Dealership Upsells

I was making a dealership appointment for my last warranty Oil change at 60k today. The service guy starts talking about Tranny flush, and Brake system flush, all out of warranty stuff. My Tacoma is a 2015 Sport 4x4. Are these things really necessary or just the usual dealership wallet dip?
I will be doing my own maintenance after this last trip to the dealer, which has always been my plan....

 

Brake flush you can easily do yourself if you buy the proper tools for it. But yes, at 60k it would be a good idea to flush out the fluid. As for the transmission flush, it’s up to you. Many argue against it, many say do it. Reason is because when you flush it you could be pushing clumps of whatever through the transmission fluid lines and potentially clog something up and damage your transmission later on. I’ve always just changed the fluid and filter if applicable, and called it a day. Never had an issue doing that with cars past 200k miles. Overall, at 60k both of those are good preventative maintenance measures to take.

 

Can I suggest on the Transmission "Flush" ... do only the drain and refill. Lots of info here on the process as well videos as well. As for the brake flush - like above - easy to do and rewarding knowing the brake fluid is fresh and has not moisture in the fluid.
Good Luck!

 

Since I have been retired as a mechanic, I let Toyota do my oil changes. With that said I ALWAYS use a coupon and for the $20 or 25. its not worth my time to do it, plus I get a free wash! As for ALL the other stuff, Toyota has it in ALL their dealers computers on what to suggest at certain mileages. I have a 2012 that was new when I got it and it has 99k on it. I get the oil and filter done every 5k and that's it.

 

I have stayed current on Tranny service, fluid changes...
Piece of mind.

 

At 60k it's worth changing all fluids IMHO, specially if everything but oil is original.

Trans just drain/fill as already suggested. I do mine at 30k intervals, because cheap/easy. (I have a dipstick)

 

CWB: I need Tires!

 

You're driving too much.

 

you can do transmission, engine oil, differential, brake fluid, power steering for under $150 yourself.

 

Funny you slay that. I'm too a retired mechanic but do all my own maintenance, even when the first two years was free. Some of the clowns I've seen in the industry, I wouldn't let them take out my trash.

 

I have a 2015 and my diy brake fluid flush was under $8. I also did a Tranny pan dump for less than $40. Easy to do with info from TW.

 

I just do the turkey baster suck and drain every oil change on the brake and power steering fluid.

 

i'm just curious, and yes I know that killed the cat, why is that in the last ten years or so we have to do a brake fluid flush. For us old farts this was never done and we never had any problems. I'm not saying don't do it or its a bad thing, It has to be good to have fresh fluid, but back in the day . . .

 

The dealer would usually do a test on the brake fluid to see what percentage of water is present in the fluid, doesn’t always need to be changed.

 

Retired one here also, it’s a different generation mechanic out there today.

 

I don’t think anybody’s brakes fail if you don’t flush it. And people just adjust to fading brakes. Brake fluid does collect moisture.

 

A company I worked for installed alarms into new and used vehicles at car lots. Each alarm was sold to the dealer for $125 installed. The dealership would in turn sell it for anywhere from $600 to $1,300 and finance it with the car loan.

The last time my wife's car was at the dealer they recommended a new air filter for the engine. I had replaced it 4 days earlier with a new filter.

 

I know plenty of new and old school guys that never change the brake fluid. Just another overkill maintence item that this board gets on their soap box with.

 

Going way back, most vehicles had 4 wheel cylinders and a master cylinder. Easy to replace them all. In the more recent years, there's all the ABS stuff with valves, pumps and stuff that have very high precision tolerances. Very expensive stuff that you don't want corroding up.

 

There's a long story behind this but short story is I purchased the truck at 38k miles in 09. Its an 05 TRD Sport. Now I have 165k miles. Never changed transmission fluid. Most things i read is, start looking for a new transmission. Any suggestions? The truck runs as good as it did when I purchased it. No delayed shifting or sticking in gear. Some towing but not much. Some off road use but again not much. Most miles are all from Highway and grocery trips.