Does anyone have actual experience with tranny fluid change?

I changed mine at about 75K

 

Got mine "flushed" or whatever Toyota does around 100k several years ago with no ill effects. Now I do the drain and fill procedure linked earlier in this thread with Valvoline MaxLife and it's still going strong because I'm anal retentive and like the idea of fresh fluid.

As a side note with new ATF the color/smell is less an indicator of life than with say a Dex III fluid. It was (and is) an easy way for lube shops to say, "you need to change your ATF now!" but really not so much anymore as has been attested to by many people of this thread that have gone several hundred thousand on the factory fill.

 

When fluid gets old and dirty, it does not lubricate the clutches as well as when new. There is wear on them as a result, BUT the grit acts as a griping substance and keeps the tranny going quite well.

If the grit is flushed out, then the worn plates contact each other and may slip. This is the reason that many say if the tranny has not had regular maintenance, leave it alone.

I have read the breakover point starts somewhere around 100K or more depending on the condition of the fluid at that time.

At least that is the theory about high mileage tranny fluid changes.

 

I bought my '08 with 116k miles. Did a couple of drain and fills, drove a few days each time, then dropped the pan, cleaned it up and replaced the filter.

The first drain the fluid was dark, but not black and not burnt. When I dropped the pan the magnets were relatively clean and the filter was fine. Replaced it anyway since I was there. Used WS. No noticeable difference but I feel better. This truck had immaculate service records but no mention of transmission/differential/transfer service. I suspect they had been done because all of the fluids were pretty clean.

On a side note, I bought a '07 Corolla for my son, went thru the same process except used Maxlife. Transmission failed shortly after. $1800 later.... I don't know that Maxlife contributed or not but I'm hesitant to use it again and I'm a big believer in synthetics. I do use in the power steering.

 

You are an exception, my fluid wasnt bright pink after 50,000 miles and that's with minimal towing and a transmission cooler

 

Sounds like a google passage lol

 

I did a full flush in my Tacoma with Maxlife. Runs great. I'd also recommend adding some Lubegard as well

 

I'm at 126k and don't think the fluid has ever been changed... still debating on doing drain and fill or not....

 

I got my truck with 93K miles on it and there where no records of the AT being serviced. Debated, debated and then @ 100K I had dealership service the tranny. I'm now at 108K with no issues. I'm glad I did it as I know it had done some towing prior to my getting the truck.

 

I did a drain and fill shortly after I bought my 2014 which had 17k miles it. The fluid definitely wasn’t factory fresh but also didn’t look/smell like it needed to be changed that early. I’m planning to do a drain and fill at 30k mile intervals with the next one coming up early next year at the 45k mile mark.

 

Good to know.

 

Be it Dex-III - T-IV - WS - Whatever - I've never seen bright pink transmission fluid. It's always been a cranberry color if fresh and from there it goes to brown; then black.

Amazing.

 

With 6 Toyota products to maintain, I've collectively done 8 flushes on five cars; the Sienna I've done drain/refills. I've also replaced the ATF filter in each car once. So, for the dude that said his ATF is still bright pink after 200K, and towing, - I don't believe it. BTW, the dealers may be reluctant to do ATF flush but your Tacoma maintenance manual says to inspect the ATF every 30K. Not to top off but to inspect it. To me that means inspecting the fluid for contaminants and replacing it accordingly. In 2009 or 2010 Toyota began recommending replacing the ATF for vehicle meeting Special Operation Conditions - towing, off-roading, commercial usage (cabs, police vehicles, etc...)

Generally speaking you can flush at any time except when you have metallic specs or clutch material in your ATF because, as has been correctly pointed out, the suspended material helps the clutches engage. Removing that material can lead to a transmission that slips. At 97K you are likely OK. I would recommend dropping the pan to clean it and the magnets, and check it for clutch material and metal specks.

 

I did a drain and refill at 80k. at 90 i'm thinking I'll drop the pan and change the filter.
I also think its outdated wisdom that you have to do it before 100k or never do it. The reason being is ATF contains lots of detergents. As ATF breaks down the particles create a varnish over the seals and other parts. On high mileage vehicles, new fluid then cleans all that varnish of the fluid now bypasses in areas it didn't before, creating slippage and leaks. I flushed an older 140K civic because my boss insisted that it get done. I didn't make it back from the test drive...
However, I have flushed in the last year or so two 140k Toyota's, one being my wife's scion, and the other a sequoia, with zero issues.
To my point, I think the fluids have gotten better over time as well as the transmission's sensitivities.

To your question, I think servicing the fluid is a good, but not necessary, preventive maintenance.

 

Changed at 78K using Valvoline Trans from WM. Used the poor man's fluid change through cooler hose. No issues after change. Now have 82K on it.

FWIW - I know mine was never done and it was still the factory stuff which actually looked fine. Was a little darker, but not even close to what some drop out. This truck wasn't used for hauling though. If you do alot of towing, best to change at 60K max. 30K even better.

 

I just did the basic drain/refill last week. This method only replaces 3quarts out of the 11.5 quarts in the transmission.
It is the gentlest way to replace the fluid, but has to be done 10 times to replace over 99% of the fluid.
My truck has 60k miles on it and the fluid was dark, but still red.

I followed the directions here...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/
I used the torque app + OBDII wifi adapter to bring the transmission to temp.
Be careful not to burn yourself on the exhaust when reaching up to the fill plug.

 

Do it twice and change ~50% of the fluid.

 

So I had this 1990 2 door Toyota Corolla white on white and a highway dream to drive.
1999 I moved from GA to FLA..
I kept up on proper maintenance and stuff.
3 months after living in FLA I cruise around the neighborhood real slow, the transmission starts a terrible grinding noise when downshifting to 1st gear.
I took it to 3 different shops for diagnosis and they each gave me a different problem to troubleshoot.
I decided to take it to the 4th shop and asked them, "Do a drain and fill, please?"
They did it and the trouble was forever resolved.
The little car was over 150K and probably at 170K in miles.

 

I'll second Lubegard. Dumped it in my wife's 10 year old Focus when the transmission started to slip from 2nd to 3rd and it got things in order til we traded it. Didn't notice a difference when I added it to the Tacoma though.