"2013 Tacoma 4.0L V6: Transmission Fluid Change - Lifetime or what?

Hey Tacoma World,

I’m seeking some advice about my 2013 Tacoma with the 4.0L V6 engine. I've purchased the vehicle at the 113k mile mark and haven't seen any maintenance history of the transmission fluid being changed yet. I've read mixed opinions—some say the fluid is "lifetime" and doesn't need changing, while others recommend doing it every 60k miles or some other interval. Is it abnormal for the Tacomas to go this long without being changed? It seems wild that it would IMO. I kind of want to take a look at the fluid to see what it looks like.

I called my local dealer, and they quoted me $525 for a machine flush. Now I'm feeling a bit confused. On one hand, it seems like a lot of folks are okay with never changing it, but on the other hand, that advice feels a bit risky to me.

The vehicle drives extremely well, the transmission doesn't concern me at all. What does concern me is that if it wasn't changed in 113k miles, that would end up damaging the transmission.

I've looked at some DIY flushes, DIY drain and fills, and I feel like I could probably do it given my experience.

Should I go ahead with the dealer flush, do the DIY flush, DIY drain and fill, or is the "lifetime" fluid claim something I should trust? I'd love to hear your experiences and any recommendations you have. Thanks!

 

Absolutely, you need to change the fluid.
At or before 60k is ideal.
Even at 113k, I would feel fine doing a full fluid service.

If it were closer to 200k, I'd say drain and fill.
Then drain and fill again if it shifted ok.

By the way. All fluid is "lifetime".
If you never change the fluid, the fluid will last right up to the time the transmission dies. "Lifetime"....... Get out of here with that crap.
They need to stop with that term. It's misleading at best.

 

Just paid $450 in Bozeman, MT. Considered a pricey town. Maybe shop at another dealer and see if you get a better deal?

 

They technically aren't lying when they say "lifetime fluid", it will last the lifetime of the transmission. What they don't say is the transmission will probably last longer if you change the fluid at regular intervals.

You will get mixed opinions here as well, some will say leave it till it blows others will say change it.

While I don't recommend doing a flush I do recommend draining it and changing the filter every 30-60k or so, more often if you tow alot. A drain and fill with a pan drop to change the filter will change about half the fluid.

Good info here on a drain and fill although do note the temperature range listed there is incorrect, it should be 95-115F. You can either use the jumper wire method or use a scan tool to monitor transmission temp.

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

 

That's what I was thinking. Why is there even a debate about this then? There is no service history that states it on the carfax, but there is history around 60k that the coolant, fuel system, oil changes, etc. were done so I am hoping it was completed.

The heartache thinking about if it wasn't replaced...

 

At your mileage, I’d do two pan drain and fills back to back, and then another at 120k and then every 30-60k depending on how much towing, hot environments, etc

 

When you do the back to back drain and fill, do you only change the filter on the 2nd drain and fill?

 

My 2013 tranny was untouched until 160K and performing great. I do haul a boat and have the factory trans cooler. I did the pan drop, new strainer and added 5 quarts. Did 2 drain & fills (~3.5 quarts each time). I am at 198K with zero issues. Adding a photo of the progression of new fluid.

 

I wouldn’t change the filter twice.

 

Wow, I am actually kind of shocked at how the condition is so well. This actually makes me feel a lot better. Would you all recommend not taking it to the shop to have it machine flushed? It seems like there are varying degrees of "drain and refill it", "flush and clean the magnets" or something in-between.

 

I was told by a dealership that they would not flush any transmission over 120K miles.

I followed the link that Dm93 posted above. I gathered all the parts needed and did it on my carport with no jacks. The bucket, hoses and black plastic tub came from Lowes. I live in Florida so there is no rust on most of my undercarriage. Some guys have had issues removing the pan bolts due to rust or corrosion. I did put penetrating oil on the topside of each bolt end. Bolts came right out, dropped the pan, cleaned the magnets, installed new strainer, new pan gasket, bolted it up and added 5 quarts. (~4.5 was caught and measured when I drained trans & caught fluid from pan & strainer). Be sure to center the tub under the pan to catch all fluid!! Got to temp and check the level. Then did 2 more drain & fills.

 

My method is you do a simple drain and fill @ 15k miles, after you have driven each 15k miles. Each D&F is 3 qts. 4x = (60K miles is recommended change interval.) The first time you do the d&f, be exact with a graduated container that’s marked in ounces. Do the temp.check method, get it exact. And the next time it’s easy, drain and replace only, no temp check needed. After you do 1 or 2 times you develop a system and It takes 20 min. if you refill through the engine bay with a vinyl tube and funnel. ( don’t even think of the hand pumps)

 

I don't have the 2013 maintenance manual anymore, but I'm pretty sure it said to change ATF at 120k because I probably wouldn't have done it otherwise (or would have done it at 100k). I went to the dealer because I didn't want to hassle with it (and I was staying with my daughter at the time). They did a flush and refill.

 

The dude at the dealership said service every 60k miles, but I looked through the manual and couldn't even see an interval other that "check at 60k". I look on here and see conflicting results as well, so I don't know who to trust anymore, lol!

 

It's in the maintenance book, severe duty (which alot of peoples driving falls under) 60k mi or 72 mo.

There's 2 main reasons maintenance intervals have gotten so insanely long, sure fluids have gotten much better but it's more down to claiming low cost of ownership and government pressure to keep a vehicle's total resource use/pollution level as low as possible.

You have to also factor in that manufacturers are only responsible for things breaking on a vehicle until the warranty is up, after that it isn't their problem.

 

Drain and refill is safest
Wait another year or so and do another drain and refill.then every 30 k from there .The trans will out live the truck

 

Drive it until it dies then get it rebuilt, if it ever dies. Chances are good the truck will end up in the scrap yard for other reasons with the factory fluid in there. It's cheaper in the long run. A transmission shop will rebuild it for around $2500-$3000 and if you drive it right 400,000 miles isn't unusual. If you pay for a fluid change every 50,000 miles you've paid for 1/2 of the rebuild. And you're still going to need to get it rebuilt at about the same miles.

I've never seen anything that leads me to believe changing transmission fluid prolongs transmission life. It doesn't serve the same purpose as engine oil and even if it's dirty looking it still does its job. In fact, draining the old dirty fluid and replacing it with new fluid may accelerate transmission failure. If the transmission is already compromised and dying keeping the old dirty fluid in there buys you a little time. That's why a reputable shop won't service a high mileage transmission. They have seen too many die within a few days.

I've been driving over 50 years. Never once changed transmission fluid in any vehicle. No one in my family nor my wife's family has ever done it either. None of us have ever had a fluid related failure. Electrical issues a few times yes, but nothing related to fluid. I currently have 4 vehicles with a combined 690,000 miles all with the factory fluid in them. If one dies tomorrow, I'm way ahead financially.

 

Does it have a fill plug?
Does it have a drain plug?
Is there a filter inside?
Is the pan removable?
Does it have magnets?
Is there a level/fill/adjust procedure?
Is the fluid sold?
Do mfg's have intervals?

 

I saw this as well, but my tacoma has never fallen into this category. I did go ahead and had all fluids replaced at 90k. Dealership said it looked good, but agreed to go ahead and serviced transmission since I was heading out on long road trip.

 

I did three drain and fills back to back at 220k. The truck had no known transmission service on record. I did another drain and fill at 280k. I am at 321k now.