Hi Scotty, I have a Toyota Camry 1999 and it hit just over 40k since its last servicing. With an Odometer of 245k. I purchased Toyota brand ATF Dextron 3 fluid off of ebay and brand new it smelled like cat pee. Much smellier then ATF IV that my Lexus takes. Can ATF deteriorate on shelves? Is my new ATF safe to use? Is it supposed to be pungent and stinky compared to Type IV? I saw a costumer review online buying from another source complaining of discolored and bad ATF fluid of the same kind new out the bottle. Looked online but found no info Thanks!
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Can ATF deteriorate on shelves?
Yes, all things deteriorate over time, including a controlled environment on a shelf. ATF is very complex. Addives deteriorate, etc.
I purchased Toyota brand ATF Dextron 3 fluid off of ebay and brand new it smelled like cat pee.
That's why you should never purchase any kind of ATF on eBay. It's ripe with counterfeit products. Order through Amazon or an auto parts store like AutoZone. They made millions of those Camrys and pretty much all parts are readily available.
Is my new ATF safe to use?
I wouldn't say so. It's not worth messing up a transmission because you could possibly put counterfeit products in there. Replacing that transmission is more than that car is worth.
Go to an auto parts store in person and place an order.
Edit: I use Dextron III in my 1979 Pontiac Catalina. It definitely doesn't smell like cat pee. It's supposed to be thin, faintly red and smell like a light oil.
@justin-shepherd thanks for feedback! Is there any product examples you can suggest in photos if possible? I browsed around and though i am a diy enthusiast, i am still very novice on identifying whats perfect for my vehicle. As the lable Dextron 3 seems to be discontinued and titled something else due to copywrite laws or what ever trademark stuff goes on.
I use the Dex/Merc formulation by Valvoline and I've not had any issues with it. Walmart brand's SuperTech Dextron III I've not tried, but I would trust it. Just go to your local Walmart and look for Dextron III.
You can get Dexron III at WalMart, there's no need to resort to sketchy sources such as ebay. WalMart carries their own SuperTech brand as well as leading brands such as Valvoline. I've used them both and they work fine.
Of course you could use the newest Dexron VI which is supposed to be backwards compatible. It's a superior synthetic fluid, however it is not quite 100% compatible as evidenced by the fact that GM does not recommend using it in all prior Dexron applications. Most likely it has not been validated for use in a 25-year-old Toyota automatic transmission either. (I've been sticking with Dexron III in my old clunkers since I presume it has not been tested in those.)
@chucktobias My Catalina requires Dextron II, technically. I use Dextron III because it's readily available and it's backward compatible.
@justin-shepherd - Yeah, Dex III works fine as a replacement for II, I've never heard of any issues with it.
You might enjoy this 5-part series on the history of transmission fluids, some interesting stuff. This is the first part:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV-ri4rOHRI
@chucktobias That's a pretty cool introduction! I may start watching the rest of that today!
As the lable Dextron 3 seems to be discontinued and titled something else due to copywrite laws or what ever trademark stuff goes on.
GM no longer licenses Dexron III but the oil companies have not forgotten how to make it. It is still widely available.