Originally Posted by Captsolo

The Toyota dealer that sold me the 4runner in 2005 did the Transmission service (Drain and Fill of 5 quarts of WS IV). I have their receipt with date and mileage and costs.

The 4runner holds about 12 quarts of WS, so you get a good (but not complete exchange/flush) renovation.

Read what happened here and above:

Mr_Dobalina View Post

I had a flush done on my 2002 Tacoma. The transmission blew up 4 months later...

4runner transmissions have gone to 250,000 miles with no tranny service. Some have gone over 500,000 miles (with D/F 5 quart service??).

Every 60,000 miles after the first drain and fill at 100,000 miles is good practice with Toyota lifetime WS. IMO.

Originally Posted by Bluesky 07

Did you see Scotty Kilmer’s episode on “lifetime” transmission fluid? Change it by full exchange (not forced flush) as others have recommended. My local dealer did a full exchange for $179 or so. Thought that was fair since the fluid alone was $100+.

Originally Posted by Warwicke36

Change the fluid with multiple drain and fills. I did 4 on my 2004. I had 193k on it when I did it. P.O. never did it. I tow with mine and wanted new fluid in there. I also added a Hayden cooler and Scangauge to watch temps.

IMO if thick fluid is keeping the clutch packs working then it's shot anyways. Id rather find out at my shop then out somewhere. In 15 years of being a mechanic I have had 2 transmissions fail after a FLUSH (not a drain and fill) 1 was a Grand Cherokee with 223k which I suspect had issues beforehand but I didn't road test it long enough to know. The other was a Chevy truck with a plow and a sander, also with high miles.


Good luck. Use the right fluid from the dealer!

Originally Posted by Drcoffee

“ ... of 5 quarts of WS IV”. That is a generic phrase. I sure hope the dealer did not use IV ATF. That would be the wrong fluid. So, dont put too much faith in what exactly the dealer did. You can say they did a drain and fill, thats all.

The shop overcharged for the fluid. A drain and fill is only 3.5qts but the average consumer would not know that and just accept the charge for 5qts. I think the issue here is miscommunication. Stop saying 5qts. You dont know that for fact, only that someone was charged for it.
If your tranny was shifting well before a fluid exchange, it should be better afterwards. If it wasnt working well before the fluid change, chances are it will bring on an early failure.
Here is my take on it. New ATF is a great cleaner. What happens to all that crud when you put a cleaner in tne old transmission? All that crud frees up and blocks small passages within the tranny. Results in failure. The solution is to add a high quality filter to catch the crud before it can reenter the tranny. Check out MAGNEFINE inline filters. I add it to all my vehicles on the cooler line and power steering return line. Never had a transmission failure, ever.

Originally Posted by Ali0227

Sorry, I'm not a mechanic, just a female trying to maintain my 04' Limited 6 cylinder runner and don't know what you mean by a full exchange. I've never had the ATF changed yet and after reading posts with different suggestions of drain and fill vs. flush, thought it's about time I take action and get er' done. Is there any kind of machine involved in a full exchange? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I'm original owner and have 128K miles on the vehicle. I had planned on doing a drain and fill 2 or 3 times as some have suggested because of high mileage. I think I saw a post that recommended driving around 500 miles in between drain and fill. If I do a drain and fill 2 or 3 times putting mileage on between each drain and fill, will that totally get all the old fluid out, including what's in the torque converter? What are your thoughts for my year and mileage? Thank you!

Originally Posted by Bluesky 07

A flush involves a machine pumping new fluid in under pressure. A full exchange is really just a drain and fill done all at once instead of a few quarts per session. There’s no machine and the fluid is poured into the transmission rather than pumped in under pressure. This thread describes the process. I recommend reading the entire thread as people make some good points and suggestions based on their experience. Personally I don’t see the point of doing several drain & fills as opposed to all at once but that’s a judgement call.

The purpose as I understand it is to reduce the possibility of stirring up stuff in the fluid that might cause problems (same reason not to get the pressure flush) but the counterpoint is that modern transmissions are less susceptible and I’ve yet to see anyone with an issue from doing a full exchange.

As for year & mileage, imo you’re in a great place to replace your fluid. I did my first one at 114K miles.

I’m not a mechanic either ;-) but am happy to answer any other questions as best I can. Actually, I have one for you: does your ‘04 have a transmission dipstick or had Toyota gone to the sealed system by then?

Originally Posted by Seymore Butts

Do the complete fluid exchange by using the in & out cooler lines at the radiator. That's not a pressurized flush, just an exchange while the fluid is normally circulating.

Your transmission was designed to use a specific fluid, and the stuff in your high-mileage transmission is completely out of spec at this point.

You'll probably notice smoother shifting, better mileage, and your transmission will last longer with proper fluid and not that old, dirty stuff that's in there now.

Originally Posted by Ali0227

Hi I'm just reading your post now. I'm not a mechanic but have an 04 V6 4WD 4Runner and wanted to have my ATF changed but concerned b/c I have 128K miles so don't want to do a flush. If I let my mechanic do a drain and fill 3 or 4 times putting 300-500 miles on the vehicle between each drain and fill, do I have to worry about the crud getting into tranny? If so, where is the high quality filter placed on the vehicle so crud doesn't get into tranny? Or would you recommend a full fluid exchange (doing it all at once)? I was reading not sure if it was this thread but a full fluid exchange it done using the trans. pump? Thank you.

Originally Posted by Ali0227

Does your method use the trans pump to pump the old fluid out. I have an 04’ non sealed tranny and trying to understand process so I can be clear with my mechanic, so please pardon my lack of knowledge. If my mechanic can’t do the exchange in a non-pressurized method, I guess I’ll have him drain and fill and do that 3 or 4 times. Do you know if the drain and fill done several times will eventually get the old fluid out of the torque converter? Thank you!

Originally Posted by BackOff

Firebirdguy towards the end of this thread nails it.
Easy Peasy transmission fluid exchange V6

Originally Posted by Jubsz

^I did pretty much that method on my new to me 08 V8 with 161k miles. Much prefer to use the cooler's return line than trying to pump under the truck past the exhaust. I exchanged 14 quarts. I never had records of it being changed prior to my ownership but it shifted fine. Kinda slow but no shutters or anything. It's been about 3k miles and still going strong.

I did one thing different to that method. I did start under the truck and drained the contents of the transmission pan. I drained it into a measured container which was about 3 qts. I filled the same amount through the cooler's return line before starting the truck to flush the next sample. IMO, it was best to get clean fluid in the pan to start off instead of continuously mixing things up. There was a clear point at the end that my fluid became red and new.