Preventative maintenance: when to replace AT fluid?

That is under "Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions". At least in my copy. Also, mine never explicitly states when to change auto trans fluid.

That probably is why there is so much opinion and confusion. It all boils down to whatever arbitrary number makes you comfortable, cause that is what people are going to do anyway.

 

That can happen occasionally when the fluid is so old that the worn partials act like some of the clutch plate material. Those worn out plates will slip when slicker new fluid is added. It's like the thing got use to the dirty and burnt fluid. The clutches are so worn that the old fluid created more friction which kept it working. Where do you think the clutch plate material goes on an AT clutch pack??? In the fluid! That's exactly why I change mine every 50,000 miles. Damn cheaper than a new transmission for us that keep vehicles for decades.

A little off topic since this thread brought in the engineers: I'm an engineer (but not on automotive products) and can tell you that when the product ends up in the hands of the corporate decision makers, they apply PR, environmental, marketing, social justice, and other BS to dictate the maintenance needed. Let's say that 2 companies build a widget. The engineers designed the widget to perform best using a certain material hardness and balanced it with ease of manufacturing cost. They designed a preventive maintenance schedule that would give maximum life. Now if another competing company build an inferior product but their PM schedule was twice as long but life was half, the customer would probably go with the inferior product because it's cheaper to buy and cheaper to maintain. The mucky mucks decide that they will specify a longer PM interval, in opposition to the engineers, so that it can be marketed competitively.

 

You get out of it what you put into it… that holds true for EVERYTHING

 

I do all my maintenance except for transmission fluid. Yes I took it to the dealer. anyway lady asked me my mileage and I informed her it was just under 75K. She informed me that sir " Toyota Doesn't recommend this until 100K" I polity informed her that i appreciated the recommendations but I would like to follow through with the service.

 

At least 6 years or 60,000 miles says dealership mastertech: https://youtu.be/br39VglQakA

 

The occasional transmission DAF can only help things. Doesn't need to be an obsessive thing....just once in a while.

Some people get super intense about maintenance....buying designer oils, diff fluids, tracking maintenance on dry erase boards in their garage....fretting over every detail. But when it comes to the transmission it's...."f**k it....it's a lifetime fluid".

That said....there are plenty of Toyotas with 200k+ miles on them running on factory fill. So the argument can go either direction I suppose.

I've chosen to do a DAF once in a while. It's actually not bad if you're handy with tools....and the proper check procedure is not a big deal with a couple under your belt

 

like many things in life….everything in moderation, including moderation.

 

I wonder if he’s the same mastertech that signed off on the other techs that torqued my oil filter to hell and forgot to rotate my tires…

 

The 'Less is more' really only applies to certain things. Say, Art .. Design ...Architecture .. Sometimes music ..
But I don't think for maintenance on a giant collection of mechanical, moving parts. I've never ever met one person yet who ever regretted doing too much maintenance .. But I know quite a few who really regretted not doing enough.
I'm not saying 'go crazy' but ... Hey whatever floats yer boat.

 

I had the dealer do my first AT, diffs x 2, transfer case, radiator at 50K happily with no comment. I have a really good independent mechanic that I asked about the complexity of filling the AT. He told me that they know about bringing it to temp to get the right level. He also told me that they recommend Toyota ATF and locking diff additive for the rear end. They did my 100k and 150k everything changed. I did my power steering juice and glad I did. It was filthy. Much more responsive to quick movements now. I did all this maint to my 97 4Runner. I sold it at 370,000 miles to my friends son. It still runs perfect on the original AT and engine. The only issue I had was a front main seal leaked.

 

When I seen the notification and your example was washing fucking cloths… bruh keep on trolling (must of realized the absurdity and edit button for the save)

Maybe you don’t understand my comment or the saying- basically if you don’t put anything into it (maintenance/preventative maintenance) don’t expect much in return. Time and money into preventative maintenance is not a waste regardless.

but even editing your comment to use 100 mile/100 yr is so damn dramatic

also the saying less is more doesn’t really apply or used correctly here…
Less maintenance gets you more life?

Unless we are just spouting off random sayings, here’s a good one for ya- silence is golden

 

I expect you to document and record, for verification purposes, to change your fluids, everyday, for as long as you own the truck…

It will serve as preventive maintenance. So it shouldn’t be a waste of time, or money.

 

@DrRoboto
To me, there's two ways to approach it.

The first is preventative maintenence.
Toyota states 60,000 under severe conditions; which to me, looks like you qualify. I was of the understanding, there is no normal service interval. Maybe that's changed? Aisin on the other hand, states 2yr/12,500. What to do?

The second is predictive maintenence.
You can use fluid color, oil analysis, particle analysis , time spent at high temperature, etc. This of course is an ongoing process that entails time and money, which IMO, nullifies itself.

 

I love these threads. Nobody truly knows anything yet all try to justify their position based on some rumor or myth or legend. Amazing.

 

It's just tribalism. Whoever agrees or disagrees, do your own research. Send your own samples out. Monitor your temps. Check color etc. That's the path I'm on. Win lose or draw, I did my due diligence and have no one to blame but myself

 

I love these posts.
Oblique criticism that helps no one. Amazing.

You fit the codgy-narsassitic-engineer-type to a T....sometimes.

 

I got all my ACCURATE info from my uncle who had a next door neighbor who had a brother who's best friend from high school became a mechanic after the WWII.

 

Ah...the 3rd gen forum. Only you people could turn a thread about transmission service into an unadulterated garbage bag full of poo-poo.

 

You people know who you are.