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Should I change my Transmission Fluid? 300k mi 2004 toyota tacoma automatic 2wd prerunner

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by khughes968, Feb 15, 2022.

  1. Feb 15, 2022 at 6:59 AM
    #1
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey everyone!
    Hope everyone is doing well. My question today is the following - I recently purchased a 2004 toyota tacoma with 300,000 miles on the truck. The transmission fluid is brown with no hint of pink at all. No specks of metal, no burnt smell. I want my transmission to last as long as possible, so at this point, should I change it? My friend who is a mechanic told me that because the previous service history is completely unknown that the best thing to do would just be to drive it until it breaks, but a second opinion from you all regarding what I should do would be awesome.
    I just want the transmission to last as long as possible, but at the same time I don't want to break it by changing the fluid.
    Any opinions/input would be much appreciated!
     
  2. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:02 AM
    #2
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

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    I would change the tranny fluid. The fluid is not going to break anything except your leg if you slip on it.
     
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  3. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:14 AM
    #3
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks for the advice. Regarding the health of the transmission fluid and how changing it could potentially ruin the transmission, showing damage that is already there, would you still advise doing it? I appreciate your help.
     
  4. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:23 AM
    #4
    mic_sierra

    mic_sierra Toshiba HDDVD is the future

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    Considerations I believe worth your time:
    • All fluids have a useful life: oil, brake fluid, ATF (trans fluid), coolant, etc. - ALL FLUIDS have a useful life, this is a fact
    • A transmission flush is less expensive than a new transmission - a flush is what you should be considering in my opinion not just a drain and replace as most of the fluid is in the torque converter
    • If you are somewhat competent in the garage and comfortable wrenching on your own rig a DIY trans flush utilizing the vehicle's systems to flush the fluid is your most cost effective bet and the best way to know that the job was done right
    • An alternative is not to flush the trans, just drain and replace with new fluid and keep doing that so you know at least 2 quarts of fresh is going in - this is sub optimal in my opinion
    • Your friend the mechanic may be a good friend but he or she is a shit mechanic if you weren't given options and positives and negatives of each option, I would stop listening to him or her. Who in the hell recommends waiting until something breaks rather than preventative maintenance? Your friend must work at a dealership.

    Watch this vid. With a few tools you can perform a trans flush on your own. Even if you don't plan to wrench on your own watch this so you can understand what needs to happen and be a more informed consumer and keep your mechanic in line.

     
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  5. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:33 AM
    #5
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the information. He is just saying that I could change it right now and that due to present damage hidden by the clutch material and other things in the transmission, that it could destroy the transmission, and my option would just be to drive it until it breaks, as it is on borrowed time anyway.
     
  6. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:46 AM
    #6
    Nessal

    Nessal Well-Known Member

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    Drain and fill for the next 3 oil change. Done.
     
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  7. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:49 AM
    #7
    mic_sierra

    mic_sierra Toshiba HDDVD is the future

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    @khughes968 If you perform the procedure in the video you are utilizing the vehicle's pump under normal operation like it was driving everyday, so you aren't sending pressurized fluid pushing more pressure than the vehicle does on its own during normal operation. I could see an argument against a transmission fluid flush if you were pushing fluid through under pressure that could dislodge something, but that is not what I am suggesting. ATF's properties (or any lubricant for that matter) break down over time so you are risking your entire transmission's health with old fluid because you are concerned about potential present damage from hidden clutch material and other things in the transmission.

    If you have budgeted for a new trans and are going to replace it anyway, the flush would be a waste but your opening statement makes me think otherwise. A good compromise would be to just drain the fluid from the pan, top off and do the same for the next few oil changes. I would challenge your mechanic friend to provide data about the "you may dislodge something and your transmission will break." I hear that wives tale told by a lot of YouTubers and Mechanics and whenever I challenge them to provide data and real world examples of that happening no one can. I think this is something that was just in some text book.
     
  8. Feb 15, 2022 at 8:08 AM
    #8
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sounds good. I think I am going to do it - like you said I don't want to wait around for something to break. Did you ever change fluid on a very old vehicle that hadn't been serviced transmission-fluid wise in its history? Any input would be good.
     
  9. Feb 15, 2022 at 8:35 AM
    #9
    mic_sierra

    mic_sierra Toshiba HDDVD is the future

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    My 5.9L Cummins was a Texas truck that hauled a fifth wheel before I bought it and the transmission was slipping so I tightened the bands and replaced the filter and changed the fluid. Nothing serious. The rest of my vehicles have been new and very well maintained since I see them as a long investment. I don't want to dominate the conversation so I will let others weigh in.

    Gearcruncher is a pro and weighs in on many things transmission related here on TW - take his word over mine every day and twice on Sunday as he professionally turns wrenches and give sound advice. @gearcruncher What are your thoughts on OP's situation? Quick recap:

    • High mileage Taco with unknown service history (leaning toward it has never been serviced)
    • Objective is to keep the Taco running well forever
    • OP's concern is trans fluid
    • Question: what does OP need to do to keep the trans healthy and do we risk dislodging material in the trans to change the fluid?
     
  10. Feb 15, 2022 at 8:36 AM
    #10
    YotaGangYotaGang

    YotaGangYotaGang PreRunners are wannabe 4x4’s

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    I would change it, but only if you have the money on the side incase you need to rebuild it if things go south
     
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  11. Feb 15, 2022 at 9:42 AM
    #11
    ArizonaBrian

    ArizonaBrian Well-Known Member

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    A lot of guys say if it hasn't been consistently flushed from the beginning that flushing might cause problems. There's a lot of debate about that but one safe method would be to drain and refill a little at a time. That's the route I would take.
     
  12. Feb 15, 2022 at 10:15 AM
    #12
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, that was what I was thinking too. I wasn't going to do a flush because I think that would cause issues for sure because it forces everything through the valve body and overall transmission.
     
  13. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:26 AM
    #13
    Potomus Pete

    Potomus Pete Love my little truck

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    I think you should listen to what another guy said. Don't do it unless you have money for a rebuild in the future. I have had more than one old car go bad after a trans flush. When I say flush I mean drain and fill.
     
  14. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:45 AM
    #14
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sounds good. Do you think I should drop the pan, change the transmission filter, and then change the magnets as well?
     
  15. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:46 AM
    #15
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks brother, yeah noted I will keep that in mind. Do you think it would be a bad idea to change the transmission filter/magnets as well, or at least clean it? Thanks again for your input. :D
     
  16. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:46 AM
    #16
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sounds good tanks for the information. Do you think just dropping the trans pan, changing the filter, and do 4 quarts would be ok?
     
  17. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:48 AM
    #17
    Potomus Pete

    Potomus Pete Love my little truck

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    With 300k your transmission may have been rebuilt before. Mine went down at 250k even though I changed the fluid every six months for years.
     
  18. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:49 AM
    #18
    jcphillips

    jcphillips Active Member

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    Drain and refill - change the filter as well. As someone else pointed out, do this 3 times and you'll be much better off than a flush (potentially).
     
  19. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:49 AM
    #19
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sounds good. that would explain why the fluid is not completely shot to shit. It also shifts perfectly as is - again I just want to do preventative maintenance.
     
  20. Feb 15, 2022 at 11:50 AM
    #20
    khughes968

    khughes968 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sounds good - I was reading that doing this is a lot safer then a flush. do you have any experience with doing this kind of thing? Again i am super new to all of this.
    Ken
     

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