# Dealership Maintenance **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 9, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422 "2011-03-09T13:53:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dubois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@dubois](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dubois)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422/21 "2011-03-12T03:39:07Z")
I took the 2.3 auto trans car with 19,000 miles to an independent shop and he flushed the trans with Valvoline MaxLife V-324. After some research Google I don’t think this fluid is designed for the Mazda 3. The Manual states ATF M-V. I went to Valvoline website and I can’t find any reference to Mazda 3 and that fluid. Can anyone enlighten me a bit here? I am feeling a bit overwhelmed here because I have been having trouble finding quality car care. Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422/22 "2011-03-12T06:22:37Z")
A bit of looking shows some murkiness about whether Max Life is suitable for your Mazda or not. It’s a full synthetic for use in Mercon and Dexron based transmissions but the fuzzyness comes in with the term Max Life and Max Life V-324. Any chance that 324 could be a misinterpretation and in reality it means that 3 has been replaced by 4? I did find this. One Mazda listed, but I’d be a little antsy about this until this matter is cleared up beyond all doubt. The response refers to a “sample” which may or may not mean this fluid is suitable for your Mazda. It could be that Max Life may not be but if a Max Life +4 exists then it may be. THOMAS R. SMITH Technical Director, Valvoline Brand November 05, 2008 To Whom It May Concern: Valvoline has received several inquiries regarding the topic of MaxLife ATF and its use in various vehicles. In response to these questions Valvoline has issued the following statements: Valvoline recommends MaxLife ATF in a broad range of transmissions. The list below is just a sample of applications where Valvoline supports the use of MaxLife ATF. Please also note that MaxLife is a full synthetic ATF. ? Allison C-4 ? Allison TES 389 ? Allison TES 295 (extended drain with appropriate used oil sampling) ? Audi G-052-025-A2, G-052-162-A1 ? BMW LT71141 or LA2634 fluids ? Ford MERCON?, MERCON? V\* ? Ford FNR5 ? Ford MERCON? SP, MERCON? LV ? GM 9986195 ? GM DEXRON? II, III and VI ? Honda/Acura ATF-Z1 (except in CVTs) ? Hyundai ? JWS 3309 ? KIA SP-II and SP-III Fluids ? MAN 339 Type F ? Mazda M-V ? Mercedes Benz Sheet 236.x (except 236.12 and 236.20) ? Mercedes Benz NAG-1 ? Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II or SP-III ? Nissan Matic-D, Matic-J, and Matic-K ? Subaru ATF ? Subaru ATF-HP ? Toyota / Lexus Type T, T-III or T-IV ? Toyota WS ? Voith H55.6335.33 (G607)\* ? Voith H55.6336.33 (G1363) ? Volvo 1161521 and 1161540 ? VW TL52162 ? ZF TE-ML-14B, 16L and 17C ? ATF ---
**Author:** ![dubois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@dubois](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dubois)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422/23 "2011-03-13T03:55:31Z")
Thanks for your help. I called Valvoline and talked to a product tech. He told me Maxlife is fully compatible with the 2009 Mazda 3 trans. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422/24 "2011-03-13T05:45:40Z")
You did the right thing by verifying this and thank you for keeping us informed of the answer. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealership-maintenance/62422.md?page=1)