Transmission service at 5k.

Service?..... No
Repair?.......Yes

 

I find it a common misconception that the use of the word “Lifetime”, is taken as “Forever”.
“Lifetime” is the life of the component. (Transmission)
Failure can be caused by many factors.
One of which, IMO, is the fluid.

I say change it.

 

Did you find any metal pieces or shavings in the fluid?

 

I agree. Fluid is cheap. I could understand if you were changing it every 3000 miles it would get pretty expensive. However once you get the initial break in out of it doing it every 20 to 30,000 miles it would take you several times to even get near the price of what it would cost you to replace a transmission or rebuild it.

I never understood why people don't get that. As good as Toyota is they want to sell you another vehicle or transmission whichever you choose they don't want to tell you what you need to do to make it last the maximum time.

 

Just a little at the bottom of the pan. The magnets had quite a bit but that was to be expected especially for the first time. My philosophy is if you change it regularly you shouldn't ever have to flush it as you keep the fluid turned over. All you want to do is just replenish the additives that deplete a little overtime you never want to allow it to completely go bad and then try to put a bunch of good fluid in it to me that's where you screw up.

 

The #1 cause of transmission failure is lack of maintenance.

 

Closely followed misuse and abuse.
Which contributes to heat damage.

I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of the above.
I’m older, get tired quicker, don’t like spending unnecessary money, no longer enjoy “working” on cars.
So, I try to “go easy” now.

FWIW, It took all of ~3,500 miles to toast a 48re (ram 2500 - 5.9) on a High Power tune.
Heat kills...... (My brother and I will never forget this expensive lesson learned. Again the hard way.)

 

Lol at people believing the “lifetime fluid” horseshit. They probably also trust the dealership and think they would never do them any wrong lol. Lifetime fluid is just feelgood hype for environmentalists, and for Toyota to market a maintainace free vehicle because people dont know how to use tools anymore, let alone when to bring a vehicle in for service. Regardless of reliability, Toyota is only interested in selling you another vehicle, not helping you keep your old one tip-top. My dads 2012 has a sealed trans as well. He babies that truck, never towed a thing. The fluid change (with Toy ATF-ws) we did at around 100,000 made it drive like a new truck all over again. It was not nearly as bright red as the new stuff either.

 

Weren't those self de-tuning to protect the transmission?

 

Very true, but fluid change frequency is not necessarily proportional to transmission lifespan.

I can change my fluid every day but that does not mean my transmission will last indefinitely. There's a point where diminishing returns kicks in. The people who manufacture these fluids and transmissions know where these points are when suggesting maintenance intervals.

 

Please don't put words in my mouth...and I agree.

So you'll be using the Aisin or Toyota interval?
If Toyota, are you going by normal or special conditions?
There is no interval for normal conditions...
2nd gen went from a 100K interval to 60K interval...
Most UOAs I've seen for ATF-WS across numerous models, is 'done' by 60K...

Don't get me wrong; I think each owner should do what they consider prudent.
For me, that includes doing research beyond the maintenance manual.
It might have been written by engineers, but I'm willing to bet bean-counters edited it.

 

If they were, It didn’t help.
The clutch packs shot.
It was a combination of 35” tires, lift, and weight.
The Stock packs couldn’t hold up under High Traction.
The failure was 100% our fault. There was a full disclosure on possible damage.
It even recommended NOT using it on Stock or Nonmodified Truck.

Of course, we went - Max Tune
Said, “we were not going to run it hard all the time”
That didn’t happen, it got ran hard often.
Second gear shift in rain, was almost %100 chance of wheel spin.
Unless you let off just before the shift.


I’m no transmission expert. But I’ve pulled a few Autos and Replaced them.
Done more Manual Trans then Auto.

We had the Trans Built by a local Diesel Shop. ( specializes in performance diesel)
Basically came down to Line Pressures, Clutch, packs, a few other things.
Total build cost was just over $3,700 for a “Mid-600HP/750TQ Built Transmission”
That was Parts and install labor on the bench.
Not including R/R of the Transmission itself.

Isn’t it funny how stuff “really” works AFTER you break it.
I’m trying to do the opposite as I get older. Breaking stuff SUCKS.

 

Thanks for sharing your findings. Those pan magnets have a decent bit of build up. Good to know the pan gasket is reusable.

I have a similar philosophy. For transmissions, drain and fill cycles for 80% fluid replacement every 50k miles. It's quick and easy given the plugs, albeit new fluid is wasted in the cycles. I don't bother removing the pan for filter or magnets. To me it's better and lower cost to keep the fluid consistent and fresher by drain and fills rather than do a flush and run the fluid to burned out.

 

I think the OP did a good job and thanks for the pictures

Maybe a bit early for a pan drop but hey .... Its his truck .

Everything I was going to say has already been mentioned .
splitbolt

 

I think the maintenance schedule actually does say something for high abuse like spending a lot of time towing or off road. I’ll have to check it.

 

Yes Sir.
You are the TW Trans Guru.
I’d take your advice over mine any day. Lol

 

This assumes changing fluid significantly increases transmission lifespan. I don’t think we have any solid data that shows changing the fluid increases lifespan for this particular transmission. You can spend all that money on fluid changes and the transmission might still need a rebuild or replacing at an interval similar to another transmission with no fluid changes.

 

We do have some solid data from the 2nd gen 5 speed transmission .. Aisn Seiki A750E series transmission .
What we have learned is that the valve body on these transmissions are designed out of a solid brick of aluminum to save weight and are extremely susceptible to wear when the re-agents in the transmission fluid begin depleting .
Because our transmissions are completely computer controlled , the computer compensates for this wear factor and the operator of the truck believes everything is fine because the truck still shifts fine .

The 6 speed Aisn Seiki AC60 series transmission found in the 3rd gen is very very similar to the transmission in the 2nd gen trucks .
The 6 speed now has 5 or 6 years of operation if you include the vehicles that use the 6 speed overseas .
We are beginning to see very similar findings to what we found with the 2nd gen trucks and many of the same complaints .

Where am I going with this ?
Change your transmission fluid .....Keep it clean

Edit : I am adding this to my post here because the thread starts going a little off topic further down the pages .



No. Part # Description List Price Price
1 35106-04010 Trans Pan


$121.77 $91.33 35168-04010 Pan Gasket
Trans Pan Gasket



$45.22 $33.92 90341-10011 Drain Plug
Trans Pan Drain Plug

TYPE 1

$3.53 90341-10021 Trans Pan Drain Plug
TYPE 2

$3.53 35178-30010 Trans Pan O-Ring
Trans Pan Seal



$2.82 35330-04010 Filter


$48.28 $36.21

Check this out !!! A full synthetic replacement for semi synthetic WS fluid and much cheaper . Thats rite folks . Toyota claims WS is synthetic ,,,,it is not
This stuff is far superior to World Standard fluid . Dump it in
Lubeguard is by far the best fluid in the business . That LXE technology in the fluid is second to none .

https://www.lubegard.com/products/atf/


DESCRIPTION
Lubegard’s unique, proprietary LXE® Technology provides superior wear protection with improved frictional and shear stability (high film strength for the life of the fluid).

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BENEFITS

• World class replacement for synthetic low viscosity ATF. Check out our OEM ATF & Conversion Chart for full compatibility listing.
• Backward compatible to replace DEXRON® fluids in older automatic transmissions that call for DEXRON® as well as Honda applications that call for Z-1® ATF.
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Water can be a lifetime transmission fluid, you just wouldn't like the lifetime.