ATF Change?

Is there an ATF change/refill mileage recommendation? I’ve got a 2001 base Tacoma 2WD automatic with 89K miles. No apparent problems but i believe in service before problems occur. What’s your thoughts? Mileage or time? Flush service at a transmission shop like I’ve seen advertised? Is it a simple thing to do yourself (I’ve done it before on many occasions) or the usual sloppy job that needs a bathtub size drain pan to keep the garage floor in some semblance of decency?

 

I drained and filled mine annually regardless of mileage. Valoline is cheap enough not to dent the wallet.

 

Mine every 20-25k

 

Check the transmission fluid level to make sure it's ok. If you remove the drain plug it should be around 4 quarts that drains out. Whatever comes out, just replace it. You can do it in 30 minutes.

Some do it every 25k mi. and some just let it go over 100k mi. I think the recommended mileage is 50 or 60k mi.

 

If it were my truck I would drop the tranny pan, clean it and the 3 magnets replace the filter/screen then refill with new ATF and a bottle of LubeGuard

 

with the little 2.4 you're only gonna get 2 qts out of the pan...

thats about 20% (2rz~8.5qts)........thats what I do every year

at end of 5yrs its pretty much turned over

takes less than 10min

might would double down an do every 6mo......for two or three changes to catch up


flushes are from the the old big '8' days.....jap tranny's are electronic shift and dont need flushes

the filter is just a coarse mesh screen.....you'd have to drive 300K for it to catch enough to mess with
.....that is as long as you continue the 5yr cycle


I recommend getting one of those magnetic inline filters and swap every 5yr

 

Never flush, drain and fill only. Multiple drains and fills will help.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405717442222

These come in handy for differential fluid and transfer case oil changes .