Aisin Warner

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  1. SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit Fits AW 55-50SN, RE5F22A, AF33-5 SK 09G. SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit Fits 09G, 09M, 09K, AW TF-60SN, GAF21WA 2003-13 with 1.100” solenoid can O.D. SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit.
  2. The Aisin Group works to transcend the boundaries of product fields with a fresh perspective toward building high value-added products that customers enjoy for their safety, performance, design and comfort. In Europe, Aisin is one of the major car parts suppliers for the automotive industry.
  3. About three years ago I wrote a blog about the earlier Aisin Warner aw50/55 Auto gearbox used in the larger 5 cylinder petrol and diesel engines fitted from 1999 until 2005. It was very successful and many have asked for more information regarding the newer TF80.

I follow along in a number of online Volvo XC forums (XC90 and XC70 and general Volvo forums) as well as some of the Facebook pages dedicated to XC90 ownership. If there’s one thing that really grinds my gears (no pun intended) it’s people who don’t take automatic transmission fluid seriously enough. Between people who just want to save a few bucks on a vital fluid, to those who simply don’t get the fact that there is such a thing as a wrong transmission fluid for your AW55-50, it’s a wonder, possibly a miracle, that there are so many 2.5Ts with the Aisin Warner transmission still on the road.

Aisin JWS 3309 ATF is recommended for use in transmissions made by Aisin AW requiring a fluid approved against Type T-IV, JWS 3309, GM 9986195 and Audi G-052.

First of all, I think it’s important to note that not all AW55-50 gear boxes are created equal. The basic AW55-50 is modified for use in a bunch of cars, including:

  • Saturn (Ion and Vue)
  • Chevrolet Equinox
  • Pontiac Torrent
  • Nissan Altima, Maxima and Quest
  • Saab 9.3 and 9.5

And, of course, the transmission is found in a whole mess of Volvo products: from the C70 right up to the XC90. Note that each of these manufacturers likely sells a transmission fluid for this transmission under their own brand. I know Volvo does. I’ve read about others, but this is a Volvo site.

Each gearbox comes with its own tweaks specifically for each car. For example, the Saturn version is equipped with eight different operating modes (also known as “shift strategies”). And some of the Volvo transmissions have the infamous stop-neutral feature. These are just two of many different features found across the different versions.

Warner

Ok, back to transmission fluid. If you’re looking for a common thread among the gearboxes listed in the cars above, there are two that rise to the top of the list:

  1. They are made by Aisin Warner and
  2. They require transmission fluid that meets the JWS3309 specification.
  3. BONUS: They are a really reliable transmission.

So, why is the ATF so important in this gearbox? The right fluid, one that meets the JWS3309 specification, is specifically designed for this transmission and contains an additive package that helps the paper friction discs in the transmission and is meant for long change intervals. It’s as if engineers who know way more than the average Volvo owner know that this is a special transmission that has very specific needs when it comes to transmission fluid.

Go figure.

Aisin Warner Aw-1 Transmission Fluid

Will the wrong fluid kill your transmission? Probably not – at least not in the short term. But how many hard shifts and slippage do you think a transmission will take before it decides it’s had enough?

A quick trip to the AW55-50 section on the Sonnax site lead me to this quip:

“Note: The friction properties of this transmission fluid are different from other fluids due to the large amount of converter clutch slip. Failure to use the correct fluid will cause transmission damage and codes.”

So there’s no telling how long you have if you use an incorrect fluid, but the point is made: wrong fluid = damage at some point. And damage = $.

If an automatic transmission fluid doesn’t meet the JWS3309 specification, it doesn’t meet the specification. No personal preference or suggestions from your auto-mechanic-friend will do anything to magically turn that non-spec fluid into something that will work properly in your AW55-50 transmission. I suppose you may have some success in the short term. You’ll get around without much of a thought until that one day when things start to slip internally and your Aisin-Warner transmission begins a little revolution. It may begin as a few hard 3-2 downshifts, maybe a lack of power, maybe even some hunting for gears as you coast down a hill. Throw in a few codes and some shuddering and you’ve got an AW55-50 party!

But hey, your personal preference is important, right?

Wrong.

Your AW55-50 doesn’t care about your personal preference. It cares about having the right fluid with the right properties so it can perform the right functions and be reliable for you.

So let’s talk a bit about your options when it comes to the right ATF for the AW55-50 transmission.

Automatic Transmission Fluid Options for the AW55-50/Volvo XC90:

Transmission Fluid that meets the JWS3309 specification (and, therefore, can theoretically be used in your Volvo’s AW55-50):

  • Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF,
  • Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF,
  • Castrol Trans-Max Synthetic ATF,
  • Quaker State Ultimate Synthetic Multi-vehicle ATF,
  • Pennzoil Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid
  • Shell Spirax S5 ATF X

The fluids listed above also meet a bunch of other specs, for a bunch of other transmissions, too.

