In 2005, the Toyota Rav4 CA20W was replaced by the third generation of compact crossovers, the Toyota Rav4 CA30W, whose production continued until 2013. Cars of this model range inherited from their predecessor not only the three and five-door versions, but also a 4-speed automatic transmission running on oil with factory specifications. And it is the oil approval from Toyota, which will be discussed in this article, that helps car owners choose the highest quality transmission fluid for third-generation Toyota Rav4 automatics.
Automatic transmission oils for Toyota Rav 4 3rd generation
About approvals
The Toyota Rav4 CA30W line has at its disposal:
- 4-speed automatic transmission U140F
- 4-speed automatic transmission U241E
As a transmission fluid, these machines use oil with the Type WS specification. In addition, this model rad was also equipped with CVTs, information about which can be found here (link) .
Wheel slip on automatic transmission
The second basic rule of driving an automatic transmission is that the driver must remember that any automatic transmission really does not like wheel slipping.
Most modern cars are equipped with a special electronic system that prevents wheel slipping (this is a great benefit for an automatic transmission). But there are also many cars (usually inexpensive) that do not have such a system. Therefore, when driving on any slippery roads (on ice in winter or somewhere muddy in summer), you must very carefully press the gas pedal and prevent the wheels from slipping. We won’t talk here about “racers” who like to skid even on dry asphalt.
Separately, it is worth mentioning cases of getting stuck somewhere on country roads, when without the well-known method of “rocking” (forward and backward), it is not possible to free the car from captivity in the mud. Often, owners of cars with automatic transmissions do not attach much importance to them, however, it is often because of such “adventures” that the automatic transmission begins to show signs of deteriorating health. For a car with an automatic transmission, it is best to avoid driving on dirty country roads altogether.
If you can’t completely eliminate dirty country roads and it happens that your car gets stuck in the mud, you need to remember the following:
- “Rolling” (a little forward and immediately back) is excluded; after any change in driving modes, you must wait a second or two before pressing the gas pedal.
- Slipping is very harmful to the machine, so it is best to completely eliminate it. It is better to dig out the car with a shovel than to repair the machine later;
- The best option for rescuing a car with a gun is to pull it out in tow, or push it out by hand without the help of its own engine. To do this, it would be nice to have a hand winch in your trunk, which, by the way, is not that expensive;
- If there is no winch or tug, and you don’t have enough hands, then it is best to use the automatic transmission mode, which causes the least damage to the machine - mode “1” or “L”, more details here >>>
Toyota Rav4 3rd generation CA30W automatic oil U140F/U241E (4 gears)
In the late 90s, specialists from the Japanese company Aisin Warner developed a 4-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission U140F, working in tandem with a 2.5-liter engine. Accordingly, this automatic transmission began to be actively installed on all-wheel drive crossovers and rear-wheel drive cars. Later, a modernized version of it was released, designated U241E. And it was the automatic machines of these modifications that were installed on the third generation Toyota Rav4 CA30W. As for the transmission fluid, these automatic transmissions must be filled with oil with Type WS approval. First of all, we draw your attention to the original Toyota Type WS oil, analogues of which are the products Wolf Ecotech Multivehicle ATF FE, Aisin ATF AFW+.
| Toyota Type WS | 4 liters Article: 08886-02305 Average price: 4000 rubles 1 liter Article: 08886-81210 Average price: 1300 rubles |
| Wolf Ecotech Multivehicle ATF FE | 1 liter Article: 8329449 Average price: 800 rubles |
| Aisin ATF AFW+ | 4 liters Article: ATF-6004 Average price: 3000 rubles |
Switching automatic transmission modes
The first and basic rule of driving an automatic transmission is that the transmission modes must be switched carefully and steadily, without jerking (especially if the car is not new).
