When to service transmission?

I bought my truck at 24k back in may, and when it hit 30k, I went to Toyota and bought a case of fluid and flushed the trans at work with our machine. Took about an hour to do, including checking the level after the fluid got to the right temp according to my scan gauge. I have the tow package, and had to add about half a quart once at proper temp, but I can't really say for sure if it was low or not since it may not have flushed it 100% even.

 

Let's take this back a step. Someone posts saying there's been issues of transmissions being underfilled. You then posted this.

This isn't misinformation. There have been people here that have checked and found their fluid low because of reading about others that have had the same problem. Im not even sure what you're trying to get at by saying there isn't 'documented' accounts of this. Some people have found this to be true.

 

I give!! Post #5 - "From what I've read here the fluid level comes low from the factory on a lot of these trucks with the tow package.."
If you believe that this is an accurate representation of the way "a lot of our tow package trucks were delivered"- (because)I read it on TW - then it must be so. I take exception to premise and my response was based on the context. That, I believe, is misinformation, if the anecdotal evidence is intended to suggest the problem is endemic.

 

I think your being overly anal. Let me go through the TW filing cabinet and break out some documents.

 

I'm in good f**k'in company - LOL

 

Never touched mine until 100k. Toyota did a trans flush and no issues. Although I don't tow anything. If towing or harsh conditions the manual says every 60k.

 

I don't think anyone else is arguing on about the use of terminology.

 

Actually, I posted that because mine was also low when checked at the dealership. According to others here they've had the same experience. If yours was full that's great... just saying some aren't. If you don't believe it so be it...

 

Considering the tranny takes 9 quarts of fluid, the truth of the matter is it probably doesn't matter that much in the long run if they're a quart low or so unless you are hard on it, in which case it you're probably shortening it's life even if it had the proper amount of fluid.

 

I was a little late starting the first low fluid post ( 05-15 trucks ) because it took a lot of time to figure out what was going on with all these members screaming about delayed transmission shifting from park to reverse and reverse to drive .
You just dont come out and say all the trucks are low on fluid because every second member at Tacoma World would have been calling me out on the issue and many still did . There were two of us diagnosing this at the time and we both came to the conclusion after many many repeat questions and many pm,s showing the identical issue .
Many of the 2005 -2015 trucks were found to be low on transmission fluid from the factory .


Although this poll was very late to the game , some evidence is here for 2005-2015
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...is-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.312718/
and here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

Some evidence is here for 2016-2017
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/

Yes, the two individual poll,s show a small percentage of Tacoma,s that were sold . Tacoma World is designed in such a way that non members can read all posts without joining . There are hundreds of viewers every day who obtain the information and never join up as a member .There are many members on TW who never voted in either poll . With this said , we know for a fact that the numbers are much higher than the polls indicate .
In both low fluid posts , they are both worded that the fluid could be low .Nowhere does it read that all trucks are low .
I believe that the members who voted in both polls were truthful . They were given the ability in the polls to state the fluid level was fine .
Your fluid level was fine in your truck , other members had low fluid .
I think there is enough truthful evidence within Tacoma World alone to rule out the misinformation quote

 

I do a drain/fill every 30k on my '04 Highlander auto & my '13 Tacoma auto.

So, in the driveway, every 3rd oil change.

It's easy, it's cheap.

However I do have one caveat on the 'easy' part. Both my vehicles have drain plugs and are dipstick equipped, as any automatic transmission should be. At least IMHO.

#dipsticksmatter #savethedipsticks

 

One of the shops I take my truck for service recommends a drain and fill for the transmission every 30,000. He has been a transmission specialist for decades. Costs me around $110 for labor. He thinks the 100,000 service interval recommended for our trucks is a bunch of shi*.

 

Toyota dropped the service schedule from 100k downt to 60k but i also agree with your transmission specialist that it should be performed sooner

 

Time for a T-Shirt

 

I looked at at least 3-4 Pre-Runner and they all didn't have zerks. I think you're the only pre-runner that I've seen here that has it.

 

It may depend on the year of mfg., engine size - drive(2WD/4WD) - etc.

If jimmyh has zerks on his truck, others do as well.

 

Ones I've seen without were all V6 AC and DC from 2009-2015 all Pre-Runners SR5/TRD. 4x4's that I've seen all have zerks.

 

Lots of trucks out there with 300,000 miles on the factory transmission fluid. You'll spend $1100 on getting yours serviced every 30K and might make it last about 1 more year vs never changing it. Of course the shop wants you to change it every 30K.

 

Actually not. I have seen several posters with Prerunners that do in fact have zerk fittings on the drive shaft u-joints...

Mine is 2012, SR5 Prerunner Access Cab, 2.7 liter 4 cylinder with 4 speed automatic.