Frustration with Transmission Service

I've done a few in my day.

Bought a used Yaris for my daughter a couple of years ago. At the time it had 126k on the clock. Did a full service on the transmission (which also calls for no service under normal circumstances). She shifts flawlessly....approaching 150k now.

 

Toyota dealers refuse to do flushing services because Toyota does not recommend it.

This is the logic I don’t get. If you change the fluid regularly you won’t get gunk building up!
So why recommend leaving the fluid with no change?


This is what drives me nuts, there is only one legitimate scientific answer to this question but mechanics are going based of silly superstition and can’t give me the scientific answer.

I’m not arguing with you but ranting to the universe with the logic around the “gunk”.

I won’t do it myself because I don’t want to. I don’t feel comfortable doing it and honestly don’t enjoy working on vehicles. I make enough to pay people to do shit I don’t want to do.
I change my own oil but anything beyond that, not my thing.

 

I'd say just do it yourself. I've read that unless your transmission overheats there is no need to ever do a flush.
If I were you, I'd just do a drain and fill.

 

Agreed. People get really hand-wavy with automatic transmissions because they're a black box. Mechanics may know better deep down, but they've been blamed by enough customers that they just back off.

 

Well whats funny is the liability doesn’t go the other way. So my trans blows up at 150k, are you gonna give me a new one because you gave me poor advice to not touch it?

 

Exactly. It doesn't go the other way.

 

i believe toyota recommends a flush at 70,000 if you tow a lot. i could be mistaken tho... check the recommend service intervals. it should say somewhere in there. now, its pretty common to just leave the fluid in there if you haven't already replaced it earlier. if you didn't replace the fluid around 70,000 , then i wouldn't do it. the reason for this is that new fluid can introduce new issues. And yes, the shops are correct and most likely backing their asses because they do not want you coming back saying they ruined your truck....
just do it yourself if you really want.... but its your risk. and thats something you'll have to decide for yourself.

 

yup


This happened to me on my tacoma

 

well, this is weird.. Toyota service history of my truck. (Item 3)

 

^^^ it was probably;y at 70,000 like i had mentioned. and if it was done then, Go for it. no worries changing the fluid. IMHO

 

although I don't have the sealed transmission I used these steps to do my trans and worked out great with little to no mess I didn't do the filter replacement im over 100k miles https://youtu.be/ej_6BZpK3gg

 

90k

 

Just do it your self..

Worst case just drain the pain (about 3 qt) measure and put that much back in.
Now there are many was to get the trans temp, add fluid, get to temp (115) remove the over fill, drain excess and replace bolt, that's it.

If if comes out dark you will have to do a flush out all the fluid still not that hard just takes longer.
now you have to remove a trans line, start the truck and pump out 2-3 qt at a time, shut off the truck, add fluid and repeat until you have replaced all 12 qt...

 

I did only drain and refill. My issue was that thump noise every time I stop on traffic light and then get off brake. After I did transmission service, drained about 3 quarts, and refilled same amount, that "thump" on stop and go is completely gone. I never tow anything and that service was done on low mileage. I am now on 90k miles. My plan is to do another drain and refill sometime when I get over 100k miles.

 

The fact that it has already been done is relieving to me, I would have no issue doing it. Maybe bring this info to your transmission shop and the answer might change to a yes.

 

Toyota recommends checking the fluid every 60k and draining and replacing the fluid if its warranted. They do not recommend a flush.

Thats a fluid change, not a flush.

 

My manual says something along the lines of "check the tranny fluid only if you tow a lot". It makes no reference to ever changing the fluid. I was curious a few weeks ago and was looking through my manual specifically for this info.

 

I have 3 tacomas. All 2nd gen and all are v6 4.0 engine, 4x4 with automatic transmissions. For the past few years, I do a drain and fill on the transmission with every other oil change. No problems whatsoever. In fact, I believe the trucks shift a little smoother. Valvoline Maxlife ATF (make sure to get the bottles with the red cap....not yellow). You can pick up a 4qt jug at Wally World for $18.

 

What's the difference between a fluid flush and a fluid change?

 

One is a drain and refill (of which not all of the fluid comes out about 30% of the old fluid stays in).

A flush drops the pan, results in a filter change, drains 100% of the fluid and runs new fluid through the trans until its clean, then the gasket is changed, pan is put back on and the fluid is refilled.