When turning on any driving mode, you need to wait a second or two and let the box “turn on” before pressing the gas pedal. Quickly switching automatic transmission modes along with increased engine speeds is a direct path to service. Also, changing the direction of movement of the car - for example, when parking in reverse - should be done only after the car has come to a complete stop. Read more about the modes here >>>>
Transmission oil for automatic transmission Toyota Rav4 2006
The 2006 Toyota Rav4 CA30W models also received the automatic transmission modifications U140F and U241E described above. Accordingly, the transmission fluid poured into them must have the Type WS specification mentioned above. Therefore, we advise you to consider purchasing both the original Toyota Type WS oil and its substitutes Petro-Canada DuraDrive MV Synthetic ATF, Neste ATF Multi.
| Toyota Type WS | 4 liters Article: 08886-02305 Average price: 4000 rubles 1 liter Article: 08886-81210 Average price: 1300 rubles |
| Petro-Canada DuraDrive MV Synthetic ATF | 1 liter Article: DDMVATFC12 Average price: 650 rubles |
| Neste ATF Multi | 4 liters Article: 294045 Average price: 2400 rubles 1 liter Article: 216052 Average price: 600 rubles |
Towing a trailer with automatic transmission
The fourth rule of driving with an automatic transmission is that it is very undesirable to use a car with an automatic transmission as a tow for a trailer.
There are many car owners in Russia who use their car with a trailer. However, a car with an automatic transmission as a tow vehicle for constant travel with a loaded trailer is not the best choice. The automatic transmission of such a car will be one of the first candidates for breakdown.
Any car (as well as its automatic transmission), of course, has a certain safety margin. However, few owners of automatic cars driving with a trailer realize that they operate their car very close to this limit, and often exceeding it.
Calculating this limit is quite simple; to do this, you just need to look at the permitted carrying capacity of the car according to the passport. For passenger cars, it is usually about 500 kg, about 200 of which is the weight of the trailer itself. That is, the weight of a car with three people in the cabin and an empty trailer is about 450 kg, which the machine has to carry. Needless to say, a trailer is rarely empty, just like the trunk of a car.
Of course, after a dozen or so trips with an automatic transmission with a trailer, most likely nothing will happen to the gearbox. But regular such trips will constantly bring about a serious breakdown of the automatic transmission. Therefore, for regular driving with a trailer, it is best to choose a manual car. And if you really want both a trailer and an automatic transmission, it’s better to choose a car whose automatic transmission initially has a very large margin of safety, for example, a heavy SUV. The automatic transmission of such a car is designed for the heavy weight of the SUV itself, and the additional weight of a lightly loaded trailer will not have a big impact on it.
What kind of automatic transmission oil is Toyota Rav4 2007-2008 produced?
Transmission oil for a 2007 Rav4 automatic transmission, like the oil for a 2008 Toyota Rav4 automatic transmission, is selected according to the Type WS specification. After all, the Toyota company calls for pouring Toyota Type WS transmission fluid into all automatic transmissions installed on vehicles manufactured after 2005. However, in this case there are also analogues. For example, when choosing oil for a Rav4 2007/2008 automatic transmission, you can safely purchase Total Fluidmatic LV MV or PENNZOIL Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle ATF products.
| Toyota Type WS | 4 liters Article: 08886-02305 Average price: 4000 rubles 1 liter Article: 08886-81210 Average price: 1300 rubles |
| Total Fluidmatic LV MV | 1 liter Article: 199475 Average price: 900 rubles |
| PENNZOIL Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle ATF | 1 liter Article: 071611009560 Average price: 650 rubles |
Description of the automatic transmission selector lever positions
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Description of the positions of the selector lever of the automatic transmission Toyota RAV 4 Toyota RAV4
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| — Operation + Controls — Engine compartment + Starting the engine — Manual transmission — Automatic transmission (AT) — Description of the corresponding positions of the automatic transmission selector lever — Forced downshift mechanism — Towing the vehicle to start the engine — Off-road driving — Hand (parking) brake — Headlight and turn signal switch — Rear fog lights — Headlight range control — Windshield wipers — Headlight washers — Heated rear window — Button for turning on the heated exterior mirrors — Interior light — Clock — Cigarette lighter — Socket for connecting electrical appliances — Heating and ventilation + Doors - Power windows - Sunroof + Adjusting rear view mirrors - Adjusting the steering column + Front seats + Rear seats + Seat belts - Airbags - Using a jack - Opening the hood - Hitching a trailer + Tech. maintenance + Engines + Air conditioning and cooling + Fuel system + Ignition + Emission control system + Clutch + Gearbox + Driveshaft and drive shafts + Brakes and components + Suspension + Steering wheel and chassis + Body and its components + Electrical equipment + Electrical circuit diagrams |
If the selector lever is accidentally moved to the “N” position while the vehicle is moving, release the accelerator pedal and reduce the crankshaft speed to idle before moving the lever to any other forward position. On a road with normal surface, set the selector lever to position “D”, and the gears will switch automatically from lower to higher and vice versa, depending on the engine load and driving speed.