Transmission fluids that are designed for your AW55-50 transmission (and therefore meet the JWS3309 specification and are ideal for your Volvo):

Aisin warner 30-40le

If you want to see the specs of the Mobil version, they have a page for that. Click here.

Notice the difference between “meets the JWS3309 specification” and “designed for your AW55-50 transmission.” If I had a choice, and I do when it comes to automatic transmission fluid for my XC90, I’d go with “designed for” every time.

“Note: The friction properties of this transmission fluid are different from other fluids due to the large amount of converter clutch slip. Failure to use the correct fluid will cause transmission damage and codes.“

The one I choose for my Volvo XC90’s Aisin Warner transmission comes down to price since there’s a very good chance that every fluid in the second list originated from the same manufacturer. In my experience, prices from low to high are as follows:

1. TOYOTA
2. Mobil
3. Aisin
4. Volvo
5. Idemitsu

Aisin Warner

You may find a different order (and even different brands) based on what part of the world you live in, but in the end, you CAN go with the cheapest fluid from the “designed for JWS3309” list because THEY ARE ALL DESIGNED TO MEET THE SAME SPECIFICATION.

Now, you CAN choose to go with an ATF from the first list. But keep in mind that, while those fluids may have been “tested to meet the JWS specification,” they might NOT have been actually tested in a transmission. They may have been bench-tested.

What you CAN’T do is just grab any bottle of ATF, put it in your AW55-50 transmission and say that, because you have no symptoms at the moment, the fluid is compatible.

You can’t go around using words like “Euro spec” thinking that a fluid meets spec.

Eventually, if the fluid isn’t replaced, your transmission will have to be. I won’t even go into the price of a rebuilt transmission for this vehicle.

All this over “personal preference” or a suggestion from a friend.

There is no “euro spec.” There is JWS3309.

There is no “personal preference.” There is JWS3309.

There is no “high end synthetic” for another car brand whose standards are going to be similar. There is JWS3309.

Mobil ATF 3309 (and the Toyota and Aisin and Volvo equivalents) is a JWS3309-spec transmission fluid engineered specifically for this transmission application.

Why buy a fluid that’s been engineered for a dozen different transmissions when there’s one designed specifically for yours?

Bottom Line: There are fluids that are “made for” your Aisin Warner transmission, there are fluids that are “compatible with” your Aisin Warner transmission and there are fluids that have no business being anywhere near your Aisin Warner transmission.

*Mobil ATF 3309 is THE spec fluid. It was made for this application. No other fluid, synthetic or not, can make that claim.

Automatic transmissions

Aisin automatic transmissions are manufactured by Aisin Seiki and Aisin AW, formerly known as Aisin-Warner, and which was established in 1969 as a joint venture between Aisin Seiki and BorgWarner. The joint venture terminated in 1987. While Aisin Seiki manufactures a variety of automotive components including automatic transmissions for heavy duty vehicle applications, Aisin AW manufactures automatic transmissions for light vehicle applications, including hybrid electric vehicle powertrains, as well as NAV Radio.

Aisin Warner Aw 1

As of 2005, Aisin AW surpassed General Motors Powertrain Division as the largest producer of automatic transmissions in the world, producing 4.9 million units, with a market share of 16.4% of the global market for automatics.[citation needed]Toyota Motor Corporation and Aisin Seiki are the two major shareholders of Aisin AW, with 51.9% and 42% respectively.[citation needed] Aisin AW, which was set up to be the sole source of RWD automatic transmissions to Toyota, subsequently developed FWD/AWD automatic transmissions. Aisin, as one of the major Toyota group suppliers, shares many designs and development activities with Toyota. See Toyota A transmission for a complete list of Toyota/Aisin models. Aisin AW supplies automatic transmissions to 55 automotive manufacturers around the world,[1] virtually every major OEM. These include General Motors, Ford, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saab, VW, Volvo, Hyundai, MINI among others.[2]

