Author Topic: CVT-F cheaper alternative? (Read 4386 times)

seasidesoulish · « **on:** February 22, 2024, 04:53:05 PM »

Hi all fellow cvt owners.

I've previously flushed with genuine Honda cvt-f when I got 2x 4L for £60.

It's time to repeat the process & I'm unhappy with the current prices. Someone else on here came across the Westway Lubricants version & was warned against using it. However, on their eBay listing it states...

"5L CVT-F Fluid Suitable for Honda Vehicles
FULLY SYNTHETIC OEM GRADE

Oil Product Specifications:

This product meets the following manufacturer specifications:

CVT-F, Honda CVT Fluid 08200-9006,
HMMF Ultra Fluid 08260-99904, 08260-99907
Honda Multi Matic Fluid, CVTF 08260-99905HE"

So, it clearly states it meets CVT-F specs. Which in my mind means they are confident they won't suffer legal claims against them for damage caused by their product.

Any thoughts?

olduser1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2024, 05:49:02 PM »

I've stuck to Honda oil filters brakes & always used Honda CVT fluid since 2002 never had an issue over 5 Jazz vehicles.

Whiteshark · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2024, 07:57:41 AM »

I think you pay your money and take your chance . Like previous comments I always use Honda products, except recent rear wiper blade. In my mind the saving is not worth the risk. Others will disagree. I was told by my Honda dealer some years ago the reason Honda brought out the 5 year service plan was to ensure servicing at a Honda dealer, because research showed owners were going to non franchised garages, to be told they needed new parts when they didn’t. This did not give Honda the edge they knew they had , and pushed up unnecessary service ownership costs. Over the life of a vehicle I think the ultimate savings made buying non Honda parts is questionable. We have had 9 Honda vehicles, minor problems.
As an illustration , I saw a you tube some years ago regarding Toyota / Lexus oil filters. They bought about 20 and cut them all in half. The difference was vast, with many of them completely useless, at doing what they needed to do, including well known, but cheaper (economical) brands.
I know we all wish to save costs and believe what we read, for me the peace of mind is worth the often small extra difference, although I would baulk at some main dealer older vehicle servicing costs, and use a local specialist but insist on Honda Original Parts. I have also in the past found big variation in Main dealer servicing costs, so shop around if you can. It is also worth trying the likes of online Honda dealers, for parts and service items, but beware, particularly on eBay of fakes, which is one reason I really only stick with Honda OE.
This is always a hot topic, with strong opposing views, good luck I’m sticking with Honda.

Robyorkshire · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2024, 10:20:58 AM »

I'd also be interested to hear of anyone's experiences with the Westway CVT-F fluid. At £38 for 5 litres, it's much cheaper than the £80 for 4 litres of the OEM fluid.

Westway now state on their website that the fluid meets Honda specifications. That statement wasn't there until recently so they must be confident of the quality.

Lord Voltermore · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2024, 03:58:00 PM »

My understanding is that Honda and other car makers do not make their own oil, or even ship it long distances. Thus 'Honda' branded oil sold in Japan may be sourced from one oil company, and refined and packed in Asia branded as Honda. But exactly the same specification of 'Honda' branded oil sold in Europe, and North or south America etc may come from a different oil refinary, using crude stock from a different oil field, and blended and packaged by a different oil company, depending on location. And not necessarily a well known oil company.

Have you ever heard of Moove lubricants in Gravesend ,UK ? Take a look at this web site

https://www.moovelub.co.uk/about.html

Initially it looks like Moove just packs oil under licence for Mobil Exxon. They also pack Comma oil in the the same factory . In the recent past, if not now , Comma oil also packed oil at Gravesend branded for Toyota and other car makers. But look closer and its more complicated than that. Moove actually own Mobil Exxon's South American assets, and Comma oil. And car makers might buy from them if the price were right. Is Comma oil identical to Mobil? Was Comma oil identical to Toyota oil? Do they deliberately go to the trouble of refining and blending two variants of the same specification oil to make one better than the other? Or is it just branding hype?

I'm increasingly convinced that there are a limited number of crude oil resources, oil refineries , oil companies and blenders. They increasingly combine and share production facilities in certain regions .Can you ever be entirely sure who actually makes a lubricating oil, regardless of how its branded.
Although unlikely its even possible Westway and Honda source the oil from the same refinery, or are even packed in the same factory from the same tank. At least in Europe.