06 Automatic Trans Service Question

First, a mia culpa.

I bought my 06 with about 40k miles on it in 2008. It now has about 316k miles on it.

As far as I know, the trans fluid has never been flushed/changed.

I brought it in to my local shop to have the whole trans system flushed and they told me not to do it.

They said if I do, I likely will start to have big problems since the old fluid likely may be holding the system together.

Toyota does claim this to be a non serviceable trans. Should I worry?

Thoughts?

 

Definitely curious on the feedback here. Was told not to service so didn’t. Now mine seems to be shifting a little “off” so tempted to just go for it or at least verify my fluid level. Not trying to hijack your thread, but want to hear the best opinions.

 

2nd gen auto trans is a non serviceable trans?
I thought I’d heard of people flushing their trans fluid all the time.

Interested to see responses.

 

You can flush or do drain, just no dipstick. The fluid has to be at a specific temp and you get the proper level using an overflow. I’m considering doing drain. Just under 180k though so not sure if I should. It’s an A750F.

 

Yeah, it's none of my business, but you bought the truck with 40K on the clock and 276K miles later, it's never had a transmission fluid service?

I would bet a buck most shops will run away from this as the one you recently visited did.

 

If it was a domestic I would worry, but the Tacoma trans is bullet proof. I doubt you'd find more than 20 cases on this forum of the auto failing.

I would do a drain and fill, then again in a month. It's about 4 liters each time and its easy on the system. Line flushes can be a bit harder on the system.

Biggest fear on a Toyota is stripping the drain plug. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-drain-plug-keeps-turning-need-help.627150

Source: I've worked on Toyotas since 2005.

 

That shop just doesn't want to do it. It makes no sense not to do a fluid replacement. You just don't want to do a power flush.

Lots of DIY threads on here on how to do it.

 

Toyota does not say the trany is non-serviceable. My 07 manual says to inspect the ATF every 30K. I don't why many owners assume this means to just check the ATF level. "Inspect" to me includes to check the fluid for contaminants and replace accordingly. In 2009 or 2010, Toyota changed their recommendation and stated to replace the ATF every 60K if the vehicle meets Special Operating Conditions - towing, off-roading, idling (cabs, police, etc ...) Submitting a sample for analysis is a bit overboard for most drivers. The minimum accepted standard industry and world-wide is to check the ATF color: a hint of red hue mean the fluid is good; brown to dark brown means the fluid should be replaced; black means the fluid is super dirty and if it smells burnt, the trany has suffered damage. At any point, do not replace the fluid if you find metallic specks in the ATF because that means the specks are likely clutch material and removing them during a flush will likely lead to slipping.

So, in this case, it may be worth your time and effort to remove a sample and send it to a lab for analysis.

More good info from Chris Fix,

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

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/ try this

 

My local transmission shop no longer advises customers to change ATF on ANY vehicle. They tell me that most cars on the road today are going to have the transmissions fail at 120K-150K regardless. Part of the problem is the electronics that go bad, not the mechanics.

Other vehicles, especially trucks and full size SUV's are going to last 300K-400K regardless. The guys who change ATF fluid religiously aren't getting any more miles out of them than the guys who leave them alone. And changing it with high mileage only speeds up the failure. Chances are good you're going to need a rebuild within another 100K. Save your money for that day. Change it now and I'd bet money it'll die within 5K.

 

My trucks at 160k and no flush to my knowledge.

From the sounds of it I’m going to just keep up on all else and let the tranny live in peace.

 

Yeah, I’m seriously torn. My intention is to try inspecting the fluid first. Then talk to the shop I’d use for service before I’d drain just to make sure their not booked out. Assuming I do something, I’ll post update(s) for others.

 

Don't be scared of this folks. Do 3 or 4 DAFs over the course of a couple of weeks with WS of Maxlife.

People get really spooked when it comes to transmission services

 

I wouldn’t hesitate do a drain n fill x3 times now and once every 30k miles. I would be more concerned about stripping the drain plug lol.

 

Here ya go.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

And you can buy an OBDII plug and permanently jump the pins. Just plug it in...no wires needed for temp check mode.

 

Toyota dealer will do a full flush for you anytime you want.
On my 2009 I had them do it at 115k and it shifted smoother and the converter lockup was better.
Around $200 or so. Will do again after 50K more miles as I've been towing a boat.
My simple opinion is how can new fluid not help an old trans - gets all the crud out, new additives in it, and ensures the sealed (no dipstick) trans is full.

 

Mechanic did a drain and refill when my motor was swapped at 235ish,000 miles. Had no issue. Did it again at 300 kmiles and added some lubegard. Shifts like a dream...

Edit: I changed the filter too

 

Yep.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OBD2-OBD-I...2m-Plug-16pin-Male-ELM327-2-PACK/392243132960

 

Very cool. I have a Scangauge, so I don't need this for trans temp, but it would be really nice to have for ABS codes. I can never remember which pins to connect and have to search TW.

Also, for those people with VSC, you could make one with a switch. They sell in pairs, so just label each one for what they do.

 

If you’re referring to the transmission temp check mode, it's pins #4 and #13. Another way to figure it out is that it's always the 4th pin over from the left no matter which way the connector is turned.

I marked the pins with a green Sharpie before jumping them.