Auto trans oil change interval

How often does the transmission fluid need to be changed. I'm creeping up on 90k miles and have had this truck since 74k and have no idea when or if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. The fluid looks and smells clean. I am pretty soured on the idea of having it flushed, last car I had a flush done on wrecked the transmission. If I should go this route, where should I have it done? I haven't, nor do I plan to do any towing with this truck, I have a 7.3 Powerstroke for anything towing related. But who's to say the PO didn't use it for towing. I recall it having a 3 way hitch in it when I got it that had been in the receiver so long it had rusted in place and had a hard time getting it out.

 

I bought a case of toyota transmission fluid and just drain the pan...4 qts and refill every 20,000 miles or so. My fluid looks like the day I bought it in 04. I drive the shit out of it too...lol

 

Although mine looks good too, I'm doing a "drain and fill" shortly to prep for a long trip pulling an enclosed motorcycle trailer through the mountains.

My 2004 uses T-IV fluid. I bought Toyota T-IV.

I would not do a flush if your fluid looks ok.

 

my rule of thumb on auto trannys is when it gets to 100k flush and replace with full synthetic fluid and do it again at 200k if you get there

 

With me its when its no longer bright pink and starts to smell slightly burnt. I have had my 04 since brand new off the dealer and just changed it a few months ago and I am only at 57K on the ODO, but the pink was no longer pink it was a little too dark for my liking. So basically look at it and make the determination.
Also I recommend a drain and fill I have never done a flush so I can't say what it does but a drain and fill never did anything bad to my vehicles.

--Dan

 

every 30k

 

when you drain and refill, you only change half the fluid, this is because everything in the valve body, torque converter, and lines, is still full of old dirty and worn out oil.

flushing uses the tranny oil pump to pump fresh new fluid through the entire system so you finish with the whole tranny having fresh "new" fluid that isn't mixed with old fluid.

but im speaking in terms of a daily driver that isn't abused so towing heavy loads and abusing it will mean the need to have oil changed sooner

 

Mine is looking pretty worn out. I've put 40K miles on it since I bought it at 130K miles. I'm going to do a drain and fill next week along with new diff fluid in both diffs and transfer case and oil change, alignment and maybe balance the tires (I have a bit of a vibration) and maybe flush the radiator as well.

 

i do mine every 30k. In your situation, I'd D/R several times in a row with some short mileage inbetween until you feel that the fluid has been for the most part replaced.

 

Planning to do mine soon. I have about 155k I bought it at 138k not sure if the PO ever did a flush. I checked the fluid and it was still red and didn't smell burnt. But because it has so many miles and I don't know if it has ever been flushed, I'm planning to just drain and fill. gonna drain and fill it every oil change for 3-4 times in row.

 

I had it done at 100,000 and I just did it again at 208,??? Glad I did, it needed it. I flushed the whole system. There is a write up on how I did it on my build page. Pretty easy.

 

follow the owners manual