Sealed Trasmission fluid change

I got a 2018 trd off-road with 65,000 miles. I towed my travel trailer from Cali to Georgia this year 3,900lbs and about 2700 miles. I’ve done some research about getting my sealed transmission fluid changed and I get mixed info. I know it doesn’t last forever but when is a good time to get it changed out. I went to get it changed today at a dealership and they said that they don’t recommend changing it. Thanks yall

 

Wow, a stealership not willing to take your money

 

Check your Service Manual for the mileage interval for transmission service. Follow that.

Find another dealer. Reality, if you want the fluid changed and willing to pay, then the shop should be willing to do the work. Although, the shop may advise against the work, but should explain why.

 

They just said Toyota doesn’t recommend it but the research I’ve done says otherwise. Just don’t want to make the same mistake as someone else if they were in the same boat as me previously. I think I’ll probably wait another 10-15k miles before I do it. I know your not suppose to change it over 175-200k, just want the vehicle to last as long as possible. Already Got a overland rack and tent and a bunch of other mods I’m wanting to add. I know my truck is reliable, just want to maximum lifespan.

 

The service manual only recommends changing the automatic transmission fluid every 60k miles under extreme conditions such as idling and low speed driving such as police cars, taxis and door to door driving.

Outside of that it only says to inspect for leaks. There is no recommendation for regular use or towing up to 120k miles.

 

I just had mine changed around ~65k, for what it's worth. I'm not rough on the girl, but I'm not too gentle either. It's the lower end the recommended range, but, in my case, seemed like the right call.

 

Thank you guys, just wanted some other opinions/ advise

 

You might find this educational. Video of this subject from The Car Care Nut - Master Toyota Tech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUAuGmDGntY

 

Here's a YouTube video showing the basics. With auto transmission's it's better to drain and fill than "flush." I've heard those dealer "flush" machines will flush everyone else's old transmission crud right through yours and has the potential to cause problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9ZHWhW7Aso

 

IMO changing transmission fluid is one of the biggest money maker for shops and one of the least important things you can do to your truck. The guy who runs the local transmission shop has been in business for 50 years and he tells me he has never been able to show any correlation between changing fluid and how long the transmission lasts. Certain makes and models of vehicles are going to be good for 100,000-150,000 miles, others have proven to last 400,000+ and he replaces/rebuilds them at about the same point regardless of whether or not the owner changed the fluid. If someone comes in and insists on paying to get it changed he will do it, but tell you you're wasting your money.

His advice it to just drive it till the transmission dies then replace or rebuild it. Lots of guys who change fluid with a flush every 30,000-50,000 miles will literally spend more on maintenance than it will cost to replace it. There is a very good chance the vehicle will end up in the scrapyard for other reasons before the transmission dies even if you never change it.

He has a 25 year old 3/4 ton Chevy with 300,000+ miles and he has never had the pan off the transmission. My 2007 is at 220,000 and I haven't changed mine. I have close to 1/2 million combined miles sitting in the driveway, all with the transmission fluid that came from the factory. In fact I've been driving since 1974 and have never changed the transmission fluid on any vehicle I've ever owned. Never had the 1st issue.

 

“Girl “?!

 

I don’t change the oil in the engine either. Billy bob from bobs motors works on chevys and told me to do so and I trust everything

 

Some people's rig are chick's. If it doesn't have truck nuts it a girl.

 

Toyota took out the A/T cooler in 2018, right? Nothing is cooling the AT fluid.
Truck towed a trailer over the mountains across the country, and everybody tells him to leave the tranny alone???
AT fluid oxidizes when it overheats, it shears and thins out.
I change ATF every 40K to 50K miles, depending on the vehicle.

Failed transmission will cost $5,000 to replace.
Transmission service is $250, with a new filter and pan seal. $5,000/$250=20 transmission services.
50K miles x 20 services = 1,000,000 miles. You would have to drive for 1,100,000 miles to "will literally spend more on maintenance than it will cost to replace it". (1,000,000 + 50,000 of miles before the 1st AT service + 50,000 miles after the 20th service, due for the 21st AT service is 1,100,000 miles)

I will be generous, and say you got a deal at AT replacement at $3K, and replace ATF every 40K miles.
$3000/$250=12 transmission services.
40,000 miles x 12 ATF services is 480,000 miles. Does anyone honestly think that any AT, cooler or no cooler, can go for 520,000 miles (do not forget to add in the 40K miles before the first ATF service) without any kind of services or filter replacement????

 

They took out the auxiliary cooler at some point in 20. They still have the cooler in the radiator.

 

Thank you for the date correction.
It is a heat exchanger, not really a cooler.
I will be installing a real ATF cooler as soon as truck is out of warranty.

 

Right now is a good time imo. Drain and fill 3-4 qts every 60,000 miles

 

Where did anyone say 520,000 miles with no service. I think most people are saying that Toyota, the guys that engineered the truck, don’t have a recommendation before 120k miles. Millions of people sell their vehicles before ever servicing the transmission.