Transmission fluid and filter service

T

Txc500

Junior Member
Hi there,

I have a 22 4Runner approaching 60K and I am looking into a transmission service for it. The dealer wants $329 for a full fluid and filter change.

I also called an independent transmission shop that's really highly rated in our area. He actually advised me not to touch it as he feels it's not needed.

Being that I bought this car new I want to keep up with the service is specified by Toyota. Any thoughts out there?
 
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I think it depends - I'd first check that the fluid is still nice and red (not dark red) and doesn't smell burnt. If it looks good - I'd leave it alone. If you tow heavy loads often, then it might be worth it.

If you decide to have it done, ask how they do it. It's pretty easy (although kinda messy) to drop the pan, change the filter and replace the gasket. But, much of the fluid will remain in the torque converter. What about that? Also, the 4.0 V6 in our 4Runners doesn't have a transmission dipstick (at least my 2013 doesn't) so how do you add fluid back in and check that the amount is correct?

I think dealers and transmission shops connect to the cooling line that goes to the radiator and flush it that way - but I'm not sure. If so, then $329 is not a bad price. I'd opt for the shop over the dealer.
 
Thanks for the reply. Sadly the dealership can't explain the service, even the service manager answered my email but couldn't give me specifics, and also said that a transmission filter is an internal part and isn't a serviceable part unless the transmission is completely overhauled, which of course, isn't true.
 
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Txc500 said:
Thanks for the reply. Sadly the dealership can't explain the service, even the service manager answered my email but couldn't give me specifics, and also said that a transmission filter is an internal part and isn't a serviceable part unless the transmission is completely overhauled, which of course, isn't true.
Click to expand...

I don't have a 5th gen so my trans is easily serviced, but google 5th gen transmission fluid change and watch a video. If it were mine, I would do it like I service mine, drain the pan, measure how much came out and reinstall that amount. Drive your 4Runner on a short trip and do it again, repeat a third time and you should be good. It's a lot cheaper than $329 and will get most of the fluid exchanged. The last time you do it, follow the advice on the youtube video on how to insure the level is proper for the non-dipstick trans.
 
Thanks I may have to wait and do that. I've done it before on my other car, but I recently had rotator cuff surgery and can't do it now. Sad that the dealer is so hard to talk to and get answers from. They give you incorrect info with total confidence.
 
Txc500 said:
Thanks I may have to wait and do that. I've done it before on my other car, but I recently had rotator cuff surgery and can't do it now. Sad that the dealer is so hard to talk to and get answers from. They give you incorrect info with total confidence.
Click to expand...

Stay away from the stealership. The mere fact they said the filter is integral to the transmission and can’t be changed unless it’s overhauled is a red flag. Wait until your shoulder heals up then do it.
 
dealership is right saying that transmission does not have a filter. it is a strainer, calibrated to hold big chunks of possible debris, so it will not plug orifices in transmission channels. and at the same time allow a certain size of wear out material of bronze synchros and clutch plates continue to participate in smooth operation. steel gears wear out material collected by magnets. no-one here is smarter than Japanese engineers.
 
Given the cost of a transmission if the job is screwed up, for $329 I would let the dealer do it. The fact the service advisor cannot explain it is irrelevant; the techs have probably done the hundreds of times and that is what you are paying for - experience. If you don’t like the dealer for some reason, have a Toyota shop do it for the same reason - no experiential learning on your truck on a component that is $5k give or take to replace if they somehow screw the proverbial pooch. Good luck.
 
Some think drain & refill is the way to go. You can also verify genuine Toyota WS fluid is used.
An independent shop with a flush set up might have some other fluid in their flush machine.
Very important is the exact quantity of fluid needs to be in the tranny at a specific fluid temperature. Easy for an inexperienced tech to screw it up!
 
Unless you tow a lot with your 4R, or otherwise work the transmission hard like in gnarly off-road situations, don't mess with it until at least 100,000 miles.
 
fluid filter and service

No one ever wore out a transmission by using the correct fluid and changing it a bit early. Some have even gone so far as to install auxiliary coolers and external filters that are easily changed.

I do bad things to my work vehicles, and do what little I can to avoid grief.
 
Txc500 said:
Hi there,

I have a 22 4Runner approaching 60K and I am looking into a transmission service for it. The dealer wants $329 for a full fluid and filter change.

I also called an independent transmission shop that's really highly rated in our area. He actually advised me not to touch it as he feels it's not needed.

Being that I bought this car new I want to keep up with the service is specified by Toyota. Any thoughts out there?
Click to expand...

I would be highly suspicious of a dealer claiming they are 'changing the filter'. As others have said, it's a strainer and it doesn't need changing. In rusty land you risk snapping off a pan bolt doing this. Drain and fill with OEM fluid. No flush, no Maxlife ATF, etc.
 
The only thing I would have done differently for my first change would be to capture the drained fluid and measure it so that I could replace the same amount of fluid as the original factory fill.
It's very simple to do yourself.
 
Beachbums said:
No one ever wore out a transmission by using the correct fluid and changing it a bit early. Some have even gone so far as to install auxiliary coolers and external filters that are easily changed.
Click to expand...

True dat about the fluid. But be careful modifying with external coolers or filters. I once installed an external cooler on a 3rd gen that ended up ruining the AC condenser. Sometimes it's better to trust the engineers knew what they were doing.
 
Txc500 said:
Hi there,

I have a 22 4Runner approaching 60K and I am looking into a transmission service for it. The dealer wants $329 for a full fluid and filter change.

I also called an independent transmission shop that's really highly rated in our area. He actually advised me not to touch it as he feels it's not needed.

Being that I bought this car new I want to keep up with the service is specified by Toyota. Any thoughts out there?
Click to expand...

I had my transmission serviced recently at my local dealership and did a flush without replacing the screen. That’s the recommended service for the transmission. It was about the price you were quoted too. I thought that the transmission had a filter and was ready to replace it as normally done with filters, but it’s not required. There is a screen that is there which would have been much more invasive and not necessary. They’ll do a drain and fill if you want, but I wanted all the fluid replaced. I’ve had other transmission flushes done with other vehicles that were “non serviceable” without any issues too. Don’t worry about the details. I also regularly do most service myself, but some things I don’t like doing.
There are plenty of things we eat that we have no idea about how they were made.
 
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