How many guys are still on original transmission fluid? Come on in!

luke87gt

luke87gt

New member
Hi guys,

I’ve spent the last hour reading posts on this forum about transmission fluid changes.

According to Toyota (apparently), our cars come with sealed transmissions with something called “lifetime” fluid. Of course, given that the transmission is a mechanical piece with parts that move against each other, it will surely create some amount of contaminants and debris over time. As a result, some absolutely swear by either draining + filling or by having the transmission fully flushed. The drain + fill will only allow you to get about 3-4qts of fresh fluid in there when of course the transmission holds much more than that, so this procedure is typically done several times to dilute further.

I find it odd that Toyota says to not do change fluid (of course they will do it if you request it), and I’ve been on the fence since I bought this car last year with 117K.

I’m wondering how many of you guys are still on your original transmission fluid? I’ll go first:

2006 4Runner V6, 125K miles, original transmission fluid.
 
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My parents live in a small town, so my step mom's 2007 RX goes into the local lube shop to get the oil changed, tires rotated, etc. On her last visit they recommended the trans fluid be flushed, so I went down and flushed the system for her.

I found that with about 115,000 miles the fluid was still bright red and actually looked new. I also noticed a sticker on the dipstick that read something about lifetime fluid, don't change, yada yada.

The fluid was so clean that I literally could not tell when the old fluid stopped being pushed out and the new began. I had to make a "calibrated" (I made lines on the side) bucket to be able to tell when I had flushed out about the right amount.

Now, I know the RX and 4Runner are not the same beasts, but this made me feel pretty confident in Toyota's "lifetime" fluid. I'd leave it be unless you've got reason not to.
 
Interesting, thank you for sharing.

A.Wilson013 said:
I'd leave it be unless you've got reason not to.
Click to expand...

Well when it comes to reasons I have two... One reason is the manufacture says don't do it. Then I have the other reason being my head that says, "don't replace 100K+ transmission fluid? really?" lol.

I'm actually leaning towards not touching it. I know some will think that's crazy.
 
2006 limited v8.
im at around 110k now.
original fluid as far as I know.

I have recently noticed, if im very light on the throttle immediately leaving work, that it tends to hold the gears a bit longer than normal.

the engine is so smooth and quiet, that it may have been doing this the entire time, and I just never noticed.

a slightly heavier throttle input, and this does not happen.
 
2004 V8, 165k now, bought with 72k. As far as I know its original stuff. Good idea on the thread. Read a ton and haven't done anything with mine either.
 
Lifetime to me is until the factory warranty is over. I changed mine at 80k right when I brought mine.

I'd say change at 100k. Then every 50k after that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Bought my truck at 96K. Changed the fluid at around 115K. Went through same internal debate you are. Two things convinced me: posts by Toyota tech [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] and my gut feeling that no fluid can possibly perform sufficiently for the lifetime of any vehicle, especially one that lasts as long as a 4Runner.

My 2 cents, FWIW.
 
I was in your pickle a few months ago. At about 186k I did repeated flush and fills on my 04 V8 sport. Im pretty certain it had never been done as I the fluid in there had a purple tinge to it. Research indicated that WS fluid hasn't had a purple tinge since 2006 or so when it was reformulated. Also, the vehicle is extremely clean underneath especially considering age and miles and I looked and felt like the drain , fill, and check plugs were never so much as touched. I tow in the mountains in summer heat have about 5k on it since the the fluid change and its shifting fine and running smoother than before.
Here's a link to that thread:http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...rval-question-those-familiar-factory-rec.html
There are many good threads here and over in the Tacoma groups on the subject. Many disagree on cooling line flush or drain and fills. I took the Toyota recommended approach, I believe.
 
well expect the full transmission fluid exchange to cost about 400, i think in your area thats about that cost. in oakland here i paid 381, my girl got a quote in dublin and its about 390 or so without the tax added.
 
I have the NON-sealed transmission, not sure if theirs any difference to the sealed transmission. Had my transmission fluid changed out at the 150K service by my local mechanic. I have over 166K now with no issues.
 
