Should I replace my Tranny oil and filter?

Hello everyone I'm having a little dilemma right now.

I purchased my 2002 Tacoma Prerunner 2.7L. 3 years ago. I love it it's my very first truck. I checked the Trans fluid 2 weeks ago and it looks black, Like it has never been replaced or flushed. I've done a lot of the regular maintenance but transmission fluid....I messed up I haven't checked tbh. Fuel filter, air filter, oil for rear axle has been taken care of but not trans oil.

Anyway Is it safe to drain and just refill or should I take the pan as well and replace the fluid filter too?

I've heard too many stories about black trans fluid being flushed and getting the transmission all effed up.

What do you guys recommended?

 

I would just replace the filter and fluid with no flush; at least you’ll feel better about it

 

Does it shift fine? If it does I wouldn't worry about it.

 

What does flushing entail specifically? I'm reading the maintenance manual right now and for me to replace the filter I have to take the pan off and reseal it.

 

There's have been two times where it wouldn't go from 3rd to 4th gear I stop pressing the gas to lower the rpms and it kicks right away but it has happen only those two times.

 

When you remove the oil pan you’ll see wires going to solenoids I would pop the solenoids out and clean/lube them up with fresh tranny fluid and reinstall with the hope that will free up the shift solenoid (or just replace with new since you’re there) but again I’m probably wrong so take that with a grain of salt

 

Toyota ATF has a tendency to darken pretty quick so color is only one factor. The occasion no 3-4 shift could be many things... tires too big and or with your foot to the floor the parameters for a 3-4 shift went there.

 

That's what I was thinking. It happens mostly when I'm on a hurry going up a ramp. Not always.

 

How many miles on it?

 

I would drop the pan, clean/replace the filter, and fill it up with new fluid. Drive on that for a few thousand miles, and drain and refill the fluid. Do this about 3-4 times so you gradually replace all the old fluid with new. I did this on my truck to replace dark, burnt fluid and it's improved the shift quality significantly.

 

It has 160K miles on it.

 

What was your milage when you drained and refill?

 

Yeah, I'd start with draining and filling first and see what happens. Then move to the filter and refill again. If all is good by then, then do a flush. I used to work in a service center, those machines don't really flush the fluid, rather circulate new stuff in while circulating the old stuff out, there's no pressurized force going on breaking sludge/dirt loose like so many people falsely think. We never had a car come back with transmission issues after getting one done, but if you're ATX is having issues it's probably best to take baby steps first with it before jumping into the big pond.

 

I think I'll do that. I talked to someone at Toyota today he said they don't replace the "filters" Because they're really not filters they're more like screens. Thanks for the input.

 

About 170k. I wouldn't flush it personally. I've had a few bad experiences flushing auto transmissions. There's much less risk with just doing a series of drain and refills.

 

My neighbor and I flushed my trans .2.4 litre. Very easy! Just disconnect the two rubber trans lines at the radiator.
Start motor with it in park. Run till a half quart comes out into a drain pan. Shut off motor. Add a half quart down trans dipstick. Start motor till a half quart comes out. Repeat process till fluid coming out is clean. I think I went through three or four containers of new fluid.
It will cost less than a shop will charge for a flush.

 

How would flushing work? vs drain.

 

Drop the pan, changing the filter, and top it off. That gets most of the fluid out any way. You can get the filter at Autozone for 30$ it's just a screen filter. Did this on my tacoma. Super easy and shifts way smoother

 

I never changed my fluid, I'm now changing my transmission.

 

They're being lazy! It's really not that hard and like said above, roughly a $30 part for peace of mind. Those screens still get plugged up over time with gunk I'm sure. Hardest part is getting the dipstick tube out with the pan as it comes out too so you gotta fish it out carefully not to bend or break the tube.