If your pump truly is starved for fluid or clogged it won't be full of life for long. Auto transmissions can't undo damage done because of burnt fluid not lubricating essential parts.

"I'm inclined to drain a couple gallons and refill just to have strictly atf in there." - VernySanders.

Yeah. Lucus could have raised the viscosity too high. Cold in MI.

Hope to learn more by following this.

Lot of miles on that 4runner/Asin tranny 240,000

Good luck

Read recently of an Explorer transmission failing three times by the time the OP got to 150,000. Not Asin/Toyota brand

I had the dealer drain and fill at 100,000 miles. Now with 145,000 miles I don't want to touch it. Stopped by dealer today for some WS - they had none.

I will use Maxlife synthetic like you have done - but I don't know when as the tranny works so fine right now. Found a gallon of Maxlife (says Toyota on the jug) at $37. Another parts store want $58 dollars for a gallon of Castrol.

Temps where I am range from 60F to 100F - ALL YEAR LONG. Never any snow..

In Bahamas there are duties on importing everything for cars.
60% on tranny fluid, but shipping can double the cost of that VAVOLINE TO OVER $90 a gallon.
New cars have duty of 75% on the invoice.
No income taxes here, so it's real nice in that respect.

I would not put Toyota WS or T4 in your 3rd gen 4 runner transmission. To fully exchange the fluid on a v6 4WD its 3 gallon. A spill and Fill out of the transmission pan is about a gallon

The Valvoline max life would be fine as long as it is Dextron II or II compatible.

You could do a spill and fill once a year for 3 or 4 years and that would essentally change the transmission fluid.

I've been wanting to get a reman torque converter for a while. I can hear mine kick on and off as I come to a stop / start. Nothing someone who doesnt own the truck would notice but something an owner who listens closely would notice. I tested it though and she works fine so I'm not sure.

My experience with these transmissions (limited not claiming to be an expert) is the filter is everything. A dirty or clogged filter can completely starve the pump. I'm thinking that mine has filled up quite quickly due to the amount of pollution that was in there. Also I'm thinking it then filled even more quickly after the complete flush and now that new fluid is cleaning everything inside this causing the filter to become clogged. Well find out this weekend!

And what do you think is clogging things? Automatic transmissions aren't going to be clogged by debris from the air. If you're starving the pump, its likely you've shorten the life of it and other parts.

You're undoubtably correct In my oppinion however this gives no ground to say a perfectly operating trans is on it's way out lol. Not my first rodeo with this.

Last time I had a thread similar to this I was told my trans wouldnt even last another 3k miles. I guess by someone on the internet who clearly knew what they were talking about. However that was 15k miles ago and weeks racing on the sand dunes.

Don't you have a problem with the trans pump sounding starved? Indicating that it's not running perfectly?

Ultimately no one else will pay the repercussions of driving around with this problem besides the owner/driver (i.e you). The likelihood of things being excessively worn/damage is high and will probably lead to premature failure. I personally don't like breaking down on the side of the road.

How do you hear the torque converter kicking in and out?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am watching this thread just to see what the outcome will be as to the actual cause of the transmission noise.

Is it the actual transmission pump? The TC ? The Transmission ready to completely die?

Stay tuned as we found out next time on
"Trans Pump Sounds Starved on Cold Start "

A bad TC can last a few years. Amazing.

I have 150,000 miles on my 2005 SR5. The dealer changed the tranny (5 quarts/filter too) at 100,000 miles, and I'm at 150,000 miles now.

Should I drain and fill another 4 quart - and leave it at that.

Tranny gives me no problems.

No they can't. I am not driving it. If they are bad and you continue to drive them. Not only do you have a chance of complete failure. You can seriously damage your transmission. I just am working of 3 of them at the moment and want those completed before I will pull the Transmission out with the bad torque convertor and replace it.

Keep in mind, with the fleet size of Toyota's I have, I only drive 1 or 2 4 runners at any given time. Its my hobby to fix and repair the 3rd gen 4 runners. I wanted to save a few in this area before they were gone as PA is a major rust belt state. :{

I am in south central pa myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol!! Well update for you, a new trans filter and solenoids have arrived to my house today. Going to install all three solenoids this weekend along with the filter. (Provided it doesnt look brand new still). I forgot I have a p0770 code because I've literally had a check engine light for this code since I've owned the truck. Figured I might as well swap those out as well. I'm going aftermarket solenoids. Not going to put upwards of 900 dollars in 3 OEM solenoids on this trans when I have an extra in the garage. These solenoids ran me 100 bucks and came with a filter but I'm not using that one I'm going to stick with OEM. Well see!!