Quote:
Originally Posted by VincentVega
If you use a compatible fluid there is no reason to use one over the other except for cost and/or availability. For me it's much simpler to get the compatible coolant, atf, whatever at walmart or the local parts store then deal with inflated prices and limited hours at a dealer. Both options are correct, do whatever works for you.
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Here are the problems with that mentality. First, the average consumer doesn't know enough about any of the fluids to make any useful judgements about them.
Second, the manufacturers never put enough information on the packaging to make any useful comparisons. I can think of several instances of an engine oil that was once very good being changed to one that was not very good and there was no change on the packaging. Not only that, the manufacturer chose to not publish any information about the oil, so that no comparisons could be made, even if you tried to research it.
Third, many products at Wal-Mart are made in a version for them, as Wal-Mart limits the price they will pay for something. This may not be true of gear oils, but it's true of a lot of other products and they'll never tell you which ones.
I can think of many fluids that are compatible but not the best idea to mix. Then there's the whole "will fit" mentality. Many things "will fit" but are demonstrably inferior to the original item. There are things you might buy at Wal-Mart and the only difference would be the price. Then there are things sold there that I wouldn't buy under any circumstance.
Your money, your choice. I generally choose not to risk a large investment in a car to save a couple bucks on something I can't vet. I have a background running large service departments in franchised car dealerships and I've seen firsthand the damage that an uneducated consumer can do to a car buy thinking that he knew more than the engineers that designed it.
JR