Transmission fluid

This isn't what happened today but last week and what didn't happen. About 6 mos. ago I went in person to the Toyota Dealer in KC and asked if I brought my transfluid (Amsoil) would they change it. The guy(I got his card) at the service counter said they would do it. I think he called someone but I'm not sure. Two weeks ago I call them and again explained what I wanted done and they set up the appt. I arrive 30 min early, pull the truck into the fancy bay area. Girl comes out and tells me to come into the place where they fill out the paperwork after I show here three un-opened 2.5 gal. containers in the back of the truck and an empty 5 gal. container to put the old oil in. She indicates a "well I don't know about this" comment. Then she calls someone or fakes it, and says they won't do it. Reason: my fluid might contaminate their fluid. ???? I smell a rat. I ask how much to they want if they use their fluid. $250 and I have no guarantee what they are putting in my truck. Who knows, maybe they'll contaminate my truck; after all I have already been misled. I look at her and say a very affirmative "NO!" She moved real fast to get that bay door open and out I went.

Then after doing other running around and driving back home (115 miles) I stopped off at a recommended shop and made an appt. with a great guy who had the machine to change the fluid, explained the procedure, etc. He returned my old fluid and charged me $60.

 

you can take it to another transmission service business they will do it, some even carry Amsoil products in my area Aamco transmission caries the Amsoil transmission fluid at some locations. http://www.aamco.com/

 

any difference in the shifting using the Amsoil? I was thinking of using it in my car >Honda

 

My truck has 47,000 miles on it. I'm sure it had the WS fluid from the factory. The old fluid is a little dark but I agreed with the fellow who changed it that it wasn't bad as in smelling burnt, etc. I have towed a 5X10 trailer with it but I live in the sticks, so there is very little stop and go driving. I read some of the info good and bad about the WS fluid that Toyota uses. There is little doubt in my mind that the Amsoil is better(and more $$) as the flash point and cold weather factors are better than the WS. The other thing is that I recently had a 200R4 transmission built for a 65 Olds( and a 470 hp engine) that will handle the hp and torque (540 ft. lbs) by Janis Transmission in Akron, O. They race Gran National Buicks with those transmissions. I asked them about Amsoil and they told me to put it in mine and I run Amsoil Hydraulic oil in my NH TL80 tractor, ATV, etc.

As far as the shifting is concerned, it shifts fine and in time I will see if I can notice any MPG results. What irritated me is that the dealer said they would do it and I provided the name of the guy who told me to bring the truck in and then I told them again when I made the appt. I was a service manager(and mech.) for Kawasaki in CA in the late 1970's in to 1980's. I never would have told a customer that I would do something and then when they came in refused, and tried to sell them something else. If these dealers can spend $$ on fancy shops, bays, nicely dressed service people, free donuts and free rides then they need the integrity to go with it. Had I asked to watch them do it they would have told me "due to insurance regulations....." Otherwise it's all a facade.

 

I should add to this that I stopped at another Toyota dealer on the way out of Kansas City and explained what happened at the other dealer. The service guy told me they would change it while I waited but that they didn't have a recirculating machine to flush the system which of course it what I wanted. I told him a had made arrangement with the fellow near my home (Trenton, MO) who had the machine to do it. BTW the machine has a bladder in it that not only puts the new fluid in but actually sucks the old out. As I learned in these forums the fluid can be changed by letting the truck pump it out itself but the machine is more through and for $60 and no mess..................... The guy who did mine cleaned the machine with a little of my oil so. He had no problem letting me watch. Took about 40 min or so.

 

Why not just do it yourself? It’s pretty easy and would have saved you all that hassle at the dealer

 

Why would you take your truck to a dealer to have the trans fluid replaced rather than take it to an independent shop to do the swap?

Not sure why you chose a dealer to begin with when you weren't sticking with OEM fluid. Especially when you wanted a flush. Which would require you to have a ton of Amesoil on hand. Even if they said they would do it, would cost much more than an independent shop.

So what did the independent shop do? Flush the trans with their transmission oil and then drain and refill with your Amesoil. Doubt you brought in that much Amesoil to do the flush.

Transflush at 47,000 miles?

So confused as to the point of this thread.

 

Normally I would have. Essentially as far as sales are concerned the dealership was good. After having had those 5000 mile services done that came with the purchase of the truck at about three different dealers(I did some traveling.) I had no problems with Toyota. I usually go to the city which is about 120 miles one way so when I go I do other things, shopping, etc. I had already changed the oils in the differentials, engine oil, spark plugs, lube fittings, rotate tires. But when there are many other things to do, it was one time I thought I'd use the dealer with the trip to Kansas City. I have four cars to maintain, two ATV, one tractor, chainsaws, lawnmowers, 200 acres, Bush Hog, CRP land, etc. And a Harley. Hardly any of these see a dealer. I'm just glad after all the preparation that going down there just for the transmission oil wasn't the only reason I went. There's one more thing. If you ever have had the misfortune of buying a vehicle in the Sacramento, CA. area and had to deal with any car dealer there or in the surrounding area, then you would definitely understand. And besides, if the dealer didn't want to change my oil or they have a policy, then just be up front about it. The only reason I put this on the forum was to let readers know that just because they say the will do something doesn't mean they will do it. And dealers have the right to tell you NO. They don't have to fix anything.

 

I took in (3) 2.5 gallon jugs of un-opened fluid.

 

That's why they are referred to around here are Sealerships.

It should be assumed a dealership will screw you over.

 

Posted above (#5 by roofgunner)
"If these dealers can spend $$ on fancy shops, bays, nicely dressed service people, free donuts and free rides then they need the integrity to go with it."

A local dealer here in Memphis just started advertising "free manicures" for service/repair customers.

 

I guess you guys are referring to the 6 cyl that needs to to be flushed by machine....I change my 4 banger by removing the trans plug every 25,000 miles...It takes about 3 quarts to bring it up to the full mark so I am constantly rotating the fluid.... Using the Toyota WS fluid....Don't have to depend or beg anyone just do it myself....The joys of old technology....

 

Don't the 4 speeds take T-IV?

 

That's 30 quarts... enough to flush the transmission more than twice. It usually takes about 12 quarts, but some people run a couple extra quarts through just to make sure they get all the old fluid out.

 

Yes, did it myself with pump sprayer via transmission cooler...very easy

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

 

taco210trd - Now there's thinking outside the box....I like it!

 

My mistake.. was thinking about the RAV4 using the WS fluid.....Correct the Tacoma uses T-IV

 

As a follow up on changing the transmission fluid to the Amsoil all I can say as the truck run and shifts great. Is it any better? I really can't tell. Did the gas mileage change? I have not had it on a long trip yet. During cold weather on a 300 mile trip I got 22mpg. I will know more this summer. The best I've ever done is 23. If I go over that then I can say it helped the MPG.