml#J0B0RFL
You could also use the later Dexrons that supersede III, but there is no reason to pay more for it, and it won't make any difference.
Don't let anyone tell you you need to buy high priced, OEM fluid from a dealer. Aisin is the manufacturer ofthe tranny and their specs call for Dexron III.
GM is full of crap. Car dealerships don't do their own transmission repairs. They farm it out to transmission specialists because transmission repair is a specialty. I regularly drain my A/T fluid and refill, because clean fluid is your best protection against transmission failure. If you don't believe me go ask any independent transmission shop. Yes, I know it only removes about 1/3 of the fluid volume - but if you do it regularly the fluid stays clean, as it is being replenished regularly.You're all correct. As for the fluid being brown at 28,000 miles, I had the same thing happen. I actually changed the fluid three times because the drain and fill interval only replaces 2.2qts of fluid out of 8 qts. That's like changing your underwear without taking a shower!
Before I bought the Aveo I considered buying a used Saturn from a Saturn dealer. I looked for the drain plug for the A/T. There isn't one. When I mentioned it to the dealer they said the transmission is a sealed unit and the fluid is supposed to last the life of the car. What nonsense! They were too cheap to put in a drain plug and besides, they don't want people to do their own service. In fact that was a main reason why I rejected the car. No wonder Saturn is out of business.
If your tranny fluid is brown, or anything other than a healthy red, it is a sign of deterioration and probable deterioration of the 'soft parts' in the tranny. Drop the pan, change the filter and add fresh fluid - which you can easily do yourself. And pray that you were not too late to ward off having it fail.
what can possibly make the fluid dirty if there isn't something else wrong in the system?
if your fluid is getting dirty in a sealed transmission. then something is not wearing properly which mean swapping out the fluid constantly is not going to solve the problem.
plus if you change only 1/3 of the fluid, all the time is worse than changing all the fluid if it is dirty. thats like throwing water at mud. the fresh fluid might actually carry the dirt further into the tranny to cause more problems. if your fluid is dirty, for what ever reason, have it changed once completely instead of cycling the same dirt through 2/3 of the fluid.
Transmission fluid breaks down over time, and the most common cause is from heat.
It can't hurt and it can only help. I agree that a total fluid change would be best. The time to do routine fluid changes is before the fluid changes color. I do it every six months after the car has passed 20.000 miles, and since I've been doing it I have never had any transmission trouble. Transmission fluid is cheap, considering that a tranny rebuild is one of the most expensive mechanical repairs on a vehicle and should be avoided like the plague.if your fluid is getting dirty in a sealed transmission. then something is not wearing properly which mean swapping out the fluid constantly is not going to solve the problem.
That's a commonly repeated misconception that it's better to leave old, contaminated fluid alone. There is no logic to it, except for atypical cases where the car has over 100K on it and the fluid has never been changed. Discolored fluid does not necessarily contain "dirt". The filter (located in the pan underneath) removes the particulate matter. The rest is circulating through the system regardless, and keeping worn out fluid in the transmission will just make matters worse over time.plus if you change only 1/3 of the fluid, all the time is worse than changing all the fluid if it is dirty.
thats like throwing water at mud. the fresh fluid might actually carry the dirt further into the tranny to cause more problems.
This article explains it more extensively: http://www.aa1car.com/library/atf.htm
Firestone uses full synthetic, I can verify that now :P
E-Teeecchhhhhhh!!!!!
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2007 Chevrolet Aveo5