Longitudinal

  • T35 - 3-speed longitudinal
  • T65/T66 - 3-speed longitudinal
  • Aisin A172 - 3-speed longitudinal class micro (Suzuki Samurai)
  • Aisin A174 - 4-speed longitudinal class micro (Suzuki Jimny)
  • Aisin TW-40E - 4-speed longitudinal class micro (Suzuki Jimny)
  • Aisin 03-72LE (GM M41) — 4-speed longitudinal (Suzuki Escudo/Sidekick/Vitara, Chevrolet Tracker 4-door, Suzuki APV, Isuzu Panther, Suzuki X-90, Mazda MX-5 NB & Toyota HiAce)
  • Aisin 03-72LS — 4-speed longitudinal (Suzuki Grand Vitara 5-door)
  • Aisin TB-50LS — 5-speed longitudinal (Suzuki Grand Vitara 3.2 V6 5-door, Isuzu MU-X 2.5), also known as ToyotaA750F
  • 450-43LE — 4-speed longitudinal (Isuzu NPR Cab-Over Truck)
  • AW-4 (Similar to the A340H) 4-speed longitudinal
    • 1987–2001 Jeep Cherokee
    • 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    • 1987–1992 Jeep Comanche
  • AS68RC (2007- Dodge Ram 3500/4500/5500 Cab Chassis) 6-speed longitudinal
  • AS69RC (2013-Dodge Ram 3500/4500/5500 Cab Chassis,[3]Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup[4]) 6-speed longitudinal with more robust components and a new control system
  • A466ND (2016- Nissan Titan XD) 6-speed longitudinal, similar ratios to the AS69RC but developed exclusively for the 2nd gen Titan
  • AS66RC (2014- Dodge Ram 3500/4500/5500 Cab Chassis) 6-speed longitudinal apparently derived from AS69RC[5]
  • Aisin B-600 transmission. 6-speed longitudinal (Hyundai Genesis 3.8)
  • Aisin R6AWH / V6AWH transmission. 6-speed longitudinal
  • AW TB60-LS, 6-speed longitudinal
  • TB-61SN, 6-speed longitudinal
  • TB-68LS, 6-speed longitudinal
  • Aisin AWR6B45, 6 speed longitudinal (Toyota Fortuner 2.4, Toyota Innova 2.4)
  • Aisin TR-60SN - 6-speed HD longitudinal
    • First generation VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 (Volkswagen transmission code: 09D)
  • Aisin TL-80SN - 8-speed longitudinal
  • Aisin TL-80NF - 8 speed longitudinal (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport)
  • Aisin TR-80SD - 8-speed HD longitudinal
    • Second generation VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 (Volkswagen transmission code: 0C8), and Hongqi HS7
  • Aisin TR-82SD - 8-speed HD longitudinal, hybrid
    • Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid (2011-2015), Porsche Cayenne Hybrid (2011-2015), Porsche Panamera Hybrid (2011-2015)
  • Aisin AWR10L65 - 10-speed Direct Shift-10A longitudinal (LS 350 & LS 500)
  • Aisin AWRHM50 - 10-speed Multi-Stage Hybrid System longitudinal (LS 500h)

Transverse

Aisin Warner Transmission

  • T35TB/T37TB - 3-speed transverse
  • 50-40LE/50-42LE — 4-speed transverse
  • 60-40LE — 4-speed transverse
  • 80-40LE — 4-speed transverse [6]
    • 2002- Pontiac G3
    • 2002- Ford Fiesta/Ford Fusion (Europe) 1.6
    • 2004- Chevrolet Aveo
    • 2004- Daewoo Kalos
    • 2004- Suzuki Swift
    • 2004- Toyota Echo, Yaris, Vitz (Toyota U440E)
    • 2013 Chevrolet Spark
  • Aisin AF23 transmission — 5-speed transverse
  • 55-50SN/RE5F22A/AF33-5 — 5-speed transverse
  • TF-60SN - 6-speed transverse
    • Volkswagen transmission code 09G, 09M, 09K
      • 2003-2010 Volkswagen Transporter T5
      • 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, US market
      • 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, US market
      • various Seat, Skoda, Audi models
    • 2005-2011 Mini Cooper, Code 6F21WA
    • 2012- BMW 2 Series F45 ActiveTourer and F46 Gran Tourer with 3-cylinder engines, Code 6F21WA (8-speed models use the AWF8F35 transmission)
    • Mini F54, F55, F56, F57, F60 with 6-speed automatic (8-speed models use the AWF8F35 transmission)
    • BMW X1 (F48) with 3-cylinder engines 6-speed automatic (4-cylinder models use the 8-speed AWF8F35 transmission)
  • Aisin TF-70SC - 6-speed transverse
  • Aisin AW60T-6F25 Automatic, Fiat 500 Abarth, Fiat 500L
  • Aisin AWTF-80SC/TF-81SC/AF21 transmission — 6-speed transverse
  • Aisin FF Series - 6-speed transverse
    • Aisin TM-60LS - 6-speed transverse
    • TF60-Series AWF6F16 - 6-speed transverse
    • TF70-Series Aisin AWF6F25 (300Nm) - 6-speed transverse
      • Groupe PSA transmission code AT6-III (EAT6)
        • Peugeot 208, 508 II, 308 II, 408 II, 2008, 3008 II, 5008 II
        • Citroen C3 III, C4 II, C4 Picasso II
        • DS DS3
    • TF80-Series Aisin AWF6F45 (450Nm) - 6-speed transverse
      • Groupe PSA transmission code AM6-III (EAT6)
  • Aisin FF Series - 8-speed transverse
    • TG-Series
      • Aisin AWF8F35 - 8-speed transverse
      • Aisin AWF8F45 - 8-speed heavy-duty transverse