Advice-Drop the Pan or Dealer Flush?

[cknsls@adelphia]

I stopped by a local "old school" transmission shop and asked about the '05 4Runner Sport w/the V8 and sealed transmission to change the fluid. He said he would drop the pan and refill the tranny for $119.00 and would take an hour and one-half. He said he would refill with the "WS" fluid.

The dealer, I guess has a special machine that drains and fills the transmission. The dealer wants $199.00.

I guess the dealer does not drop the pan.

Dollar wise aside-which is the best way to go?

Thanks guys!!

 

[pat161]

Good question, how many miles do you have? Some feel, including me, that it can be a bad idea to flush a higher mileage tranny that's never been done before. But do some research and you can make your own decision on that. As for value if he drops the pan and just cleans the filter, assuming 4th gens have the same style as 3rd gens, he will drain about 6 quarts. If you have it flushed they will get all the old fluid, over 10 quarts probably, as flushing gets the fluid out of the torque converter where draining does not. Either way if you service it regularly it should last a long time.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I'd probably opt for the flush... How many miles?


If you are in excess of 100k with OE fluid in it I might opt for the pan drop and follow up with a flush 6 months from now. There's the old to-flush or not-to-flush issue with higher mileage and if I had in excess of 100k on original fluid I would want the piece of mind of the new filter. If it had normal use and was under 100k I'd flush.


I'd ask the transmission shop if they plan on pulling a cooler line or do anything to get the majority of the fluid out or if they want just drain, filter & fill. You might be surprised, they may pull the cooler and get you the best of both worlds.
:cheers:

 

[cknsls@adelphia]

Miles

Thanks for the replies. I have 71K on the transmission. And I tow a 5,000 pound trailer once a month-round trip is about 150 miles or so. It pulls pretty hard as there are usually stiff head winds coming back home, and a mountain pass which requires frequent downshifts by the transmission. I usually set the speed control at 55 or 60 mph and then let the transmission do the rest electronically.

Thanks again for the replies!:banana:

 

[ellsworb]

50K Flush

I'm in a similar situation, but am 1000 miles from 50K. Pull a 5000 lb boat as far as Seattle-Houston . . then back! I'm looking to flush it and replace the filter. Plan on doing the pan drop for cleaning and filter replacement, then flushing through input lines on the tranny cooler up front. Any thoughts on this method of flushing? Any issues experienced doing it yourself. I surely don't want the dealer touching my tranny!

Anyone have detailed pictures on this process that could help?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I'm in a similar situation, but am 1000 miles from 50K. Pull a 5000 lb boat as far as Seattle-Houston . . then back! I'm looking to flush it and replace the filter. Plan on doing the pan drop for cleaning and filter replacement, then flushing through input lines on the tranny cooler up front. Any thoughts on this method of flushing? Any issues experienced doing it yourself. I surely don't want the dealer touching my tranny!

Anyone have detailed pictures on this process that could help?

Check out the sticky at the top of the Maint Page of this forum

 

[wolfgang]

Unless its black and contaminated looking - I'd just drain and refill -- and maye do same at next oil change. $30! (not sure what the special yota fluid actually runs). You'll be changing 85% of the fluid with new -- its life time fluid anyhow.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

You'll be changing 85% of the fluid with new -- its life time fluid anyhow.

In most vehicles that's true. This trans holds 11.5 (or 11.8 ). The capacity spec is confusing to me, I don't think the 11.xx includes the torque converter. The 'real' capacity may exceed 12 quarts which would be very in-line with a vehicle of this power, weight & capacity. A drain and fill only gets about 4 quarts, about 25%-30%.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I just did a complete flush in the tranny and it wasn't hard. I used 13 qts of royal purple max ATF. mind you it does meet WS fluid standard but it voids warranty. well worth doing yourself. and since you tow I say you should change the fluid in the tranny every 45,000 miles

 

[mac777daddy]

I just did a complete flush in the tranny and it wasn't hard. I used 13 qts of royal purple max ATF. mind you it does meet WS fluid standard but it voids warranty. well worth doing yourself. and since you tow I say you should change the fluid in the tranny every 45,000 miles

How did you get all 13qts out? Do you have a special machine or??

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

No I wish I had the machine at the dealers would have been a big help. I just drove the truck till it was at normal temp than I parked it and I would fill it till the old fluid would come out. basically it would recirculate as it would overfill and the old stuff would come out leaving the new stuff in. that is why it would take like 12-13 qts.

 

[fourwd1]

I usually set the speed control at 55 or 60 mph and then let the transmission do the rest electronically.

That's totally the wrong thing to do. Especially under the circumstances you describe.
Unless you're going downhill or on a nice flat stretch, you shouldn't let it go into OD.
And a larger aftermarket trans cooler would be a really good idea.

