Transmision Oil Change

Hi

I am new to this forum! I just bought a second hand (or third) Tacoma 2012 TRD 4x4 with 65k miles on it.

Last week I took it to the Toyota dealer close to my home to get a quote on a transmision oil change.

The service manager told me that they do not change transmision oil in vehicles over 50k miles; beacause putting new oil in a greabox that has not been serviced before, might lead to failures.

It doesn´t makes sense to me, but this is my first 4x4 truck so I would appreciate any feedback on this issue.

Cheers!

 

The dealer is an idiot and lying to you.

You can do it yourself if you’d like. Several threads in the maintenance section.

 

Old wifes tale that the gears get "used" to the old fluid so flushing it out with new fluid causes issues on how the gears mesh.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/

I did mine with about 50k miles without issue. I used the drill pump method and went in through the trans cooler lines.

 

Not true, I did a drain and fill at 100k.
And guess who did it? - The dealership.
I’d definitely recommend drain and fill at a minimum.

The dealership probably uses a flush machine, and doesn’t want to risk flushing contaminants into the valve body. If done correctly, the likely hood of this happening is unlikely. But it’s a risk most won’t take.
My dealership would not do a flush. They will do a drain and fill.


To do a flush correctly involves dropping the pan, cleaning the magnets in the pan.
Replacing the filter, and flushing the lines in the proper direction.

FWIW, I’ll probably do my own next time.
Drain the pan, measure what comes out, add back the same amount.

 

Just to clarify, does your truck has a manual or automatic transmission? BTW-Welcome and congrats on that "new to you" Tacoma.

 

My toyo dealership quoted me 250 for pulling pan changing filter and fill

 

For a Dealership, that’s not bad.
D&R only cost $194 here.

That’s why I’ll just do my own next time.
I may or may no go through the Temp Check process.

Probably just measure and refill.

 

The Toyota dealership that is actually closer to me quoted 425.00

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-2nd-gen-transmission-pan-and-filter.726329/

 

They're just not wanting to take liability on a vehicle that hasn't had the trans serviced. What happens over time is that your clutch material wears off the bands and stays suspended in your trans fluid. This causes the vehicle to still shift just like normal (usually.) When that fluid is replaced with new fluid that no longer has all that clutch material in it, the trans which was already damaged starts to slip and show its true condition. At 65k, id think you're fine, but I would do it myself. It's simple.

Drain the fluid and make sure it isn't black and doesn't smell burnt. If not, you're good to replace the ~3.5 quarts that you drained. (If so, put that fluid back in and just drive it.) Drive the truck 20 miles or so, and do it again. I do three dump and fills which gets you something like just under 90% all new fluid in there. Only use the appropriate toyota WS fluid imo though.

 

This.

If the transmission is already compromised. Or if the fluid has been allowed to get too hot in the past it is best to just leave it alone. If there is already damage changing the fluid won't fix it, in fact it will speed up transmission failure. Lots of people get their transmissions serviced and have them die within 1000-2000 miles then come back and blame the guy who did the work. No shop wants that headache.

Leaving the old fluid in there buys you more time before the failure, often years. Even if there is no damage changing it won't extend your transmissions life anyway. With no known history on the vehicle I'd not change the fluid either. In fact I don't know of any reputable shop who will change transmission fluid regardless of miles. The un reputable ones will take your money.

Transmission fluid doesn't serve the same purpose as engine oil. And today's transmissions, and the fluid in them, ain't the same as your grand daddy's. There is really no reason to ever change it. 95% of the vehicles built will end up in the scrap yard for other reasons before the transmission fails with the factory fluid in it. And the transmissions that die early will still die early even if you change the fluid. I know too many guys who have changed their fluid every 50,000 miles and still had them die under 200,000. And too many guys between 300,000-400,000 still running the factory fluid. They die when they die. There is no correlation between how often you change the fluid and your transmissions life. At least with vehicles built in the last 15-20 years. Forty years ago there was a need to do this.

 

Is it even true that the transmission will slip? I think that myth came from people back in the 90s or around then draining tranny fluid and putting in the wrong fluid. Sounds something that my dad would do. And that would cause it to slip.

I say change your fluid. Even if you have 200k on original. Just make sure to put in correct fluid