Transmission Service Interval - Aisin Recommendations

Do what you want, but I've never changed AT fluid in any vehicle I've ever owned. Started driving in 1974, 50 years ago come Feb. That's several million miles without any fluid related transmission issues. I've had a couple of electrical glitches. There is over 600,000 combined miles sitting in my driveway that all have the transmission fluid that came from the factory. The Tacoma at 240,000 has the most miles, but the other 3 are at 138,000, 210,000 and 61,000.

I'll replace mine if I ever have to have a transmission rebuilt and be way ahead financially. I've seen zero evidence that changing the fluid prolongs transmission life. I've seen lots of vehicles go 300K to 400K on the factory fluid. You'll spend just as much money on maintenance to get there as it will cost for a rebuild. And the guys who change their fluid will still be paying for a rebuild at about the same time.

 

Who owns Aisin?

 

Toyota group

 

What you stated is 99% of what I said. Toyota bought from Aisin who manufactured to a specification. What you chose to ignore, is that I said Toyota likely also specified the service interval requirements for the spec. Were you just wanting to get big mad, or stand tall? Either way, read and try to understand what you’re replying to first, k?

 

Enough! You sound like a one man marketing machine!!!
Let me ruin your beliefs:
You said So who is right? Toyota or the transmission manufacturer? Which company has the most interest in promoting longevity? Aisin, obviously.
First, Toyota owns Aisin, so the warranty topic is a moot point, because they come from the same place!

The link you posted is a marketing document to sell ATF. That's it. How do you sell more ATF? Have people change it more often! The link is not a technical document at all.

You seem like "that guy" who, if something agrees with his preconceived notions, they latch on to it and it becomes real, whether it is truthful or not.

You said No, but the logic is clear. If you continually introduce new fluid into the system you maintain ideal operating environment.
Your logic is cloudy. Your transmission is basically a sealed hydraulic system. Every single time you break into it, you will introduce contaminants, from the air, from the plug, from the new fluid container, and round off the heads to boot! The plug is not made to be checked that often lol. The truth is, you want to break into it as INFREQUENTLY as possible! You want to get all the life possible so you have a lower risk of introducing contaminants! Ask a transmission engineer, unless you are selling ATF! Then change it every engine oil change lol.

You said Your transmission is much more likely to fail before the engine. The lack of maintenance is why. Toyota service intervals are designed to get through the warranty period. Nothing more.
I call bullshit. Prove me wrong. You can't, just like you cannot prove your statement.

You said I have seen and been advised by very knowledgeable individuals... And this was a big discussion
Who are these people? Are they engineers? Tribologists? Chemists? R&D? If they are not in that group, then their opinions are just that.

You said Those poor suckers were loosing their units by 150k miles if not earlier but those that started early often saw 450k+ miles.
You are cherry picking data points. That is not legal lol. Got to look at the whole thing. But, you like people to agree with you. I get that.

Thank goodness there are some realistic people here and a lot of them posted in this thread.
As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone agreed with you lol.

 

Its your truck and your money so you are entitled to do whatever maintenance you wish.

But at least do the math correctly. Cant say with certainty but most members of this forum are DIY's so...

Its cost me $70 to do a drain and fill myself. If done every 30k miles that works out to $700 in 300,000 miles.

Please enlighten me on where and how you can get a transmission rebuilt and installed for $700.. In canada its close to $4000

And when it comes to transmission maintenance you would be in the minority as far as the bulk of the members here as well as Toyota and Aisin.

 

I'd be very careful about thinking a drain, and refill with mixing a synthetic with what's already in there. If doing a complete flush with a compatible synthetic recommended by toyota is one thing. I've heard some bad stuff when mixing non toyota atf with the toyota atf. At any rate from past experience, I think a 4 qt drain, and refill at 30k miles is best for these transmissions, especially if any towing.

 

So basically do what you think is good for you not what others say . If you can afford it, why not . It’s your Tacoma. For me, I do it every 50t miles . 86t miles zero issues . There’s no r

It’s a recommendation . So basically do what you think is good for you not what others say . Although this recommendation is contrary to lifetime fluid as Toyota preaches . It’s toyota’s marketing thing / revenue generating . Think repairs / getting new car . If you can afford it, why not . It’s your Tacoma. For me, I do it every 50t miles . 86t miles zero issues .

 

So far our prius has close to 115k miles, having an unconventional type cvt that uses a much small amount of transmission fluid, it's never been changed, yet that car still runs the same as it did nearly 12 years ago. Granted the most it carries is 4 people around.

 

Not taking any side and agree do what you want with your own vehicle. I do enjoy these back and forth heated conversations because it definitely lets me know who I would drink a beer with and who I wouldn’t.

 

“Toyota Motor Corporation and Aisin Seiki are the two major shareholders of Aisin AW, with 51.9% and 42% respectively.”

Aisin makes transmissions for many different manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saab, VW, Volvo, Hyundai, MINI among others.

 

i am not an engineer nor a designer of the Aisn transmission .
I would use the term experienced over wisdom
Just a transmission shop owner for the past 30 years . Now pretty much retired
What I can tell you from experience is that these transmissions are notorious for valve body wear . Well documented !!
That being said , these transmissions are adaptive and compensate for that wear so many of you who drive these trucks seldom feel the results of the transmission slowly wearing until its too late .
This is why its a good idea to pop the pan off and get those magnets cleaned off . This will give you a contamination baseline . Get that abrasive metal out of the pan . A clean pan prevents new fluid from carrying particles to the valve body
Change the screen and wash the pan out if this is your first transmission service .
After the initial pan removal , drain and fills can then be perfomed on a regular basis .
Every transmission out there wears differently . We cant compare one Tacoma to another Tacoma with the same mileage as they are always driven under different circumstances .

In my opinion , servicing a transmission at 12k is a waste of money . At 12,000 miles, chances are slight that the re-agents in the fluid have depleted . World Standard semi synthetic transmission fluid has a better life span than 12 k
The goal during a transmission service is to replenish the spent reagents .

I would not mix synthetic transmission fluid with semi synthetic trans fluid . They fight each other rather than doing any good inside the transmission . There are many documents proving this .
If you are swapping to a full synthetic fluid , change all of it .

 

If you’re gonna do it at 12K, you might as well do it at 6K too, maybe step it up to every other week?

 

i am doing then every 10k miles but I'm on the severe service schedule due to lots of stop and go driving (delivery driver). I tried Amsoil and Idemitsu fluids but they made the truck shift like trash. Went back to Toyota WS fluid this past drain and fill and it's already shifting much better.

 

What is the purpose of making retarded comments?

 

interesting, I’m surprised you found Amsoil made it shift harsh. I have heard the opposite from others.

 

Good advice. I am reconsidering switching to Amsoil. I also do find the interval a bit surprising in regards to the mileage.

 

Do you plan on not changing it? Let’s see how long it last. Personally, I don’t see how this is a good idea though many say if you don’t change the fluid regularly don’t change it at all. I can’t imagine it lasting 200k miles, but I could be wrong. I would still do drain and refill vs flushing.

 

I've never touched a transmission and do alot of internet arguing so I can sound pretty convincing. Let me give you my opinion:

jk, that would be stupid.
I think that sums up every transmission (and engine oil) thread.

 

yea, i thought the same. might be better if you can flush all the original fluid out first like gearcruncher was saying.