A.Wilson013 said:
My parents live in a small town, so my step mom's 2007 RX goes into the local lube shop to get the oil changed, tires rotated, etc. On her last visit they recommended the trans fluid be flushed, so I went down and flushed the system for her.

I found that with about 115,000 miles the fluid was still bright red and actually looked new. I also noticed a sticker on the dipstick that read something about lifetime fluid, don't change, yada yada.

The fluid was so clean that I literally could not tell when the old fluid stopped being pushed out and the new began. I had to make a "calibrated" (I made lines on the side) bucket to be able to tell when I had flushed out about the right amount.

Now, I know the RX and 4Runner are not the same beasts, but this made me feel pretty confident in Toyota's "lifetime" fluid. I'd leave it be unless you've got reason not to.
Click to expand...

I bet you a steak dinner that fluid was changed recently. I think you changed new fluid.
 
I change mine at around 150,000 when i bought it. if its life time and sealed. Why did my trans oil come out black?:crybaby: thank god i changed it. So far no issue and its. running smooth.
 
luke87gt said:
Hi guys,

I’ve spent the last hour reading posts on this forum about transmission fluid changes.

According to Toyota (apparently), our cars come with sealed transmissions with something called “lifetime” fluid. Of course, given that the transmission is a mechanical piece with parts that move against each other, it will surely create some amount of contaminants and debris over time. As a result, some absolutely swear by either draining + filling or by having the transmission fully flushed. The drain + fill will only allow you to get about 3-4qts of fresh fluid in there when of course the transmission holds much more than that, so this procedure is typically done several times to dilute further.

I find it odd that Toyota says to not do change fluid (of course they will do it if you request it), and I’ve been on the fence since I bought this car last year with 117K.

I’m wondering how many of you guys are still on your original transmission fluid? I’ll go first:

2006 4Runner V6, 125K miles, original transmission fluid.
Click to expand...

I performed this method:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/195074-atf-exchange-using-cooling-line.html

A full fluid exchange.
You can perform it yourself for less than $150.
Buy a case of Toyota ATF WS on eBay..a fluid handpump, new crush washers, small hose from autoparts store.
My fluid came out very dark...black with red tint...2008 V6 4wd...114k
 
'07 V6 4wd with 148k... original transmission fluid.

Been having the same internal debate. FWIW, my transmission shifts fine.
 
Morphyne said:
I bet you a steak dinner that fluid was changed recently. I think you changed new fluid.
Click to expand...

Unless they changed it for free, that's not the case. My step mom is a freak about receipts and filling out her "maintenance log". She even records on which dates she washes the car so she can be sure to polish and wax every 6th time. She's very, very weird.
 
A.Wilson013 said:
Unless they changed it for free, that's not the case. My step mom is a freak about receipts and filling out her "maintenance log". She even records on which dates she washes the car so she can be sure to polish and wax every 6th time. She's very, very weird.
Click to expand...

That's a good trait to have. I used to be like that before marriage and kids.

As for the original fluid, unfortunately, I am one of those who hasn't changed the fluid. I'm at 157k now, way overdue, but it still shifts fine. I have everything to do it except time. The new fluid has been sitting in my garage for a while now but every time I get geared up to do it something comes up. I don't trust any of the shops around here or even the dealers 100 miles away so that's not an option. Now the mileage is so high, I'm debating if it will do more harm than good to flush it now. Who knows, maybe it'll happen this weekend.
 
Bought my 07 V6 with 142k on the odometer about 3 months ago. ATF had never been changed. It shifted fine, but there was no service history of it so I did a few drain and fills with Maxlife (I know .. flame me now!)

First drain came out a dark brown, but no burnt smell and still was slick to the touch.

2nd drain came at about 500 miles later. A lighter tinge of brown, but no red.

3rd drain came at another 1000 miles on top of 2nd interval. Lighter shade, but no red.

I like to think I'm close to 50/50 old WS ATF and Maxlife, given how on I changed a little over 3.5 qts with each drain and fill.

It's preventative maintenance at this point. Nothing is "lifetime" to me. Might be lifetime to the 1st or 2nd owners who only own the vehicle up to the when the warranty expires.
 
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