Changing the oil in a 2014 Toyota Corolla CVT gearbox - when and how it is done, choosing ATF

I have over a hundred rebuilt engines and dozens of gearboxes under my belt. I also have an education in engineering, and over the years of work I have learned to understand some things worse than an academician. Reviews from car enthusiasts only confirm this.

This time I decided to talk about such a complex topic as variator oil. Modern cars are equipped with a CVT box, which is intended for the following actions:

• Lubricates pulleys in cars;
• In this case, the differential is lubricated;
• Heat removal is also carried out;
• CVT lubricant is capable of maintaining normal temperatures in the gearbox.

The lubricating mixture for the variator is made in almost the same way as conventional motor lubricant. The essence is the technology of stepwise hydrocracking.

Fluids for CVT and manual transmission

In modern manual transmissions, in addition to reducing wear, the lubricant performs a wide range of tasks and has an impact on driving comfort, since lubrication has a decisive influence on shift quality.

Axial gears require particularly high wear protection (AW) and extreme pressure properties (EP). This is only possible with highly concentrated sulfur additives, so classic type oils are not suitable for clutch or synchronization.

In addition to high wear protection, axle drive oils must have good aging properties - take this into account. Here, too, longer replacement intervals and service life must be achieved. Thanks to stricter pothole guidelines and regulations, CVT oils are becoming thicker and thicker to optimize transmission efficiency.

When to change the oil in a Toyota CVT

The Toyota CVT fluid is replaced every 60-70 thousand kilometers. The exact service interval limits can be found in the vehicle's technical documentation or owner's manual. However, the procedure can be performed ahead of schedule if such factors are present.

1. Waste of liquid. If the level drops significantly, a complete replacement of the lubricant is performed. If the level has dropped slightly, you can top up.
2. Increased fuel consumption. Thickening of the oil or the ingress of foreign impurities increases the resistance of the mechanism during operation.
3. Decrease in vehicle dynamics and acceleration. Loss of unit efficiency may be due to lubricant wear.
4. The presence of extraneous sounds, jerking, slipping of the gear during acceleration of the car or constant speed.
5. Detection of metal shavings or dirt inside the oil pan.

It is recommended that the fluid be changed at a service station or by a qualified mechanic. Self-repair without the proper experience or tools can only aggravate the breakdown.

Important! Some experts recommend checking the oil level in the Toyota crankcase every 15,000-20,000 km. This interval will provide the necessary control of the mechanism.

Dual Clutch Transmission Oils (DCTF)

Dual clutch transmission fluids are a compromise between high MTF and efficient ATF performance. In addition, the use of hydraulic pumps increases the requirement for stability.

Types of CVTs

In addition to the CVTs described, below is a brief description of the main types used in passenger cars:

Belt-type CVT: Also called "push-type" or "Van Doorne" CVT.

The essence of the system

The belt is clamped into the pulleys under pressure of up to 4 tons and is “pushed” through its pulleys. Compressive loads on individual belt plates vary depending on engine size, but they are quite high, starting at 120 Pascals for a small four-cylinder engine.

Chain-type CVT: Also called "pull-type". This CVT also uses pinch pulleys.

The two main advantages of the design over a belt-driven CVT are: Toroidal CVT: It is quite complex. Imagine putting a cone on a pottery wheel and shaping the sides until they are rounded. Now place the two tori facing each other with the disc-shaped roller between them, touching both. You have a toroidal variator.

Because it does not rely on belts or chains or pinch pulleys, a toroidal CVT can transmit more torque. You won't find a toroidal CVT in Russia - at least not now. It is only found on certain Nissan vehicles sold in Japan.

Although CVTs are cool and useful, there are many reasons why they are not yet installed in every car:

• CVTs are much more complex and expensive to manufacture than they look in pictures on the Internet. Generating high clamping forces that make them work is a challenge for hydraulic systems and lubricants. Parts must meet exact specifications during manufacture and assembly. Various licensing fees also increase costs for the automaker.
• Durability (or rather the lack thereof) has essentially become a big stumbling block. Belt slippage is the Achilles heel of the CVT. If the belt slips even on a tiny pulley, the transmission is further destroyed.
• Some drivers just don't like them. Most people have no idea what kind of transmission they have, but they usually expect the engine to make certain noises when running and nothing else. A car with a CVT sounds almost like a motorboat. When you ride it down a hill, the engine accelerates to high speed and starts humming until you stop. And this system doesn't have a shifter, so there won't be any change in engine tone that you're used to with conventional transmissions. For this reason, owners of cars with CVTs often return them thinking that the transmission is slipping or something is broken.
• Fuel economy gains are currently in line with conventional powertrain gains.

Some automakers believe they can get more fuel-efficient systems with a six- or seven-speed CVT.

