nc211

Anyone ever try Amsoil Transmission Fluid?

juanmor40

For which vehicle, year, and model would you like that information? VIN would be better.

Every device is different with custom specifications for each. Unless you know which specifications your transmission requires, you are best just buying from the dealer with your VIN number.

Summary: there is no answer to such a wide-open question

For MB vehicles, they have this website https://operatingfluids.mercedes-ben...heet/236.21/en

nc211

Not asking which one to get. I’m just asking if anyone has ever used any of their transmission fluids instead of the MB fluid in general, and if they liked it or not?

juanmor40

You can ask https://www.legitstreetcars.com/, he used to be an MB mechanic to one dealer in the Chicago area, and swears by the Amsoil products (conflict of interests?)

I personally used Amsoil oil for the engine and transmission of an old Toyota Camry back in 2016 with @200+K miles, and though it seemed ok the first few days, I would not use it again unless I am forced to. Way too many other options to invite trouble. Just my 2c.

cetialpha5

What's your point? As a small boutique company, their fluids typically aren't on MB's approved list so you don't really know if it's better or not. So do you think it will make your transmission last longer? Go longer between fluid changes? There's just basically no data about it. A sample size of one isn't really a good basis for getting valid data. I wouldn't bother.

nc211

My point, is really simple. Has anyone actually used it in their mercedes e series? There is a loyal following with Amsoil, never really heard anything bad about them myself, and was just curious if anyone here has actually tried it?

I’m curious if it helped to make it even smoother.

Long ago I bought a Mazda 3GT sedan. Wasn’t long before I replaced the trans fluid with an approved Mobile1 fluid, and it made a tremendous difference in smoothness, sound and feel. Was just curious if anyone’s tried it on the benz.

normally I am 100% in favor of genuine OE trans
fluid. Still am mostly.

juanmor40

and, even with the best data available existed. What is the saving vs risk associated with a change from an established process? Just a quick example: A fleet of 100 vehicles x 200 miles/day x 30 days/month = 6000K miles/month/vehicle @ 5 qts/vehicle (to use round number) -> 500 qts/months x @$10/quart x12month/year-> $60 000/year for oil. Say, a cheaper provider gives a 10% discount, i.e. $6000/year. You only need one engine to fail to lose the advantage or saving. That is, 1% failure rate and everything is gone. IF, a big if, it is not a good as the "true and tested oil" (whichever that may already be) the fleet is in the RED.

In my book, I am extremely conservative to changes that produce minimal gains against established processes. Summary: if it IS working, DO NOT fix it.

And, on experimenting with expensive toys, my hard-earned money I spent on other pleasures than second-guessing my engineering colleagues. The companies they work for have deeper pockets than mine.

cetialpha5

The butt dyno and random testimonials on the internet isn't really the basis of a sound scientific study. The only certain guarantee is that it will probably lighten your wallet as it's typically more expensive. You can also get Shell ATF 134 FE from a shell distributor. If you were really worried about the fluid, I'd just change it more frequently and call it a day.

https://www.shell.us/business-custom...r-locator.html

nc211

I appreciate your response, but none of that matters to me. If the 9 year old car that has long been paid for blew up tomorrow, I’d simply go buy another. Basically at this point, its value is to the point that even a bumper tap would probably equate to a total loss from insurance.

again, I am just curious if anyone has ever tried this stuff in a benz? And if so, was it good, bad, blah, etc?

DFWdude

To answer your question, I have NOT used Amsoil in any of my vehicles (not just MBs), and can't see any reason to do so.

nc211

I’m in this camp too, changing it more frequently. Im at 70k and had it changed at 40k once before. Going in to do it again soon, and was curious if Amsoil fluid was worth the extra pennies to use instead. I don’t mind if it cost more to use, if it made a nice difference for the car. That’s all I was curious about.

juanmor40

Try it then, and keep the forum members here posted. However, many forum members are very technical, so qualitative appreciations are not useful, you may need to report with some lab testing to be an unbiased opinion.

