Frustration with Transmission Service

Ha, excellent point!

 

Toyota recommends servicing the fluid. I did the flush through the transmission cooler lines as outlined in this forum. It was easy. I replaced all of the fluid with Valvoline Maxlife and a bottle of Lubegard. I also dropped the pan, cleaned it and the magnets and replaced the filter and pan gasket. Truck runs great. I have also done some drain and fills in between. Lots of bad information in this thread.

 

Just do a drain & fill, be very sure you put in the same amount that drained out. You might do 2-3 drain & fills, at least a few days apart. I don't care if people say this is wasting new fluid, it is an effective way to get old stuff out and new stuff in, and you aren't really wasting much new fluid on the drain & fills. The "proper" way to check fluid level on the V6 models is more complicated but not too tough. Lots of tutorials/guides here on TW, do a search.

 

Ah yes. It is a change and not a flush. Sorry for that miss information.

 

This sounds like a success too though, that valve body was prob. going to clog enough from not flushing to shift poor.
I'm in the change that stuff camp. Also in the 'put an aftermarket fluid cooler on every auto.' mob.

 

Flushing is done through the cooler lines. You can exhange 100% of the fluid but the pan is not touched and the filter is left alone

 

There are different ways to flush. Its argued the best way is with pan removal.

 

What the hell is up with some of the replies in here? I can't believe some of the garbage I'm reading, it's slightly comical. Lifetime fluid.. I can't believe some people are that gullible. This crap belongs in the 3rd Gen (still under warranty) section.

/ Exit thread

 

Sure you can do any combination flush/pan removal/drain and fill.
In the shop, the term flush generally means a quick service without touching the pan

 

Where is @gearcruncher when you need him?

 

For real!

I’ve read his recommendations on trans services and I’m trying to follow them!

 

FWIW i have a 2015 with about the same milage, i did the 3-4 qt spill and fill 6 months ago and everything has been fine.

Get a little hand pump fluid exhanger and do it yourself, it can be a little nerve wracking if you've never done it but it really is easy on these trucks

The only way you're gonna hurt something is if you hit the road when its not full. As long as you follow the instructions closely you'll be ok.

You can drain the fluid into a clear container, measure exactly what came out and then put the same amount back in. That way, when you turn the engine on you know the pump wont be sucking air. From there, just pull the check plug while its running, feed it a little more until it dribbles out and then hit the road

 

I’m not doing this myself.
I work two jobs, workout 14-20 hours a week, and still try to make time for my family.

I do not want to waste any of my valuable and precious time working on my vehicle. I want someone else to take my damn money and do it for me.

 

Maybe if you did some of the work yourself you wouldn’t have to work 2 jobs.

 

Are you enjoying all the "I've read or, I've heard or, just do it yourself" replies?

 

There are 2 types of flushing machines . One type of flushing machine uses the cooling lines to replace the fluid . I dont like these .Then there is a style of flushing machine that functions with your transmission pan and filter removed . This machine connects to the transmission filter sump and removes the remaining fluid from your torque converter and cooling system . Find a shop that uses this style . Why ? because your transmission pan will already be off and there will be no risk of flushing crap from the pan and filter through your valve body . A lot of transmission shops use this style of transmission flusher . Most shops build thier own flushing machine

 

There you go, just what we were looking for !!!

 

Every 15k, lol. Piece of mind or not, at 15k it's just a complete WASTE of time and money. Why not just go every 5K, or hell, why not every 2.5K

 

Listen to @gearcruncher he knows his stuff