Is ATF DW-1 Specification Truly Proprietary?

[YoshiMoshi]

TL;DR Summary

ATF DW-1 SPEC = Proprietary?

I see modern vehicle manufacturers recommend using only "their" fluids in their cars. Even though vehicle manufacturers don't make their own fluids, and someone else makes it for them. Presumably to some requirements specification, and testing procedures. Gone are the days of just using any 5W-30 oil in your engine it seems.

Anyways, I have an Acura that is about 10 years old. It says to only use Acura DW-1 in the transmission. The thought process in the first paragraph, and trying to do a search for the DW-1 specification, has lead me to believe that the DW-1 specification is proprietary? I can't seem to find the DW-1 specification. Yet I see none Honda/Acura branded ATF at part stores claim to be compatible with DW-1. But how can this be if the DW-1 specification is proprietary? How can I trust these none Honda/Acura branded ATF to be compatible with DW-1 if the specification is proprietary?

Seems like we now live in the day of, lets create our own requirements specifications for our fluids, that are probably not far off from other commercial fluids, and we will keep the specification proprietary and put in service information to only use our fluids? Now our customers will have no choice but to pay extra for fluids with our logo on it.

If the DW-1 specification is not proprietary, can someone please post a link to it? I can't find it.

 

[Tom.G]

The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), for DW-1, which lists the ingredients, is at:
https://www.collegehillshonda.com/sds/08200-9008sds.pdf
(above found with:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=08200-9008+MSDS)

A search finds many sources at various prices:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dw-1+transmission+fluid+napa
Also try leaving the "+napa" off the end.

Its main Claim-To-Fame seems to be somewhat lower viscosity that leads to smoother shifting.

Some user sites that showed up claim that other brands "work fine."

Cheers,
Tom