Just hit 37k, flush or drain/fill auto transmission

100% don’t need a flush machine, just saying it makes it easier if you have the chance to use one.

 

Anyone that wants to learn alot about trans fluids in 10 min, I saw this the other day and thought it was a great video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o690DovjDAc

 

For clarification folks, our tranys are not "sealed". All tranys must vent; the V6's have the vent tube attached low on the driver-side fender wall. Why are manufacturers doing away with the trany dipstick? The prevailing belief is to reduce warranty claims because manufacturers believe car owners damage the tranys by putting the wrong ATF fluid or under/over filling.

"To protect themselves, manufacturers are making it difficult to service transmissions. They are extending recommended service intervals. And in some cases are offering pre-paid maintenance services in the price of a new car.

"Transmission fluids still break down. They still get dirty. And they still need to be changed. Failure to maintain a transmission through routine service will shorten the transmission’s life. But from the manufacture’s point of view, a transmission that fails outside the warranty period is not their problem. And since most people who purchase new cars do not keep the vehicles much beyond five years or 100,000 miles, the original purchaser does not much care either.

"So what should you do? Experienced mechanics change the transmission fluid on their own vehicles every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Why? They want their vehicles to last. They understand the importance of transmission services. They have special tools and equipment needed to evacuate and replace fluids. And they know how to select the correct fluid for the vehicle."
http://superstitionmotors.com/repair-education/transmission-maintenance-and-service/

 

I wasn’t asking how to change the fluid. I was asking if no dip stick how do you check the tranny fluid to see if it is bad or burnt or is there is sufficient fluid in the tranny.

 

@Sprig The sticky shows how to check the fluid level.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

To check the fluid itself, you'll have to drain a sample, then replace with the same amount you removed, or go through the check-level procedure to top off the tranny. FWIW, many use an IR gun to check the tranny temp on the pan. That's what I have used on two flushes on my Taco and the wife's Lexus. A couple members on other Toyota websites have shown the IR method is as reliable as the Techstream method.

 

I have a wireless OBD2 sensor with the Torque app on my phone, I think I should be able to pull an accurate temperature reading from that vs using the "AT TEMP" light on the dash. I do want to pick up a Mini VCI cable so I can run techstream in the future

 

If you have torque properly configured for trans temps it will work fine. That's what I used.

 

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

 

I have a 2008 DCB Off Road 4X4 4.0 with 69k miles. I have owned the truck since new and have the original transmission fluid in it. Shifts just like the first day I bought it new. I called 3 Toyota dealerships in the San Diego area and each service department said 90k miles is the first service requirement. In my scheduled maintenance documentation that came with the truck for 60k and 90k there is no mention of a transmission service. I will do the transmission service once I reach 90k.

 

I had mine flushed at 50k miles but I tow and my transmission temps get into the 240f range occasionally.

 

This. Done. Thanks.

 

There is no mention of transmission service per se, but at 90K and every 30K thereafter, it does say to inspect the ATF - not the ATF level, but the fluid. Toyota does not define what it means to "inspect". To me, it means to drain a sample and check the fluid physically. Most of us that care about the longevity of our transmissions haven't hesitated to do a drain/refill by 60K and/or a full flush by 100K. For the price of a twelve pack of (good) beer, you can do a drain/refill every 60K; surely, our trucks are worth that.

 

I recently bought an 09’ Pre runner, double cab, SR5 with the TRD package. It has 78k miles. I had the leaf spring recall performed before I took delivery. I alsowanted to know the condition of all the fluids. So, I methodically drained and filled all the fluids...oil, trans, diff, PS, and coolant. I had the dealer do the brake fluid as it was looking pretty dark. Big difference in the color of the fluid that is in there now. I suspect it was never done. None of the rest of fluids looked bad but now I have the piece of mind that I have a good baseline to follow recommended service intervals here on out. I pulled the trans pan and filter so I could see if there was any gunk in the pan and filter. It looked fine. I didn’t do a flush. I will use the method I saw in another post in this forum to evacuate all the fluid at 100k. The hardest part was removing and installing all of the pan bolts with just a socket wrench.

 

While I will never criticize anyone for preventive maintenance but oil changes intervals have always yielded some interesting conversations. Prior to my current career, I retired (20 years) from the USMC as helicopter mechanic / crew chief. During that time frame we would take oil samples from our gas turbine engines and send them to North Island to be analyzed. Many times the color of the oil turning dark prompted the grounding of the aircraft and a drain and flush was conducted. An oil sample was taken and sent off. The result from the lab returned that the sample was within specifications and no break down of the oil was found.

I have sent samples off to Black Stone labs many years ago when I had a 1995 Chevy ZR-1 with the LT5 engine. There was 18k miles since the last oil change and long story short no signs of break down in the oil. I know each situation is different. Oil quality has changed over the years and I use to be of the mindset that I would change the oil ever 3k miles. I do however change the oil once a year even if mileage conditions have not been met. I have a 2015 BMW M3 (F80) that I have owned since July of 2014 and it only has 16k miles (weekend car) and the vehicle tells me ever year the oil needs to be changed. Most new vehicles will go 15k miles with synthetic oil before needing an oil change. My wife's previous BMW 535i was driven between 15-18k miles a year. The vehicle like clock work would tell us the oil needed to changed around 15k miles. BMW provides free vehicle maintenance for the first 4 years or 50k miles even though I believe now it has been reduced to 3 years. Over the past 52 years I have owned numerous performance cars and this is my first Tacoma. I have always followed the manufactures scheduled requirements and have never had a power train failure on any of my vehicles.

When 90k appears on the odometer I will do the drain and flush with Toyota ATF WS. Cost is not and issue since I already have 15 quarts of Toyota ATF WS sitting in the garage. While I enjoy wrenching on my vehicles I do not believe in doing unnecessary work. I will also take a sample and send it off to Black Stone to be checked.

 

What is the consensus on a 2007 with 195,000. Purchased the truck used at 188,000 and I don’t think trans has ever been touched. I have always heard when it hasn’t been done with high miles don’t do it.

 

see my post above #42 and maybe it will help you decide

He talks about why it may be dangerous to change really burnt fluid.

Edit: basically some metal particles are suspended in the fluid once it hasn't been changed in a really long time, and those particles could be all thats keeping friction between your clutch plates. So when you put new fluid in the clutch plates will not have enough friction.

 

I watched the video above. It was very good and comprehensive. Ricky, check the oil level via unscrewing the check bolt and see what the trans fluid looks like. It if is pink/red then I don't think you will hurt anything doing a drain and fill and it may provide some benefit. As Excorcist said...If it is brown or black, just leave it in there as the video talks about how materials floating in old/burnt fluid are keeping the clutch pack working and new fluid could break loose sludge in the valve body and cause other problems. As far as regular maintenance on the transmission is concerned for vehicles under 90K miles, a lot depends on how you operate the car. If you do a lot of towing, the fluid is likely to need changing more often as it will experience more extreme temperatures. Trans fluid has conditioners in it just like oil and it can help older fluid in the system and keep parts clean. That's why a drain and fill without a full evacuation can be beneficial and not harmful if the fluid is in acceptable condition.

 

Yes

 

How many qts drain out when you do it? Is it as simple as measure what comes out and put the same amount back in?

 

You need to check the level using the steps gearcruncher linked above. Many have been low from the factory so simply replacing what you drain is not recommended.