Cifdig

i use amsoil and only amsoil . For many years. My 1k hp m157 only uses 5w 50 signature series . Mobil one does not have the film strength that I require for protection . Mobil one burns often and requires top offs where as the amsoil does not require nearly the same amount . Amsoil is actually one of the best oils made . And you can actually search black stone labs and research other oil analysis based off amsoil. Now when I say one of the best I'm not saying it is the best . But it definitely deserves the total as one of the best. As far as the trans fluid I use amsoil ATF fuel efficient. I haven't had any issues . And it works perfectly fine . Do not use atf multi vehicle . The viscosity if to thick for the 722.9

BenzV12

Same here, to make matters worse ( I love Castrol brand) , in my case, even Castrol being a big company has yet to make a MB approved oil as I recall

juanmor40

Cifdig

I definitely suggest doing some approved oil research and gain some insight on why some oil companies don't participate in this stamp of approval logo but far far exceeded the oils that are approved . The oil recommended by oem manufacturers are based on much more then engine protection . They sacrifice some engine protection for emissions and MPG. Once you start digging deep you will start realizing you can find oils that meets your needs and not theirs. They want the best emissions from the oil blow by and the best miles per gallon with thinner viscosity. On top of that they use an oil that can be used in multiple climates. . My advice is step outside the box and stop assuming certified mb oil is the only way to go. Now I'd rather no one believe me and do some research to gain some insight how this works. . Do oil analysis of your mobil one vs let's say an amsoil 5w50 and you will find yourself . It's as easy as just trying a different oil for one oil change and saving the sample to send it out . You may be very surprised.

juanmor40

I do not disagree with you. I am not supporting any particular brand (they do not pay my bills nor put food on my table). A case can be made to find out the best oil to use if we relax the constraints used for the previous design decision; however, on whose budget should that be done? Research is not free, or cheap. The risks associated with it can be enormous if we step too far out of the box. How do we know there are no incompatibilities between internal materials and the oil additives ahead of time that could cause other issues (leaks, carbon build-up)? It is not a black-and-white decision.

cetialpha5

Just what exactly are your needs? Do you want the engine to last 500k instead of 300k or maybe a million miles instead of 200k? Engine failure due to oil is not a common failure so I fail to see what's the point of a "better" oil unless you're just looking for the "best" no matter what even though it doesn't add anything. I expect my car to either rust out or have some other major system go bad like a transmission, get into an accident before the engine goes. Do you really plan on driving your current car past 200k? Also many used oil analysis have been done, they've been posted and they're out there. Basic results basically say the oil is still fine and has several thousands left at 10k and that's just with Mobil 1. If the oil you're using is better, maybe it'll be good for 15-20k, but are you really going to leave the oil in there that long? Even bad oil would be fine for the engine if you're changing it every 5k.

Quint22

Not amsoil and not MB car but I have used redline mt85 in my ram truck which has a MB G56 trans for the last 140k miles of its 170k mile life span. Still rocking on (knocks on wood). The original spec calls for automatic trans fluid (fuel saver).

If the specs of the oil or trans fluid or gear oil line up with what your using it for IMHO its gonna work fine. In these threads however your going to have opinions based on other opinions, opinions based on experience, opinions based on perceived experience, opnions based on monetary propoganda, opinions based on everyone has one.......

Personally if I had to change the fluid more than 50k miles I would probably look into it and figure out if there was actually a better alternative however from what I have read if the fluid is changed often enough there arent issues related to the fluid. I have no qualms about straying from the PAID FOR recommended list of any manufacturer.

cetialpha5

Let's be clear, it's an approved list by the manufacturer that the fluid meets their spec. If it's not on the list, it may or may not meet spec, just means the maker of the fluid is either too cheap to pay for it or it doesn't really meet spec.

If we're talking transmission fluid, there's 236.14 and 236.15 which is ATF 134 and ATF 134 FE. They both say not to mix it. But maxlife which is not on the approved list says it's good for both applications. It's one thing to have a great spec sheet, it's another to have real world results that show that the spec works well in your application. You're kind of missing that part when you use something that's not on the approved list. It's all guesswork and theory.

W205C43PFL

Sorry if this is already answered, but what does FE mean in this case?

juanmor40

MB 236.12 --> ATF 134
MB 236.15 --> ATF 134 FE

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I may play the lotto this weekend, and if I win I will start researching using canola oil instead, any recommendations on which brand of canola oil is best for engine or transmission,

pierrejoliat

Canola oil is best from Saskatchewan or Manitoba, that stuff from British Columbia not so good, LOL. I worked with Amsoil on a project, found them very educated and professional, they I believe invented Synthetic oils. That said, I would likely just use an MB approved product, but if you did in fact reach out to them directly for an answer to a specific application, I think they would tell you the truth as to wether their fluid was compatible.

W205C43PFL

Thanks for your reply, Sorry I am still confused, I mean what does the FE mean : )
In MB, it means final edition, in technology it sometimes mean fan edition but what does it mean in this case.
Unless FE means absolutely nothing they just want to distinguish it.

W205C43PFL

I do think Canada is one of the major exporters of canola oil now that you mentioned it.