Transmission Service

I was always told Tacomas had a lifetime transmission and they’re not a need to do an exchange. Even when I took it Toyota was never told. Now at 140k miles and occasional rough shift not chatter. Flush, exchange or let it go. There are so many thoughts out there.

 

At that mileage, I’d do a couple of drain and fills. Definitely not a flush. The Car Care Nut on YouTube has a couple of good videos on why you shouldn’t flush on an older vehicle.

 

I have seen horrible experience with flushes with high mileage. Flushes all the particulates out and then get major chatter. I was leaning toward drain and fill but wondering if that would also remove some of the items holding my trans together.

 

Doing a couple would be safe. Or do one and then hit it again in 30k. Introducing a full round of new fluid via flush really cleans too much of the clutch material and that’s the main issue to my knowledge. Just getting a few quarts of clean fluid in there will do a lot of good but not so much as to cause issues.

 

Replace or clean the ATF filter, then complete a drain/refill. But, first read up on how to check the ATF level, for the V6 as it does not have a trans dip stick. I believe the 4 cyl still has one.

 

I think The Car Care Nut’s take on auto tranny fluid is leave original fluid in there if it’s got over 100k miles on it.

 

I was at 160K with no service on my tranny (no issues shifting) . Dropped the pan, new strainer, cleaned the magnets, new pan gasket and been doing the 3 quart drain/fill. I am at 185K and tranny still performing great! I second to NOT flush. Here is a photo of the fluid at different intervals. Just did 3 quarts at 184K and fluid looks almost new.

 

Having fluid LOOK like new at 184,000 is not good news. At that point it needs to look dirty to be effective. Transmission fluid doesn't perform the same function as engine oil. When new the clutches in the transmission are covered with an abrasive material to help them stick together. With use the abrasive wears off and becomes suspended in the fluid.

If the clutches are worn past a certain point they need the abrasive (dirty fluid) in order to prevent them from slipping. The new fluid is too slippery and will cause the clutches to start slipping. That is why any reputable shop won't touch an older transmission. The damage to the clutches is already done and changing the fluid won't put abrasive back on the clutches. Leaving the old fluid in there buys you some time before you need to rebuild.

My 07 is at 239,000 miles on the fluid that came from the factory with zero issues. I'll replace the fluid when/if I ever get the transmission rebuilt. Instead of spending money now to change the fluid I'll just save it in case it ever fails. The truck will more than likely end up in the scrap yard for other reasons before that happens.

 

My initial transmission service at 80,000 miles was done in this manner. I did a drain and fill, drove a couple of hundred miles, then did another drain and fill. I drove another couple of hundred miles before draining the fluid, dropping the pan, cleaning the pan, the magnets and replacing the screen/filter. Of course the pan gasket along with the washers for for the drain and fill plug were replaced. All parts, along with the AT fluid were from my local Toyota dealership. One of my buds is a mechanic, so I get all my parts at his price. The next trasmision service on my truck will be at 140,000 miles and will consist of a simple drain and fill.

BTW- I left my home in TX in late February and traveled through NM, AZ, UT and CO. I got back home in early May, driving over 4,000 miles in the process. The Tacoma had zero issues, just needed a little TLC once home.

 

@Marshall R

save me a few quarts of that dirty fluid if you get to that point!

 

Get 12 quarts of toyota ws, drain the pan, drop the pan, clean the magnets, replace the filter screen button back together and fill with 4 quarts of new. Proceed to pump 2 quarts at a time out of the atf cooler lines for a total of 12 quarts and then do the temp level check procedure.