CVT oil for Toyota Corolla K310/K311/K312/K313

In 2003, Aisin Warner completed its work on the K310 series CVTs, depriving them of all the “childhood diseases” present in the K110 series. Accordingly, these variators, modifications K310, K311, K312 and K313, began to be installed on Toyota Corolla starting in 2010. At the same time, the oil in these CVTs is selected according to the CVT Fluid FE specification, which is shared by both the original Toyota CVT Fluid FE transmission fluid and its analogues Fuchs TITAN CVTF FLEX and Molygreen CVT.

The future of CVTs

However, the CVT has its loyal supporters. Nissan, for its part, is sticking with Extroid CVT on its 245-horsepower Murano and plans to quadruple CVT use over the next few years. As for car owners of CVT cars, Nissan North Russia product specialist Tony Pearson admits that manufacturers and dealers need to do more in the development of CVT cars.

What kind of oil to pour into the 2013-2014 Toyota Corolla variator

When choosing transmission fluid for a 2013-2014 Toyota Corolla CVT, we recommend following the CVT Fluid FE specification. After all, based on Toyota’s recommendations, this oil is used in all CVTs installed on models of this automaker after 2012. Accordingly, in addition to the original Toyota CVT Fluid FE oil, we can recommend several of its substitutes. For example Kixx CVTF or Lukoil CVTF.

A couple of well-known CVT oils

Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube

Thanks in part to synthetic base oils, Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear is the most stable over a wide temperature range. It remains fluid down to -50 degrees Celsius, but maintains its viscosity even in high-performance differentials and rear axles, including limited-slip differentials.

The Mobil 1 additive package includes sulfur and phosphorus, but does not attack yellow metals such as copper cells. Suitable for all gear oil applications that require API GL-5. It extends drain intervals and at the same time reduces wear thanks to its phenomenal shear stability.

Pros:

• Extended replacement intervals.
• Excellent cold fluidity.
• Mild extreme pressure additives.
• Excellent shear stability.

Minuses:

• Not suitable for GL-4 applications.
• Not for the most extreme applications.

Red Line MT-90

To improve synchronizer performance, manual transmissions require gear oil with reduced slipperiness. Red Line MT-90 is an API GL-4 synthetic gear lubricant that protects synchronizers and gears from wear. Its additive package also makes shifting easier at low temperatures.

Like all GL-4 lubricants, MT-90 is free of sulfur additives, which can corrode and damage copper components in manual transmissions. Its base stock is ether based, so the oil is resistant to pressure surges at most operating temperatures.

Toyota Corolla transmission fluid for variator K110/K111/K112

Earlier Toyota Corolla models received CVT modifications K110, K111 and K112, which the Japanese company Aisin Warner had been working on since the late 90s. Thus, the first variable transmission of the Toyota Corolla was represented by the K110 modification, the modernization of which led to the appearance of the K111 and K112 variators. As for the transmission fluid, the Japanese automaker recommends filling these automatic transmissions with oil with a CVT Fluid TC approval or an improved transmission fluid with a CVT Fluid FE specification. Accordingly, it is worth highlighting both the original products Toyota CVT Fluid TC and Toyota CVT Fluid FE, and their substitutes TOTACHI ATF CVT MULTI-TYPE and Mannol 8216 OEM for CVT.

Non-original oils

The use of non-original gear oils from other manufacturers in the Toyota variator is possible, but all risks will be borne by you.

Nevertheless, many car owners replace fluids from the Japanese concern with other compounds - for example, Castrol CVT Multi, Idemitsu CVTF, ZIC CVT Multi, Kixx CVTF, etc. These oils are cheaper than the original ones and, moreover, have a synthetic rather than mineral base. In theory, this should increase the replacement interval.

Exxon Mobil Japan produces transmission oil called Aisin CVT Fluid Excellent CFEX (article number CVTF-7004 for 4 liters). According to the manufacturer, this fluid meets the same specifications as Toyota TC/FE. One of its main advantages is its low price. Aisin is the optimal replacement for original Toyota oils.

Partial oil change in Corolla

The partial replacement procedure preserves the filter and does not require removal of the pan. The owner should unscrew the plug and measuring tube, drain some of the liquid, and then bring the level to normal. The manipulation is repeated 2-3 times, increasing the concentration of pure oil. Since the owner did not change the cartridge or clean the lid and magnets from deposits, the liquid quickly becomes contaminated with wear products. The procedure can be carried out as a temporary measure to improve the performance of the variator, but it is more advisable to completely replace the fluid.

Oil volume for replacement

The volume of oil required to change the variator depends on how you carry out this procedure: whether you remove the pan, change the filter, etc.

Capacity of CVTs K111/K112 – 8.7 l

For a partial replacement, 3.2-4 liters of transmission fluid will be enough. If you change the filter, you will need 8-9 liters of oil. With a complete replacement - including flushing the system - it will take 10-12 liters.