Transmission Fluid Change

So my yota has 326,0000 miles on the original motor and transmission. It's a 98 Tacoma 3.6L 4x4. I want to change the transmission fluid and I have read a few threads and I still have some questions. I don't want to flush the whole system but I will if i have to. I was wondering if I can just drain and refill it? I wanted to just drop the pan and clean the magnets and such. I have no idea the last time its been changed. If I do just drain and refill what ATF fluid should i use and can use the liquid gasket stuff or do i need a true replacement gasket? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

I wouldn't flush it with that many miles if you paid me to. Just drain and refill it, add 4 quarts of new ATF, do that about 3 times in a couple months and you will have most the old stuff out replaced by the new hopefully.

 

Thanks man!

 

With that many miles, drop the pan and replace the filter. A filter is only $14 at Rock Auto and comes with a replacement pan gasket. Look up PIONEER Part # 745222.

 

So its an automatic?

 

Yeah it is an automatic

 

Read your owners manual for specific fluid type. My '04 asks for Toyota Type T-IV fluid (which is what is used when I did a drain and fill last month). Drain and fill mixes old with new...
same type guarantees compatibility

 

Just did mine, used ATF 4 Synthetic. I only used the drain plug and got exactly 3 qt. out. Later in the week I'm going to do the full drain out of the lines

 

What is so bad about flushing the system?

 

I use the BG trans fluid machine. It's a fluid exchange not a fluid flush. The new fluid simply pushes out the old fluid. The BG machine works off the transmission's own pressure, no added pressure that could possibly cause internal trans issues. You can actually watch the fluid exchange from dark & nasty to new, see before & after pic. I've been using this machine for years on many high mileage vehicles and never a issue.

 

Basically what I did... Minus the fancy machine hahaha I used a bucket and lots of transmission fluid

 

Short answer: Nothing.

Long answer, not perfect but might help: With older designs, transmissions relied solely on hydraulic pressure to move parts around inside. Applying pressure via flushing can dislodge questionable pieces, move them into other areas and cause premature failure. More modern transmissions (since, let's say, the early 1990s and the "fuzzy logic" electronics) rely on various solenoids (ours have like 2 or 3) to engage different trans functions ... the pressure isn't therefore a variable. Let the transmission's own pump move both old and new fluid around and out. Takes only a few seconds to pump out several quarts into a bucket. Add new, and when it begins to run nice and red you're done with the flush and just need to check the level.

 

X's 2 what 68dave said,,, BG is some very good products and equipment, anything else you're taking a chance of disturbing some trash inside,,, the BG machine will suspend it and pull it out, good stuff.