100,000 mile tranny service, worth doing or leave it alone.

I'm getting close to the 100000 mile mark on my 2015 Tacoma sport. Calls for a tranny service, I'm a bit old school and was always told not to touch the fluid unless it was being done on a regular basis, like every 25000. Go for it or not?

 

You're not going to get a consensus. Reply's will be all over the place, but here is mine. Miles don't hurt transmission fluid, heat does. If you tow a lot, with loads approaching max loads, in hot weather, and in mountains, then the fluid should be changed often. If you ever let the fluid get up to 220* it should be changed ASAP, even if it only has 1000 miles on that fluid. If you ever go over 250* the transmission is probably fried anyway. If the fluid rarely gets much over about 200* you can probably run the truck until the body rusts off of it before the fluid goes bad.

Changing it every 25K or 50K won't make it last any longer, lots of vehicles out there with way over 200,000 miles with the factory fluids, some over 400,000. At some point the transmission is going to wear out regardless and the money spent changing fluids every 25K-50K for 400,000 miles would be better spent in my opinion to go toward a new transmission which you'll still eventually need if you change the fluids. Changing the fluid every 25K is 16 oil changes to get you to 400,000. At $150 each that is $2400.

My 07 is approaching 200,000 on the factory fluid, but I've never pulled over 3500 lbs and only do that 8-10 times a year. I fully expect at least 300,000 miles out of my transmission on the factory fluid.

 

Heat degrades the fluid, which acts as a lubricant, coolant, and to transfer power. Click and Clack always said to change the fluid, if there was a problem afterward the problem was already there.

 

have flushed and filled mine every 100,000 since new. Just about to turn 400,000 miles.
If you decide to flush and fill, don't let any mechanic/shop tell you "we pulled out 18 quarts and put 18 quarts back in, should be the correct fluid level..." it won't be, the fluid level has to be dbl chk'd and will probably be a 1/2 to 1.5 quarts low after the flush.

 

Try explaining that if theres a problem after doing a flush it was there before, my dealer has customers who come in wanting a flush since someone told them that fixes most trans problems

 

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

Your 100,000 mile transmission service was suppose to be done at 60k
Why did Toyota change the mileage from 100K to 60K ?
I will let you figure that one out

 

Oh man here we go

 

That’s what I thought. I tow a few times a year and work the transmission so I did my first flush and fill at 16,000km. Likely I will do the next in the spring before next years tow season and I predict I will be at 38-40,000km. I keep an eye on my temps with a scan gauge II and drive accordingly to keep temps from going insane.

 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...oEX2KfZ737sYdnEvGGeGQZ9sHJ6aT49dGM7To51kglsdb

 

Sometimes you can't fix stupid.

 

^^THIS^^



Here is the most honest and truthful answer you will ever hear on this topic. I can verify this response with hundreds of 1K's trouble free miles of driving just by leaving the ATF alone. Heat is the enemy here.

Cheers!

 

Yeah but stupid sure can waste my time and i cant charge them for that.

 

Change it. Here’s what mine looked like after 125,000 miles. Drop the pan and change the filter as well.

 

I even added a magnetic in line filter to my tranny

 

Yes the opinions will be many and all over the map, but Toyotas should reign supreme.

Change the fluid per the maintenance schedule. It's cheap and takes less than 30 minutes. Keep some fluid with you for a while and check it periodically after driving it, for the proper level (engine running). Thermal cycles and time, moisture and dirt will break down just about any automotive fluid.

FYI the "filter" in the trans is just a simple mesh screen that the fluid drains through before going back to the bottom of the pan to catch small solid particulate. It's not like a micron filter that removes microscopic debris like a fuel filter. Mine was changed and absolutely as clean and pristine as the new one. I'm not saying don't change it, but it's likely not necessary

 

it doesnt hurt to atleast drain and fill. Drain the fluid into somthing you can measure and add the same amount back in. then do it ever 25k miles. seems to work fine for my Tacoma and my avalon

i believe you usually get 3-4 quarts out from these transmissions

meanwhile my 06 corolla with around 700k miles is still on the orignal trans fluid (well mostly. i did have to replace the trans pan gasket so 5ish quarts were replaced around 400k)

 

The filters in the 2nd gens i think are actually filters unlike our first gens. but i may be wrong, ive never actually had to drop the pan on a 2nd gen

 

Shit, I always forget to check the year of the truck in the Tech Chat forum. Sorry I'm a 1st gen...

Always use the dipstick... X qt out, X qt in on a trans thats already low is no bueno. And jesus christ! 700k, on one "change" of fluid? It's a Corolla, so I'm not going to fret about it....lol!

 

2nd gen doesnt have the dipstick (unless its a 4 cylinder. i believe those still use the A340

And dont worry lol, i have a 1st gen as well! Yea the rollas been a beast. original engine and trans baby! (only 1 water pump and alternator)