AMSOIL guide
AMSOIL CVT Fluid Guide
AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid covers the major continuously-variable transmission specs in one fluid: Subaru Lineartronic, Nissan NS-2 and NS-3, Toyota TC, and Honda HCF-2 and HMMF, plus most other CVTs from Mitsubishi, GM, Mini, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz. CVT fluid is not interchangeable with ATF: a CVT runs a steel push-belt or chain on two variable pulleys and needs specific metal-to-metal frictional properties that ATF does not provide. Substituting ATF in a CVT causes belt slip and full transmission failure.
AMSOIL CVT Fluid coverage at a glance
| Maker | Spec covered | Common applications |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru | Lineartronic CVT, CVTF-II, High-Torque | Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, Legacy |
| Nissan | NS-2, NS-3 | Altima, Sentra, Versa, Murano, Maxima, Pathfinder, Rogue |
| Toyota | TC, FE, K310 | Corolla CVT, C-HR, Prius (CVT applications) |
| Honda | HCF-2, HMMF | Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V CVT |
| Mitsubishi | CVT-J1, CVT-J4 | Outlander, Outlander Sport, Mirage, Lancer CVT |
| GM, Mini, Hyundai, MB | DEX-CVT, EZL 799, SP-III CVT, 236.20 | Various CVT applications |
CVT fluid is not interchangeable with ATF
The most common transmission failure on a CVT is the result of someone topping off or refilling with ATF instead of CVT fluid. A CVT runs a steel push-belt (or chain in some Honda applications) on two variable-diameter pulleys. The fluid has to maintain a precise metal-to-metal frictional coefficient so the belt grips the pulleys without slipping. ATF is engineered for the wet clutches in a planetary automatic and uses a friction profile that allows controlled clutch slip. Put ATF in a CVT and the belt slips on the pulleys, the metal-to-metal contact heats and shears, and the transmission destroys itself in a few hundred miles.
Use only the CVT fluid the OEM specifies. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid covers the major OEM CVT specs in one bottle. The full transmission-fluid lineup is on the transmission fluid overview; for ATF, see the AMSOIL ATF guide.
CVT fluid change interval
Most owners' manuals call for a CVT fluid change every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Severe service (towing, mountain driving, sustained stop-and-go, very hot, or very cold climates) pulls the interval to the shorter end. Subaru and Nissan dealers commonly recommend the 30,000-mile interval as a goodwill protection measure. CVT fluid that is past interval shows up as belt slip on hill-climbs and a rubbery feel during full-throttle acceleration.
Bottom line: which CVT fluid should you pick?
- Subaru Lineartronic, Nissan NS-2/NS-3, Toyota TC, Honda HCF-2/HMMF, Mitsubishi CVT-J1/J4. Pick AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid (also online from AMSOIL).
- Conventional automatic transmission. Use AMSOIL ATF, not CVT fluid; see the ATF guide.
- Dual-clutch (DCT, DSG, PDK). Use AMSOIL Synthetic DCT Fluid (a separate spec), available on the DCT fluid spec page.
- Manual transmission. See the manual transmission fluid guide.
Save on AMSOIL with Preferred Customer pricing
AMSOIL Preferred Customer membership is $20 USD per year ($10 USD for a six-month trial) and unlocks up to 25% off on every product, with free shipping on qualifying orders. Add the membership to the same cart as your order and qualifying products switch to member pricing on that checkout, with no separate sign-up step. See the breakdown on the AMSOIL Preferred Customer page, or sign up directly through the AMSOIL Preferred Customer enrollment page.
AMSOIL CVT fluid FAQ
What CVT specs does AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid meet?
AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid is engineered to meet Subaru Lineartronic CVT, Nissan NS-2 and NS-3, Toyota TC, Honda HCF-2 and HMMF, Mitsubishi CVT-J1 and CVT-J4, GM DEX-CVT, Mini Cooper EZL 799, Hyundai SP-III CVT, Mercedes-Benz 236.20, and many other CVT specifications. Verify against the OEM-specific spec on your fluid-fill cap or owner's manual.
Can I use ATF in a CVT?
No. CVTs use a steel push-belt or chain that runs on two variable-diameter pulleys, with metal-to-metal frictional requirements that ATF cannot meet. ATF in a CVT causes belt slip, premature wear, and full transmission failure. Use only fluid spec'd for CVT.
How often should I change CVT fluid?
Most owners' manuals call for a change every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, with a shorter interval (every 30,000 miles) for severe service. Subaru and Nissan dealers commonly recommend the shorter interval as a goodwill protection measure. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid handles either interval.
Is AMSOIL CVT fluid safe for Subaru Lineartronic?
Yes. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid is approved against the Subaru Lineartronic CVT specification (Subaru High-Torque CVT Fluid and CVTF-II equivalents). Use only the AMSOIL CVT fluid; do not substitute Subaru ATF.
What about Nissan NS-2 and NS-3?
AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid covers both Nissan NS-2 (older Altima, Sentra, Versa, Murano) and NS-3 (current Altima, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder). Use the same AMSOIL CVT fluid for either. Confirm the spec on your fluid-fill cap before changing.
Where do I buy AMSOIL CVT fluid?
Order online from AMSOIL on the Synthetic CVT Fluid product page. The matching transmission fluid overview covers CVT, ATF, DCT, MTF, and PowerShift fluids in one place with side-by-side spec comparisons.
Order AMSOIL CVT Fluid
Order online from AMSOIL's Synthetic CVT Fluid product page. To unlock up to 25% off, add an AMSOIL Preferred Customer membership to the same cart and qualifying products switch to member pricing immediately, with no separate sign-up step.