Transmission Fluid Change?

Case in point...Had a 06 Matrix A/T - drained the fluid every 25k miles, did not remove the pan, just drained the fluid & replaced it with the OEM Toyota fluid. I sold the car with just over 100k & the fluid was clean, smelled right & functioned like the day i bought it...My thought was just keep rotating the fluid, without disturbing the pan, as in most cases once you remove the pan it will leak for ever.....I plan to to the same thing with my 2.7 A/T Tacoma....A main consideration why I chose the 4 cyl over the 6 - Its more user friendly, when you do your own maintenance....

 

4 quarts T-IV in the dipstick hole and your good

 

Careful the A340 can take more than 4 quarts on a proper drain and fill. I recommend you pour in enough ATF to show cold on the dip stick then start the truck and allow it to warm up. Before reaching full operating temp on the needle (around half way to full operating temp) cycle the gear selector from park to 1 pausing for a few seconds between each gear. Do this 3 times then inspect the level add fluid slowly and repeat to ensure the transmission is properly filled. Remember you should not be at the hot mark fill yet. Then gently drive it around the block till fully warmed up and check the level again if you are between the cold and hot mark you are fine. If your at the hot mark you may be a little over full as the transmission won't be up to full temp. Drive the truck down the road for 30 min and recheck. If your still on the hot mark great if not add a tiny bit. Remember every time you check you should be on flat ground and cycle through the gears to make sure all the accumulators are full.

Just an FYI the filter is a course steel mesh no need for replacement unless it is broken.

Hope this helps.

 

If you are doing the transmission you should also do the gear oil in the axle as well. Mobil 1 Synthetic

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 GL5 rated is perfect.

 

i measured the amount that I drained from the tranny it was exactly 4 quarts and replaced that, but I haven't checked the level after driving it, I bought the truck 2nd hand and could tell that the fluid was never serviced was at 49k miles when bought the fluid was very dirty.

 

I did my axles I used the recommended 75w85 gl5 Redline brand very expensive in the rear axle only and used the Walmart Super tech semi synthetic 75w90 in the transfer and front axle since I don't use the 4wd drive a lot, next time I will use all 75w90 in everything.

 

How would you describe dirty especially at 49k miles? Chances are something is wrong if it is dark/discolored to the point you consider it dirty.

 

it was quite darker cherry with no burnt smell . I had a 2004 Tacoma auto I drained and refilled every 30k it never really looked that dark as far as I can recall. it was used as a commercial work truck and had a ball hitch on the rear bumper so im suspecting that the driveline got a tougher work out than my 04 which was a DD grocery getter. also the rear axle fluid was also quite knarlly looking compared to my 04 but again it didn't have a burnt smell nor do I have rear driveline noises it just looked to me to be very due for a change out.

 

Sounds normal to me. My truck saw quite a bit of abuse and the ATF and gear oil were always dark.

 

I changed my yesterday at 88k miles. It was a darker hue (mahogany cherry?) but smelled and felt like it was within spec. I put in about 4.1 quarts and it looked just over the hot line. Feels like it shifts smoother! not sure if it is just a placebo effect. My only concern was when I was putting my bolt back into the trans I went about a quarter turn and near the end of the turn it felt like it loosened up instead of getting tighter. Hopefully I didn't strip the bolt and it was just the crush washer getting flush. I immediately stopped after that turn and called it a day.

 

Wow. You can replace chemical laboratories! Best I can do is stay it's still red and doesn't smell burnt.

 

Be carefull these strip out very easily I think the torque spec is only 14 ft/pds I go to 10-12 ft/pds on the safe side

 

Changed mine at about 100k (60k mi) with the redline synthetic

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 and you tell a difference right away. So much smoother with new fluid

 

Jacking up the front passenger side worked great, I drained and refilled almost 5 liters in my 2nd gen 2.7 auto, thanks for the tip! I tow a boat with mine so figured I should keep on top of the tranny fluid maintenance

 

I have my truck in for 180,000 mile checkup and asked them to change the transmission fluid, which I am pretty sure hasn't been changed in at leaset 60k miles. The service tech says Toyota no longer recommends changing the fluid at all. Does that sound reasonable? It is an automatic transmission, 4 cyl, 2011.

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news.......Yeah....Dealers & Service Departments....If you brought your truck in religiously from day one, for fluid changes, and there was documentation to prove fluids were changed at their recommended intervals, they would be telling you that the transmission fluid needed to be changed....@ 180k with the last change at 60k its like playing russian roulette.....They change the fluid & then a transmission issue arises their on the hook.....So they just spew out words like "Toyota doesn't recommend it" .....

 

Drain & fill won't hurt anything no matter how many miles are on the transmission. If it's way overdue for service, be sure to use the OEM fluid or you might have issues. Where a high mileage neglected transmission *might" have symptoms afterward is when you take off the pan and really open it up. Just my experience, YMMV.