 

[brian2sun]

I stopped by a local "old school" transmission shop and asked about the '05 4Runner Sport w/the V8 and sealed transmission to change the fluid. He said he would drop the pan and refill the tranny for $119.00 and would take an hour and one-half. He said he would refill with the "WS" fluid.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the term "sealed transmission" mean there is no pan to drop?

 

[riverwolf]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the term "sealed transmission" mean there is no pan to drop?

Not in this case. It just means Toyota changed the pan to one that doesn't have a dipstick tube. The sealed pan has a drain plub along with a check plug.

In poking around parts catalogs recently, it occured to me that both pans must and do have the same bolt pattern/shape so one could actually add the non-sealed pan and dipstick for a little over $100. The non-sealed pan is also about an 1" deeper hence the drain-n-fill for the non-sealed is 3.2 (usually more like 4) versus the 2.1? for the sealed units. Maybe someone's already tried it, but I haven't seen the write-up.

-Brent

 

[cknsls@adelphia]

That's totally the wrong thing to do. Especially under the circumstances you describe.
Unless you're going downhill or on a nice flat stretch, you shouldn't let it go into OD.
And a larger aftermarket trans cooler would be a really good idea.

I take it out of drive when I tow I keep it in the next lower slot. (4th I believe). THEN I let the tranny do the rest. IMHO, aftermarket cooler is not needed. The 4Runner comes equipped with that as well as a power steering cooler.

 

[message]

I'm planning on doing a trans flush per the good instructions throughout this forum on my sealed trans... I talked to my toyota dealer and asked what they recommended for my '04 V8 w/116k that was used for towing by the previous owner; hence the trailer brake controller currently installed. The dealer said a trans flush should definitely be performed.

My question, since I was unable to find it via searching, is if my trans cooler is in my radiator or is the small cooler that is mounted in from of my radiator on the drivers side.
Also wondering if I should drop the pan so as to get everything cleaned out and replace the trans filter.

 

[wolfgang]

What are you towing - a light jet ski or motorcycle? Or a 5000# boat or travel trailer? Local short trips or long trips with mountains and traffic? If the heavier loads then an added trans cooler is good insurance - plus it adds near a quart more fluid for cooling purposes. The "towing package" doesn't not include any extra cooling capacity.

 

[message]

Since I have only had my 4runner for a little over a month I have yet to tow anything... However the previous owner evidently did quite a bit of towing, thus the trailer brake controller.
I do plan on using it for towing which could range from light to heavy.
Regarding the trans cooler I believe I already have on installed. Or at least I'm not sure what else it could be. It sure looks to be a factory install to me.

Top pic is in front of the radiator, not that I look at it I'm thinking this a PS or oil cooler possibly? The lines for it go down and under the radiator.

Bottom pic is the passenger side of the radiator which I'm assuming those are my trans cooler lines? Any idea which is the return?

 

[cknsls@adelphia]

Since I have only had my 4runner for a little over a month I have yet to tow anything... However the previous owner evidently did quite a bit of towing, thus the trailer brake controller.
I do plan on using it for towing which could range from light to heavy.
Regarding the trans cooler I believe I already have on installed. Or at least I'm not sure what else it could be. It sure looks to be a factory install to me.

Top pic is in front of the radiator, not that I look at it I'm thinking this a PS or oil cooler possibly? The lines for it go down and under the radiator.

Bottom pic is the passenger side of the radiator which I'm assuming those are my trans cooler lines? Any idea which is the return?

The 4Runner has a transmission cooler, and a power steering cooler as well. No aftermarket cooling is needed IMHO. I now have 82,000 on my 4Runner.

 

[riverwolf]

Since I have only had my 4runner for a little over a month I have yet to tow anything... However the previous owner evidently did quite a bit of towing, thus the trailer brake controller.
I do plan on using it for towing which could range from light to heavy.
Regarding the trans cooler I believe I already have on installed. Or at least I'm not sure what else it could be. It sure looks to be a factory install to me.

Top pic is in front of the radiator, not that I look at it I'm thinking this a PS or oil cooler possibly? The lines for it go down and under the radiator.

Bottom pic is the passenger side of the radiator which I'm assuming those are my trans cooler lines? Any idea which is the return?

That smaller radiator in your first photo is your external trans cooler. The top hose is the outlet from the cooler back to the trans pan...ie. the return line you're looking for. Flow goes in the bottom of the external cooler and out the top. Pick up some 3/8" ID tubing, (HD/Lowes/etc), connect it in place of the top hose route to a bucket, and you're good to go for a cooler line flush.

The radiator sandwich front to back is, external trans|a/c|engine.

The full path on the V-8 is trans-> top passenger side of engine rad for first trans cooler in the engine rad->bottom of engine rad->under engine rad to driver's side->bottom inlet on external trans cooler->top outlet trans cooler->vertically down driver's side and back over to passenger side->back to trans pan.

-Brent