Myvi's/Ativa manufacturer recommended service interval for CVT transmission fluid change intervals seems too long at 100k (50k severe driving conditions).
Vios seems more reasonable at 40k, severe interval not listed. link

Whats a more reasonable interval for atf changes for CVT transmissions? 20-25k or yearly?

30k average or u feel operation abnormal noises

You think you know better than manufacturer? Stick to service booklet la. Different manufacturer use different grade oil and different filter. If they say rated for 100k means 100k

Stick with manufacturer's guidelines. If you want to be safe, then change at 50k interval. Severe driving conditions can mean a lot of hard accelerations, a lot of idling, bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions.

Nothing lasts forever. Transmissions and engines are being worn down whenever they are being utilised.

I can concur this best to change or drain between 20-30k km to extend lifespan of gb. My lancer cvt now approaching 400k km

In this context, I know better than the manufacturer and I'm skeptical about the recommended intervals. Even some car models decades ago were advertised as having lifetime ATF oil change intervals and this is now more frequent in popular models eg. Camry's in N.America are said to have lifetime ATF but S.E.A Toyota's recommend a 2yr/40k drain interval. The biggest reason is that I haven't noticed the ATF getting so much better that they still look good at 20-30k, already very brown. I suspect the high Proton Saga CVT failures might be caused by the long 60k drain intervals compounded by not having a dipstick which would increase possibility of overfilling/underfilling.

Manufacturers are doing it for several reasons, they can artificially reduce the yearly cost of ownership maintenance in their advertising to new customers, and probably to meet some environmental regulation target or to follow other car makers so as not be seen as a 'problem' with their brand.
Another given reason was that car makers wanted to reduce the problems caused by third party workshops/DIY'ers overfilling/underfilling or using the wrong type or counterfeit ATF so they just sealed up the transmission, got rid of the dipstick, and just told the customer that the ATF lasted for the 'lifetime' and just waited for it to fail outside of the warranty period.
Maybe its a combination of those reasons and a financial incentive to get customers to buy a new car sooner rather than repair their damaged transmissions due to insufficient ATF changes. And as a bonus that 2nd hand vehicle would be going into the used market with a repaired transmission that probably isn't going to last which would make more people consider new instead of used.

ATF bukan mahal pun, aku tukar aje, every 2 years, kalau kurang budget, sometimes, extend to 3yrs.

All my cars regardless AT/CVT I change it every 20k

I just changed my Exora cvt fluid (and filter + gasket) for the first time.
After 9 yrs and 73K.
No joke. (and neither do I encourage dragging far too long)
I did it at Transmatic Automotive Shah Alam - Because they are the transmission specialist after all. So its best to have them inspect for any damage due to overdue.

After tech looked at the very fine metallic trapped at the magnet, he said just monitor it since the CVT is still running fine (no jerking or slippage), but advised to changed the fluid at every 20K or 1 year interval, against Proton's original schedule at 36 months or 60,000KM (which I am way way way overdue).

BTW Proton's cvt fluid is memang originally dark colour.
For those who are interested can check them out, though the price will be slightly more than going to Proton SC.

https://www.facebook.com/transmaticautomotivesdnbhd





This post has been edited by SleeplessEyes: Dec 12 2023, 04:02 PM

eh, no ah... there were two types, either blue or green
but, mine came out red when first changed, and poured in Green amsoil, now just use standard blue

mine was never that dark coming out, changed 4 times so far, 140k to date

Apologies for the confusion. I was referring to the colour "new CVT oil" being displayed in their reception/waiting area.
They put 2 glass jar - one to show "Fake " Proton CVT and another is Genuine Proton CVT oil. So it was kind of bluish dark colour.
But apparently someone said in the fb page, there is a difference between the blue and red fluid.

I miss the part they pour in the new CVT oil to see what colour was it, but yes I saw them using Proton original CVT oil can. Well they cant be wrong either.

Mine was very dark when they drained out - Because I never changed before leh
So I'm the lab mice here..

So if you said yours was red when first changed, probably mine was originally red too.
I didn't get to see the filter condition, was more concentrated on the oil pan with the magnet.

Thankfully no big metal flakes (or broken CVT belt pieces) or else I will heart attack

This post has been edited by SleeplessEyes: Dec 12 2023, 04:17 PM

Dulu got manufacturer state their factory filled ATF is for lifetime. So we should believe them too?

Let me rephrase, in MOST CASES, follow manufacturer's recommendation. For BMW and Mazda stating their transmission fluid is lifetime, follow ZF or the trans' manufacturer's recommendations instead. ZF actually did share the interval for servicing their gearboxes.

Now for your particular scenario in your first post, I think the intervals listed are still reasonable, taking into account the most generic, most typical day-to-day drivers or consumers of these products.

Maybe you might know better than the manufacturers in this context, but I am answering you as someone who is in one of the manufacturers. The biggest failure of CVTs (for our brand at least) is not the lack of fluid changes.

But of course, there is nothing wrong if you want to service your trans more frequently. Oil is cheap after all.

This post has been edited by HalseyFrangipane: Dec 12 2023, 04:34 PM

Lifetime not your lifetime. It's the lifetime of the car bodo. Proton last time got lifetime warranty for power window, defined as 10 years of product lifetime.

Honda change every 40k which is okay; just make sure not to skip it. The other thing you need to worry about is the CVT filter... SC nor the booklet advised you to change. Therefore, it might cause a clog in the filter, leading to CVT belt putus.

If you ask SC to change the CVT filter, they will argue with you and say it's not an item to change or it's not replaceable (Need to change the whole GB).

- If you change Engine Oil Filter, why CVT Filter no need?-

Many recommend Changing CVT filter every 80k or 100k - Price varies from RM 800 - 1.2k

This post has been edited by JON97: Dec 12 2023, 05:37 PM

Yup,

Same for my Hondas

Toyota, Daihatsu, Perodua I drag till 40K

Lemme give you (and other forumers) few facts:

1) Every moving parts in an engine and transmission are wear and tear items and they have a limited lifespan

2) said lifespan can only decrease, never restore until a full rebuild or complete brand new crate engine (or transmission) swap

3) worn metal particles circulating within the fluid will further increase wear

4) a less efficient drive train will be required to work harder and the vicious cycle of more wear will follow

5) in a perfect and ideal world where money is unlimited and environmental impact is zero, more frequent oil changes with the best fluids (original, genuine from reputable brands and sources) will be the best method for any vehicle and its drive train.

6) no, I'm not specifically referring to you and your CVT.
What done is done and no one can turn back time.

It is just that your post is conveniently a good example.

And no, i personally don't care about oil colour.
Diversity and inclusive woke age or something right? Later people say i discriminate against oil colour

This post has been edited by Quazacolt: Dec 12 2023, 06:51 PM

Here got one manufacturer more clever, sell their car with free service but make the ATF seal for life, no need atf change. Splash customer with 100k km warranty capped. Anything happens after hit mileage, under on you. Summary change ATF/CVT oil earlier than manufacturers stated cz most manufacturers just wanna make their service cost look cheaper for marketing?

It's you yang kata:

"You think you know better than manufacturer? Stick to service booklet la."

Subaru stated 100k km fluid replacement interval for their CVT.

All suffer solenoid malfunction after hitting 120-130k km.

The solenoid itself is not listed in Subaru's part catalogue, so if u go back to SC, it's replace whole valvebody assembly & 1 more round of fluid replacement, total RM6k.