Was thinking of doing a trans service when I hit 30k. I'm just going to do a drain n fill and the filter. Is the filter one that you would replace or, is it a cleanable screen? Is 30k too early?

Way too early.

Do not touch it till 100k. This trans and fluid have an extremely long use life. While Toyota publicly says it never needs changing, it quietly says to at 100k.

Did a tech tell you this? I can't find transmission service in required maintenance. Thanks

There is nothing wrong with doing a 4-5 quart drain and fill. Measure exactly what comes out and put the same back in. You have no dip stick so it is more of a PITA to do a level check. If you think you are going to drive the wheels off it. I would do a tranny flush every 50K. You can do this at the cooler lines up near the radiator yourself in about an hours time and 2-3 beers.

See these threads for good info and links.

How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission - Tacoma World Forums

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/mainte...on-sealed.html

Forgoing the typical long rant I go on about Toyota's (and other brands) "Lifetime Fluid" BS, its essentially a "long life fluid" and many shops, technicians, and dealers are recommending around 100k to get it serviced (typically a good flush with about 8qts or more does a good job.)

If you refer to your owner's manual it states under "severe driving conditions" (this is typically construed as consistent Towing and/or other similar driving conditions) it needs to be serviced at 60k and then every 30k afterwards.

In my personal opinion, unless you are doing some heavy towing, I really wouldn't be concerned until around the 100k mark.

Thanks Blackworks for the links.
The reason why I like to service my transmissions every 30k or so is because I never had one problem with a trans. that I maintained. Keeps the varnish and deposits down. I've seen what 100,000 miles does to fluid. Looks like iced tea, stinks and the screen turned the solvent black as it was being cleaned.

Its up to you, but the fluid really is a life-time fluid. I would also advise against doing ANY solvent based flushes (the reason the solvent was changing color may have been a chemical reaction with the brass screen more than dirty transmission); Toyota is highly against them, now using a fluid exchange machine won't hurt; but sealed transmissions have a particular process to measure/set the fluid level which is a bit annoying and many shops seem to have difficulty with (including some dealers.)

The screen typically doesn't need to be cleaned the first time, but it wouldn't hurt if you have the time and want to reseal the pan. Either way, 80~100k isn't a bad service interval for WS ATF transmissions under normal driving conditions.

Oh, I'm not going to put any solvents in the trans.
I bought a Cherokee with 95k on it. The fluid was brown and when we took the cleanable screen to the parts washer, just blackness came out. After we got the filter clean again, it took five drain n fills through the next six months to get the fluid pink again. All I want to do is a drain and fill at the dealer and have them change or clean the filter if its cleanable. I hope they will let me watch so I can see the condition of the fluid coming out. I just cant believe it will be that dirty or need any more than that.

Thats also interesting what you're saying about the screen. I'll have to ask if they recommend it that time or wait till 60k.

I was told to change the fluid at 75-90k, but the filter was a lifetime filter. They said they back flush the filter and it cleans it up well. There are now two threads regarding transmission fluids/flushes that are worrying me....

Just talked to my dealer and that screen is a lifetime cleanable screen like my Jeep had. The sad part is that they won't drop the pan and clean it. They only use their machine that exchanges almost all the fluid. Like Blackworks said, its kinda early to spend the $300 to do all that. Think I'll wait till 60k.

My good friend is a Toyota tech, and when I asked him about it he also said wait until 100k miles unless you are using it to tow a lot. He said he would do it for me now at 75k miles, but it's not a pressing issue and I would be fine with waiting. My truck is new to me (second owner), but thankfully it's previous owner had all the scheduled services done at a local Toyota dealer according to the Toyota care website, so I'm not gonna deviate from what Toyota recommends.

You have seen what it looks like in 4th gen 4runner or cars in general? I had mine replaced at 110k and it looked very good. A little darker, but same color. This isn't other vehicles and the trans and trans fluid has a longer service life for a actual reason.

Absolutely do what you want, but this isn't another vehicle and I haven't heard of a large spat of failures due to this fluid, actually the opposite. This transmission has proven itself to be reliable, as designed.

No Sir, this the first Ws trans. I've owned. In the past, I've usually done a filter job or a flush every 30k or so. The dark fluid issue was in a Cherokee I bought. Nasty stuff. I also have a firebird 120k miles that is due to go on the machine. I think those machines do a decent job but, not in the pan or filter that I can see. Nothing beats droping the pan and cleaning it up.
I'm going to leave the truck alone for awile. I'm sure its clean, I'm just ocd on these
things. The book says to "monitor" the fluid at 30k, I think I'll have them prove to me that its ok. Should be interesting on a sealed trans. Ba haha. Hope Blackworks could shed some light on this process.

It really is a tough transmission and the fluid has to be good too. Look at how many trucks are over 200k without problems.