Synthetic ATF

Besides changing to synthetic engine oil, I have also tried synthetic ATF the first time on my Alza. The gear shift is quite jerky at times, especially during warm up when the engine is idling at higher rpm. You see, unlike changing engine oil, whenever we drain the ATF, probably only 50% is drained out, leaving another 50% in the torque converter. Which means firstly, your fresh ATF will be mixed with some old ones and secondly, if you are changing to another brand or grade, nobody knows if the ATF will blend well. After 5,000km, I have decided to do another ATF change, fearing that the Schaeffer synthetic ATF may not blend well with the existing ATF, which I doubt is synthetic. But this time, instead of sticking to Schaeffer, I tried out this Pennzoil multi ATF which I bought cheaply at RM54 for a 4 liter pack (the Schaeffer cost me RM39 per 1 liter pack).

After changing the ATF, the result is quite satisfactory. The gearshift still feel jerky but the power delivery is way smoother than before, more responsive to throttle input. Regretted I didn't stock up more for that low price.