| WARNING ! With the engine running, when the selector lever is in any of the driving positions, hold the car by pressing the brake pedal, since even at idle the transmission of torque to the wheels is not completely interrupted - the car “crawls”. If one of the driving positions is selected while the vehicle is stationary, under no circumstances should you press the accelerator pedal (or increase the fuel supply by hand from the engine compartment), otherwise the vehicle may start to move even with the parking brake on. Before carrying out any actions with the engine running, set the selector lever to the “P” position and apply the hand (parking) brake. |
| Figure - 1.8. Location of the “ECT-Power” mode switch on cars produced before 2001 (position “A” - button pressed - sports mode; position "B" - button released - economy mode) |
The automatic transmission control system provides various gearbox operating modes. The driving mode selection button is located on the instrument panel (see figure - 1.8). Depending on the driving conditions of the car, the driver selects an economical mode, which reduces fuel consumption, or an active mode, which can conventionally be called “sporty”. In Economy mode, thanks to early upshifts and late downshifts, it is possible to save fuel. The so-called “sports” transmission program is selected when the accelerator pedal is operated quite sharply. When selecting the "sport" mode, the engine's power reserves are fully used due to some delay in switching to higher gear. The automatic transmission has an “overdrive” mode, which is activated by a button on the selector lever (see figure - 1.7). The “overdrive” mode allows you to limit fuel consumption under normal vehicle operating conditions. The “overdrive” mode is turned off by pressing a button, and the warning light in the instrument cluster lights up. This mode improves engine braking.
| The manual is intended for Toyota RAV4 vehicles | Privacy Policy |
Changing the oil in automatic transmission Rav4 3rd generation
Despite the year of manufacture of the third generation of these compact crossovers, the transmission fluid in them is changed in the same way. So, changing the oil in a 2007 Rav4 automatic transmission, like changing the oil in a 2010 Rav4 automatic transmission, includes the following manipulations:
- dismantling the lower engine protection
- unscrewing the automatic transmission drain plug
- draining old oil
- removing the machine tray
- replacement of filter and consumables
- filling the purchased transmission oil according to the level
In this case, we were talking about a partial replacement. A complete oil change in a Toyota Rav4 CA30W automatic transmission is performed using a specialized vacuum unit.
Operation of automatic transmission
In fact, everything is not as scary as it might seem at first glance.
But you need to remember that along with the undeniable convenience when driving, an automatic transmission also has its own operating features that can cause some troubles that must be taken into account when choosing a car with an automatic transmission. This applies to both the roads where the car is planned to be used and the driving style (more on this below).
The most important thing that every owner of a car with an automatic transmission needs to know is the automatic transmission modes that the box in his car is equipped with. Each automatic transmission model has several operating modes. The driver needs to clearly understand which mode is intended for what and use them strictly for their intended purpose. To do this, it is best to study the instructions of the car manufacturer. Or read about it here >>>>
The next thing that the owner of a car with an automatic transmission needs to remember is the rules for driving an automatic transmission (they can be considered universal instructions, a guide for driving any automatic transmission). The rules are simple, but must be followed. Following these rules will help extend the life of the box and significantly delay a trip to the service center due to problems with the machine.
Transportation on a leash with automatic transmission
The sixth rule of driving an automatic transmission is that a car with an automatic transmission cannot be towed on a leash. Another very “inconvenient rule”. If some kind of trouble suddenly happens to a car’s engine, you can’t just pick it up and tow it to a service station, as is done at a mechanic shop.
This is due to the fact that oil must constantly circulate inside the automatic transmission while driving, and if the car’s engine is turned off, proper lubrication of the automatic transmission mechanisms does not occur and this can damage the box.
The operating instructions for some automatic transmissions say that the car can be towed over short distances (up to 20-50 km) at a low speed (up to 20-30 km/h), but in practice, if the service center is located further than three to five kilometers - It’s better to call a tow truck right away. The cost of such a trip on a tow truck will not be very high, but serious problems with the automatic transmission can be avoided.
