ATF fluid used in CVT Transmission

Maintenance/Repairs
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9

  1. The transmission lasted 20k maybe because some of the correct fluid remained in it, or because you got lucky, or both.

  2. But 3.5 qts of the wrong fluid will absolutely kill a CVT. Therr’s no doubt your mechanic killed it.

  3. Modern CVT’s should last just as long as regular autos. You may have gotten another 100k out of that CVT with proper maintenance. As gsragtop pointed out, others on this forum have gotten 200k+ out of their CVT’s.

Do not let your mechamic off the hook. He has no excuse and owes you a replacement CVT.