Automatic transmission fluid change?

[k3v11n]

I just bought my 04 V6 auto 4Runner a few weeks ago. I got it off a technician that works at Toyota. A lot of maintenance was done to it prior to me buying. However, when I asked about the transmission fluid, he told me this...

"Actually Toyota doesn't have a recommend service interval for the trans fluid since it's world standard transmission fluid...really nothing needs to be done."

Any truth to this? 165k miles. Original transmission. Would a simple drain and refill be ok? Thanks.

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[99Runnr]

Do some searches, there is several write ups out there. I believe it's 05+ models for the 5-speed sealed transmission, an 03-04 were 4-speed transmissions. Regardless, there IS a service interval, Toyota does them at 90k miles and it's recommended at lesser intervals if you tow.

I did mine a few weeks back, just read the write up's, nothing overly technical about the job and I even dropped my pan and changed the filter.

 

[djkurious]

I just bought my 04 V6 auto 4Runner a few weeks ago. I got it off a technician that works at Toyota. A lot of maintenance was done to it prior to me buying. However, when I asked about the transmission fluid, he told me this...

"Actually Toyota doesn't have a recommend service interval for the trans fluid since it's world standard transmission fluid...really nothing needs to be done."

Any truth to this? 165k miles. Original transmission. Would a simple drain and refill be ok? Thanks.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

IIRC doesn't the 03 and 04 use Type T-IV? If so it has an interval. All transmissions have an interval.

 

[leftyguns21]

like [MENTION=132328]99Runnr[/MENTION] mentions. hit the search button. there are so many threads on this of yes you should / no you shouldn't. search them all and make up your own mind.

i personally do. a drain and fill is all i do. avoiding any flushing

 

[TowMeOut]

It took a little more time to set up but I found it much less messy to do the drain/fill through the cooler lines. I made a "reservoir" from a gallon jug and one of the pointed caps from a gear oil bottle. That way I could set up 4 quarts to go "in" while the transmission pumped "out" 4 into my catch pan. A couple of cycles and I was done.

This isn't a "flush" but it essentially replaces all the fluid in one go and I didn't have to drop the pan.

 

[99Runnr]

I purchased a bucket from Walmart in the paint section that has accurate measurements and a CLEAR viewable display. So you can drain the pan, measure fluid caught, add amount back in, then pull the return cooler line, let it drain 2-2.5 quarts, stop, refill, drain another 2, repeat until it comes out clean.

The capacity it something like 11-12 quarts, so if you buy some rubber hose, bucket to measure fluid (as I referenced for $3 at Walmart) and the fluid, you can do this yourself. The dealer charged $290 for the service in my case, an I did it myself for $108 with a quart of fluid left over.