Transmission Drain and Fill vs Flush

2009 DC TRD OR 4x4 175,000 miles. 4.0 V6 and 5 Speed Auto

My local shop quoted me $180 for a transmission flush and I took it to them to do it. They called me back this afternoon and said they're missing a specific part for the Toyota transmission flush and can't do it. They advised me to call the dealer.

So I call the local Toyota dealer and they want $280 for the flush. When I asked if it's a full flush or a drain and fill, they advised that they wont do a full flush because they don't recommend it. The service advisor thinks that a full flush could "dislodge gunk or things inside that could damage the transmission."

Is there any credence to this claim? Is $280 reasonable for a drain and fill?

 

I called a different Toyota Dealer in the area and they quoted $299 for a full flush. You would think all these dealers would be on the same page with things like this.

 

how many miles on truck? if u have the 4 banger its an easy drain and refill every 30k miles, if its a 6 then well a different story.https://tribktla.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/burt-reynolds-obit.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=770

 

I've heard that quite a bit in regards to flush. My truck is a manual, but it were auto there's no way I'd be flushing it. Just a drain and fill.

 

Yeah so 3rd dealership is saying drain and fill only to not "disturb things that have settled." Only $105 for drain and fill from them.

Oh and I have a 6cyl with the auto.

 

That's what I'd go with!!

 

If the truck is flat, approx. 3 qts. will drain(A750E/A750F transmission). Home mechanics can get 4 qts. out by elevating the front of the truck with a floor jack as high as it will go. Dealers likely do this on a lift, so a drain and fill there is gonna be 3 qts. unless they pull the pan and filter. That extra qt. that drains is above the filter, so if removing that for cleaning/replacement is part of the plan, be sure to get that extra qt. out first in order to avoid an ATF splash.

I can buy the Toyota WS on ebay for $8.65 - $9.50 a qt. approx.

$280.00 for a 3 or 4 qt. drain and fill is a tad bit extreme.

 

You local shop is missing a part? What exactly does that mean?

 

There is credence to this claim BUT transmissions that have “gunk” are going to fail eventually. The fluid flush just may make it fail faster.

This is why transmission maintinence is important. If a truck goes lets say 200k on the original fluid and starts showing symptoms of issues... a fluid flush may speed up a failure since its likely an issue already exists.

You want to keep the fluid in good condition with flushes and changes regularly, not wait until a problem rears its head.

You are fine for a flush, especially if this is not your first (which ideally it should not be).

$180 for a pan drop, filter replacement, gasket replace and flush is way too cheap IMO. I think the first shop was doing a flush with the pan installed... which is not a true flush.

If this is your first time replacing the fluid I would not do a drain and refill. Mixing spent fluid with new can cause a milkshake effect. Your current fluid is very old if its original.
If you do this I would do it yourself by the drain, fill, drive, drain, fill, drive, drain, fill etc method.

 

That would be a bad flush. Before any flush is performed the pan should be removed and cleaned(magnets too) and filter replaced or washed out as it's simply a metal screen.

 

I think he said it takes a specific fill tube or something for it. Not exactly sure. I'll double check when I go get the truck in a few minutes.

 

Well I just got the truck and I don't see anywhere that this service was ever done so I am assuming that it is the original fluid. I could be wrong but I can't know for sure.

 

Yeah gotta assume its original.

The local shop you went to, was it a transmission shop or just a general place?

 

Just a general place. They said they needed a particular line to circulate the fluid through the system for the flush.

Also- I told them what the dealers told me and he agreed that if it has never been done then to only do a drain and fill and not a full flush.

 

Are you the original owner?

 

No. Just got it.

 

You can go to:

http://www.toyota.com

Click on Owners in upper right - Join - setup UID/pswd. You can then follow the yellow brick road - specify your trucks VIN and then see all dealer service that's been performed. Previous owner may have used an independent or was a DIY. At least you'll get to see what dealer services(if any) were performed. Recalls/warranty/routine maint.

 

So I looked at all the service history and it never specifically says anywhere that a transmission flush was done. But it does say "30k service performed. 60k service performed." Etc.. So I called that particular dealership where the work was done and the service advisor told me "yes, those services mean that those fluids would be replaced and topped off." Does that sound right? Have any of you taken your vehicles to a Toyota dealer and just gotten a regular "30k service?" And if so, did they replace transmission, differential, or transfer case fluids?

 

Toyota recommends that transmission fluid not be changed until 100K. 60K for more sever service.
It's my belief, based on what I've read here and at other forums, that Toyota dealers as a whole do not like changing the transmission fluid in the newer vehicle that have no dip stick. I seriously doubt very many dealers check tranny fluid level at 30K or 60K in a 2nd Gen Tacoma or any Toyota w/o a dipstick.

 

I would go for the middle. Drain, drop pan, clean it and he filter. Then refill