96k would you change transmission fluid?

I bought my 2013 Tacoma 4x4 used and it has 96,000 miles. It has the A750F transmission and I don’t know if the prior owners ever changed the fluid, because it is “lifetime” fluid. I am not a believer in that, but is it a good idea to replace the fluid at this time? The truck currently runs fine. Would you:
1) Do nothing and leave it alone.
2) Drop the pan, change the filter, gasket, and DIY flush (by doing 3-4 drain and fills).
3) Drop the pan, change the filter, gasket, and only refill.
4) Only drain and fill the fluid that can be replaced by removing the plug, then repeat in a few thousand miles.
5) You have a better idea, because you’re brilliant and I am a mere mortal.
Thanks for your advice!

 

no such a thing as lifetime fluid.....

dirt....metal shavings....

Take care of your Yota.....

change it !

 

I would try and change all the fluids if you can just for piece of mind.

 

Leave it alone if it drives fine

 

No, don’t touch it. Don’t need to change it and you’re just wasting money if your truck drives fine

 

Interesting question....
I'll add a number 6... Drop the pan - clean, back flush screen (not a filter), new gasket, and refill. Now depending on the condition of transmission fluid you can drive and just flush as in point #4

Good Luck....doing mine in the summer (Aug) with 80K Kilometres (Canada)

 

Pick your poison. I know several guys with 250k plus never changed and drives fine. I personally do a flush every 100k. Some guys will drop the pan and clean or replace the screen. Your choice.

 

Start with number four. If you can math, you can figure out how many changes it takes to dilute the old fluid pretty good.

If everything is looking good about the 3rd cycle, then I'd consider dropping the pan and addressing the filter.

Then just do a simple drain/fill every 30k if you tow or work hard off road, 60k if it's a cruise queen.

While 100k is minimal on a 7 yo Tacoma, I'd definately be changing all the fluids just to have a baseline. Coolant, diffs, brakes, PS

 

Thanks for all the quick responses. I am going to go through all the fluids. At a minimum, I think that I need to at least do a flush for peace of mind. If Toyota claims the fluid is lifetime, then it shouldn’t hurt anything.

 

Heard scotty kilmer say its bad to change trans fluid it hasnt been changed regularly.

That being said number 4 sounds the least invasive.

 

This. I always factor fluids in the purchase of a used vehicle. Oil, diff(s), tranny, brake fluid and coolant (if it’s over 100k miles) I do it simply because I don’t know how it was driven or cared for. It sucks to pay for and do, but I’d rather be safe.

 

I did #4 @ 100k

You really should do it at least every 60k.
Obviously, I didn’t do what I should have. I’m at 137k now.

 

I usually drain and fill at 100K. I have never replaced a screen or filter or removed a transmission pan that wasn't leaking. I rarely tow or drive hard. I do keep an eye on the fluid and check it at fuel fill ups along with the checking the oil. I visually inspect the fluid on a white paper towel to evaluate color and then smell it.

 

Change it. I bought my taco with 159k miles and at around 170k it started to shutter between 35 and 40 mph. I wish i changed it right when i bought it. Luckily i had to flushed completely without a filter change and it fixed the shutter. Now my taco is at 206k miles. Bring it to a shop and have them do a complete flush, it's worth getting it done completely.

 

I purchased a 2012 sport, with 100K damn near exactly. I have read so much about changing the transmission fluid, and it simply seems to break downt to 2 schools of thought.

#1: The transmission fluid designed to last for the life of the vehicle, and never change it.

#2: Don't flush the transmission, only drop the pan, and refill it.


There is so much conflicting information on this topic, I have yet to decide what to do.
There is so much information that states that changing the fluid, will destroy your truck, as when you change the fluid,
the abrasives in the fluid are now gone, and the gears, or whats left of them, have no ability to grab/grip, and slipping begins to happen, and its all over. Yet there are other folks on here who claim that their truck drove almost with a night and day difference, in a positive manner, after dropping the pan and changing the fluid.

The othe caveat seems to be who does it, and how. Since it requires the paper clip trick, or an actually legit professional grade OBD II system to properly read the fluid and temp, and not some 15 dollar China OBD II reader, and the Torque app, including know the EXACT AND PRECISE amount of fluid to add, the possibility of making things worse seems so very much higher, than leaving it alone as is.

Folks have said on here that some dealerships just don't know how to do it, or simply won't, as the OEM specification was the WS fluid is lifetime. I've been reading on this topic for months and months, and still don't know what to believe. I have been thinking about letting the dealership do it, just so I have that paperwork to fall back on, in case problems arise afterward.

I wish to god we could get an actual Japanese engineer on this board to shine light on this topic.

How do I find a source of authority on this issue?

 

And don’t fill up with gas if your vehicle is still running.

Preventive maintenance pays for itself. When they say “lifetime” that’s the time they want it to live. No way fluid that is heated to extremes will last forever. Change that fluid every 50k regardless on what the manual says.

 

Change it out.

 

Nah...

You seem angry. Wanna talk about it?

 

Knayrb, I mean no disrespect, but the Japanese are incredibly smart people. Educated, disciplined, and take their work very seriously. Toyota spends billions of dollars in R&D, so I want to understand (no sarcasm), how you can unilaterally just decide that "50K" it needs to be changed, regardless of what the manual says.

If NASA & JPL, said that you don't need to change the oil on the Saturn 5 rocket but every 3 planets, and you say bullshit and change it every 1 planet, how are you a source of authority on this topic? I realize that is a bit absurd of a comparison, but it still applies.

The people that made this vehicle and its transmission, are arguably brilliant. I mean no disrespect towards you, but what scientific credence do you have to support your claim, that 50K it needs to be changed, no exception?

This is specifically what I was referring to when I said there was conflicting information on this topic. There has yet to be, to my knowledge, a source of authority on this topic. In my 40+ years of life, I have gracefully learned that following a manufactures specifications and recommendations for any product, typically enables said product to run/function as long as possible.

If a doctor tells you to take X miligrams of said medication, would you go "no thats bullshit, take X # of miligrams of that medicine, not what the doctor says regardless".

I fail to see the difference. Again I'm not trying to be hostile, in fact I'm hoping you have a response
that changes my perception on this issue.

 

NOTHING is lifetime !