Transmission Fluid Replacement Recommendations

My truck has about 110k on it and I was looking through regular maintenance schedule and didn't see anything about transmission fluid replacement. A few months back I did front and rear diff oil, coolant service, but was wondering what else I can do to prolong taco life. I asked service advisor at the stealership and they claimed it's lifetime transmission fluid. I asked my local mechanic a while back and he said that it should be checked for color and replaced if necessary depending on how it looks.

Anyone recommend replacing transmission fluid and if so at what mileage? Someone I know said if you wait too long it can be an issue replacing it for some reason. Is here anything to back that up?

Thanks,

Andy C.

 

I did a Transfusion with Ws fluid from Toyota @ 28,000 since it's still under warranty.

 

What's WS fluid and should I have done trans fluid that early at about 30k?

 

Ws is fluid it came with .
I tow semi often so I will transfuse every 30,000 not nesasary just me overdoing it.

 

Don't forget the transfer case fluid change also...

 

WS is "World Standard." It's supposed to be a lifetime fluid that never needs to be replaced, hence why we have a sealed transmission with no dipsticks. But, with any automotive fluid, it really should be replaced at some point.

If you want to do it yourself, here's a good write-up:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/

 

If ain't broke....but if you feel the need to drain and fill no flushing. Heard it was lifetime too

 

The it-ain't-broke concept should not be applied in auto mechanics. The preventive maintenance concept will prolong the life of your Tacoma best, and probably cost less in the long run.

Toyota recommends a drain/refill (about 4 quarts) every 30K. A full flush at 60K is recommended if following the severe service schedule.

 

I'm at 147,000 miles on original tranny fluid. Truck runs like its brand new.

I'm following the 'if it works don't fix it' theory when it comes to the transmission.

 

I plan to do a full flush at 100K. I'll drop the pan and the whole 9 yards (well not me, a qualified trans mechanic lol).

Trans fluid is something I don't do myself because it's so labor intensive and you waste a lot of fluid. Now if I towed a lot more or hauled more I might do some changes at 50K and flushes every 100K. But as mostly a daily driver and only towing minorly and no serious hauling I just will do flush every 100K.

 

@gearcruncher has an excellent thread covering your unit. This will fill your weekend, but skim through and you'll find a link to a how to DIY in about the 3rd post.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

I'm a drain and fill every 30k guy normally. I'll extend to 45 or 60k if the time since last change has been light duty.

I'm fortunate my 4 cyl has a drain plug and dipstick, making it actually easier than an oil change.

 

Just use Valvoline Maxlife full synthetic, you can order it through Walmart.com for $18 a gallon. It performs perfectly in all three of my Toyota trucks.

I've heard that "lifetime fluid" claim before, but what is considered a "lifetime"? Toyota's powertrain warranty expires at 5yrs/60k miles, so after that it's on your dime.

 

That's like saying if the engine works you shouldn't change the oil.

 

by the book the 5 speed auto needs to be changed every 60k miles. It used to be 100k intervals and they reduced that down to 60k.

Toyota WS fluid, takes about 11 quarts to fully do it.

 

I asked my service department about tranny fluid change intervals. They said with towing or abuse 60k miles, normal use use at 90k miles.

I rarely tow and I'm at 67k miles. In planning to change mine soon.

 

I'm betting a qualified transmission shop will recommend a fluid change over a full flush if your first ever fluid change is at 100k miles. Most shops I've dealt with over the years have told me its better not to flush at high mileage all though with our Tacoma's 100k miles is debatable if that's considered high mileage.

I had a flush done at 70,000 and just had a fluid change done at 147,000 last week (both times with fluid from a Toyota Dealer). Same shop that did the flush and they didn't recommend a flush at my mileage FWIW. Fluid came out red still and had very little metal shavings in the screen/pan. I tow a boat and occasionally a single axle trailer.

 

You couldn't be more wrong...I trust the several different professional mechanics who I've known for 35 years who tell me to leave it alone more than I trust strangers on a forum. No offense....

 

No offense, but you need a new group of professional mechanics.

Just because one gets paid for what they do (making them 'professional') doesn't mean they are good at it.

Or that they are fully informed on every aspect of every component or fluid chemistry.

Would you trust someone who's overhauled a few thousand transmissions a bit more? Jump back up to post 11 and enjoy!

 

No, I'm not wrong. I have changed the fluid in all of my vehicles myself, so I know what old depleted fluid looks and smells like.

Some of those old skool mechanics believe with higher milaege transmissions that the clutch debris is what's making the transmission work, despite the fluid being burnt. Well, they may be right, but I look at it this way.... if your transmission is so worn that the only thing making it work is debris floating in the fluid, it's SHOT, and it's about to fail soon anyways. If you start early enough with fluid changes you can prevent a lot of that wear from happening in the first place.

 

Bingo. What people don't think about is that trans fluid has additives that prevent wear and oxidation. Heat and time makes these basically vanish from the fluid, and at that point you'll have accelerated wear.

So it is important to renew the fluid in accordance with how the truck is used.

Even though WS claims it is "lifetime", that designation really means the fluid will remain present for as long as the transmission remains alive -- whether that be 150k miles or 1 million miles. Under this same logic, any other fluid in the vehicle is "lifetime".. only good until the component that houses it fails. LOL.