All,
I've been taking the drain & fill approach to my transmission since I purchased my 2006 V70 18k miles ago. I've done 3 drain and fills with increasing mileage intervals between each (I've had this last batch in for 7500 miles and intend to drain/fill every 10k going forward). I've been getting Toyota T-IV fluid from my local dealer, but decided to take a look at the 8 quarts of Valvoline MaxLife ATF that I originally purchased back in 2012 for my BMW 5 series.
As I ultimately decided to have a shop handle the BMW tranny refill, I still have the MaxLife. While it doesn't call out "LV" on the front label it does list Toyota T-IV on the back.
Looking at the Valvoline website today, the ONLY MaxLife listed is the LV.
Thoughts about this vintage MaxLife (perhaps prior to the LV branding) being safe to use?
Vintage MaxLife ATF
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a3inverter
- Posts: 162
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Vintage MaxLife ATF
- Attachments
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- Vintage Bottle Back
- maxlife_back.jpg (111.32 KiB) Viewed 1422 times
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- Vintage Bottle Front
- maxlife_front.jpg (76.91 KiB) Viewed 1422 times
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- Current Applications
- 2019-09-07 20_14_28-US_Val_ML_ATF_EN.pdf - SpringCM.png (41.09 KiB) Viewed 1422 times
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abscate
- MVS Moderator
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Tough one, I guess it comes down to if Valvoline will tell you if the product is different, which will be hard info to get past the “ we always are improving our products” line
I’ve been using Maxlife in our E83 since 2012 and haven’t paid attention to the label, it performs well at 180k miles, once a year drain and fill of 4 liters at 12,000 miles
Guru jimmy is a pretty big fan of Maxlife for both P80s and P2s from postings here
I’ve been using Maxlife in our E83 since 2012 and haven’t paid attention to the label, it performs well at 180k miles, once a year drain and fill of 4 liters at 12,000 miles
Guru jimmy is a pretty big fan of Maxlife for both P80s and P2s from postings here
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
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oragex
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Is what I used for my first transmission fluid flush. Terrible, in summer the fluid is expanding so much it always looked grossly overfilled, in winter it was shrinking so much, the car wouldn't move in cold mornings (not enough fluid inside the torque converter). Drained it since, and put some Toyota Type IV instead, it has been perfect since.
Several Volvo Repair Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... s0FSVSOT_c
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GlennG2759
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I've been doing drain and fills using this fluid on my '94 850 and '06 V70. I don't think your vintage fluid is synthetic.
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a3inverter
- Posts: 162
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Actually, my bottles have the same text as yours..."synthetic base oils better resist clutch plate glazing and slippage"...so if yours is synthetic, so is mine 
I'll happily continue to spend $28 for 4 quarts at the Toyota dealer to keep things running - the tranny is working fine with just the occasional downshift into first.
I'll happily continue to spend $28 for 4 quarts at the Toyota dealer to keep things running - the tranny is working fine with just the occasional downshift into first.
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- Pete -
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Same here. Toyota sells it @ $6.10/qt in 6 qt packs up here. Sometimes they give me a 5-10% discount, no rhyme or reason to this though, seems like a particular parts guy is more apt to apply this reach-around discount. Another Toyota dealer under 11 miles from this dealer sells it for $9.99/qt. Uh...
I see a lot of support for the MaxLife & in no way do I refute it, but where I'm located there is literally zero savings over using the Toyota T4. $6.10/qt is what I get it for and I have yet to be tempted by something costing less that offers more, Wolf's head, Mazda, Mobil 3309, etc...
2001 V70XC 200k
2004 V70 AWD 174k
2004 V70R M66 147k
2004 XC70 361k
1995 F250 7.3PSD 262k
2014 Ram 3500 DRW 116k
2004 V70 AWD 174k
2004 V70R M66 147k
2004 XC70 361k
1995 F250 7.3PSD 262k
2014 Ram 3500 DRW 116k
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MoVolvos
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That looks like the Max - Life I used in two cars years ago and it did not work well. Transmission ran well initially but then degraded very rapidly so had to flush it out again. Currently am running the Haveline which has taken the clunk / grind out of the 03 Odyssey when put in gear, It has over ~ 237K miles on the original transmission and purchased it with 154K miles. The Haveline is also in an 03 S80 T6, excellent shifts.
JWS 3309
https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDS ... &docFormat
Unbelievable price for a Synthetic at this time. I paid $73 and $65 respectively from Amazon within a year.
https://www.amazon.com/HAVOLINE-2265364 ... way&sr=8-1
That looks like the Max - Life I used in two cars years ago and it did not work well. Transmission ran well initially but then degraded very rapidly so had to flush it out again. Currently am running the Haveline which has taken the clunk / grind out of the 03 Odyssey when put in gear, It has over ~ 237K miles on the original transmission and purchased it with 154K miles. The Haveline is also in an 03 S80 T6, excellent shifts.
JWS 3309
https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDS ... &docFormat
Unbelievable price for a Synthetic at this time. I paid $73 and $65 respectively from Amazon within a year.
https://www.amazon.com/HAVOLINE-2265364 ... way&sr=8-1
Blessings,
BKM
2008 C30 T5 2.0 M66
2007 S60 2.5T - New Project
2003 S80 T6 Transmission DIED
2000 S70 SE Base - New Project
1998 S70 T5 Prior
1989 240 Wagon Prior
BKM
2008 C30 T5 2.0 M66
2007 S60 2.5T - New Project
2003 S80 T6 Transmission DIED
2000 S70 SE Base - New Project
1998 S70 T5 Prior
1989 240 Wagon Prior
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MoVolvos
- Posts: 5273
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After reading up on the Wolf's Head I purchased a case. Will report on it after use.
Blessings,
BKM
2008 C30 T5 2.0 M66
2007 S60 2.5T - New Project
2003 S80 T6 Transmission DIED
2000 S70 SE Base - New Project
1998 S70 T5 Prior
1989 240 Wagon Prior
BKM
2008 C30 T5 2.0 M66
2007 S60 2.5T - New Project
2003 S80 T6 Transmission DIED
2000 S70 SE Base - New Project
1998 S70 T5 Prior
1989 240 Wagon Prior
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- Pete -
- Posts: 960
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- Year and Model: 01, 04, 04, 04 V70's
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At that $/qt, temptation is hard to ignore. I need to do more reading on it.
2001 V70XC 200k
2004 V70 AWD 174k
2004 V70R M66 147k
2004 XC70 361k
1995 F250 7.3PSD 262k
2014 Ram 3500 DRW 116k
2004 V70 AWD 174k
2004 V70R M66 147k
2004 XC70 361k
1995 F250 7.3PSD 262k
2014 Ram 3500 DRW 116k
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Georgeandkira
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To MoVolvos and everyone else,
I've used the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc LV pictured above as well as the Wolf's Head Super Universal Synthetic. Both performed identically. Both worked well. I wouldn't fear trying the Havoline product as well.
In my experience assessing any differences between cold operation and warm are the best tools we mere mortals have.
Changing the fluid in badly worn or damaged units is where a lot of errant red flags come from.
I've used the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc LV pictured above as well as the Wolf's Head Super Universal Synthetic. Both performed identically. Both worked well. I wouldn't fear trying the Havoline product as well.
In my experience assessing any differences between cold operation and warm are the best tools we mere mortals have.
Changing the fluid in badly worn or damaged units is where a lot of errant red flags come from.
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