Transmission issues

I think the manual says inspect every 30, change at 60 if used in severe conditions, but other than that it says inspect. I know at least one 2016 that will go 85K on oil changes and gas....

 

Thanks for the heads up.

May I interest you in a pyramid scheme - I mean "friends helping friends" investment opportunity?

 

Aloha.

 

The drain and refill is just to keep the fluid fresh, you're not flushing the system, just adding 3 fresh quarts at a time. And if you keep it up during those intervals, your fluid should stay red longer than waiting 100K and dumping out brown burnt fluid. Cheap insurance!

 

it makes perfect sense, actually. the typical replacement interval for ATF is 30,000 miles. I don't care if they say if it's a "lifetime" fluid. It's not. A drain and fill gets about a 1/3 new oil into the tranny.

 

I've never changed transmission fluid in anything. Usually have my stuff for 100-200k. Never had a problem. Sold the wife's Accord last year with 165000 (kids drove it while in college) and it ran like new. Original fluid.

 

Globally, besides the programming complaints, the AC60 series has been relatively problem free. In markets with diesels, the reverse clutch seems to be burning under repeated high load.

I'm a fan of the dillution method of exchanging atf on a more periodic basis. I do a drain/fill every 15K. I prefer this to a full replacement at 60K...there are molded rubber piston seals that can react badly to fresh atf.

 

Why no dip stick under the hood? Guessing no need to check due to long oil trans changes..so call lifetime?
Plus cost savings...a dip stick, tube , mounting cost more than a bolt...dip stick bolt on the oil pan...is cheaper..
Crawl control needed to get.under the truck...to check the trans level...5mm Allen wrench?
Aloha

 

It's not as accurate.

 

I changed the transmission fluid myself at 80k miles. Plan to do it again in 80k miles...10k is super overkill

 

80k? Brave man

 

Thats interesting.

So what you are saying is that the AT dipstick on vehicles was never really accurate?

 

I've been driving since 1974. Never changed the transmission fluid in any vehicle I've ever owned. Dad started driving in 1936, he never changed the fluid in any vehicle he ever owned. And dad worked in sales driving 40,000 miles/year. I have 1/2 million miles combined on the vehicles in the driveway with no fluid changes. Between dad and I we've put 200,000+ on a dozen vehicles and never had an issue related to fluid failure. I've had a couple of electrical issues that had to be repaired.

The owner of the transmission shop who did those repairs advised me that I would be wasting my money to change the fluid. He and his shop foremen both have 400,000 miles each on their personal trucks without ever changing the fluid. They don't see any difference in longevity with the guys who do it regularly vs those who just drive till they break.

If you're paying someone else to do the work you'll spend as much changing the fluid every 30,000 miles as it will cost to rebuild the transmission. And there is no evidence changing it will make the transmission last any longer.

An opening for contaminants to get into the fluid, and for fluid to escape via evaporation. Not having the dipstick helps the fluid last longer. Transmission fluid doesn't serve the same role as engine oil. Engine oil can get burned up and levels can get low even with no leak. It's also meant to keep the engine clean so it needs to be changed more often. If the system is sealed transmission fluid can't get out and there is nothing to get it dirty. Unless you have a visible leak there is no reason to check it. If you don't let the fluid get too hot it will last a very long time. If you ever let the fluid get too hot the transmission is fried anyway and changing it then won't save it.

 

This thread feels like trolling

 

...or modern ATFs have a higher expansion rate, thus, the necessity to check within the required temp window.

https://gearsmagazine.com/magazine/gms-af50-8-speed-transmission-fluid-level-and-condition-check/

 

You always provide good info, thanks.

 

I have 38k on my 17 AT and haven't touched the transmission yet. Haven't decided when I want to do a drain and fill or full flush yet.

 

FIFY .

 

To each his own, however, what you are saying goes against every professional recommendation I have ever read, and certainly goes against the recommendation of Toyota. It is surprising that your dad never changed transmission fluid in any of the vehicles he drove, especially in the 30's to the 50's. My father had a shop from the late 50's to the early 70's, and AT fluid changes (indeed all fluids) were fairly routine. Seals and gaskets weren't even close to today's products in longevity, real cork gaskets were the norm. Everything seemed to leak in those days, and a gasket change generally required fluid replacement. With the Powerglide transmission in those days, the recommended oil change interval was 24,000 miles or two years, whatever came first. This was required because the AT oil (Dextron), broke down relatively fast compared to today's fluids, and the Powerglide was considered one of the best AT's of it's day. If you recall, it was also standard to do an engine oil change every 1,200 miles as well, for the same reason.

Knowing how meticulous most mechanic's are with their personal vehicles, I am shocked that neither of them have ever changed the fluid in their vehicles, and just as surprised that both of them drive vehicles with over 400,000 miles, as just 0.03% of vehicles on the road today hit the 300,000 mile mark.

Although this may be your personal experience (as remarkable as it is), I don't feel that it is good advise for anyone to ignore the manufacturer recommended intervals for fluid changes of any type, or at least change it at the minimal intervals recommended.

 

I'll second that

IMO You'll do more damage or have issues by changing it, sorry guys, that's just how it is. I learned that lesson a long ago to the point that I only check for leaks, and if I don't see any, I don't touch the tranny ATF. No issues here on my out of warranty '16 taco.

Cheers!