Automatic transmission fluid change intervals

So I'm having difficulty finding Toyota's recommended fluid change interval for my 2013 5 Spd automatic. The manual indicates there should be a supplemental service recommendations booklet but I never got one. I'm not having any problems & have ~ 80k miles currently. I'm thinking about changing fluid & filter at 100k.
Does anyone know where to find Toyotas recommended intervals?

 

They dont, at all. However, its been tossed around here every 50K-80K miles or so.

 

I changed mine at 100,000klm, along with most other fluids...

 

I checked mine at 15k to make sure it was filled properly to begin with from the factory. It wasn’t. 3/4 qt. Low. And yes I have a tranny cooler.

 

I flush my tranny every 50K since brand new at 0 miles . at 157,000 now and had last flush at 149,500

 

Flushed mine at 90k and will flush every 60k going forward. No need to replace the screen inside.

 

For several years they recommended to never change it unless you tow heavy and often. My 07 is in that range. I think they do recommend somewhere around 100,000 to 150,000 now on newer vehicles. Personally, I'm in the never change it camp. Most any truck or full-size SUV is going to last at least 400,000 miles on the factory fluid as long as you never let it get hot. Many of the transmissions in small econobox cars are only good for 150,000 miles regardless of how often you change the fluid. No point in wasting money on it.

If you change it every 40K to 50K you'll spend almost as much on transmission service as it costs to rebuild the transmission when it wears out. And I've seen nothing to indicate it will last any longer by changing it. I honestly believe Toyota and all vehicle manufacturers know you don't really need to change it; they just can't convince consumers.

I've been driving since 1974 and have never had a transmission serviced. Never had a fluid related failure. I've had electrical problems with transmissions. There are 4 vehicles in my driveway with over 1/2 million combined miles on them, all with the factory fluid. The Tacoma at 233,000 has the most miles, but 3 of the 4 are over 100,000. If one of the transmissions fails tomorrow, I'll rebuild or replace it. And be WAAAAAY ahead money wise with the money I saved over the last 49 years.

If you're anywhere near 100,000 miles and cannot document a previous transmission service, no reputable shop will touch it. Transmission fluid isn't the same as motor oil. It doesn't serve the same function. As your transmission wears the abrasives on the clutches wear off and are suspended in the fluid. That abrasive in the fluid is helping the clutches engage.

If you drain old fluid out and have clutches that are worn the new fluid is actually too slick and the clutches start slipping. Unlike engine oil, dirty transmission fluid can be a good thing. It is pretty common to see a transmission fail shortly after being serviced. If your clutches are worn past a certain point the transmission is going to fail eventually. But keeping the old fluid in there will buy you some time. Maybe several more years.

 

I think the abrasives-in-the-fluid theory doesn't hold up. The transmission has a filter/screen, and the fluid is designed to carry any clutch sediments to the filter.

Any metal particles end up sticking to the magnets in the pan. So the clutches essentially see clean fluid, regardless of age.

But fluids break down---they lose percentages of their original desirable properties over time.

A transmission that fails after changing the fluid after a lot of miles probably fails because of the method of the fluid change---particles were dislodged by pressure.

Never FLUSH an older transmission, as the pressurized flushing action will dislodge otherwise stable particles, and those can find their way into tiny passages or the valve body, wreaking havoc on a transmission.

Always do drain and fills to be safe.

And it's never too late to start!

Stagger three, four, or even five D&F's with a few days/weeks driving in between. This way you will NOTICE if any changes in the transmissions behavior are occurring.

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