EXPERIENCED - Please chime in

[MaliciousClout]

I took my 2005 SE in to Brakes Plus- they do EVERYTHING. I specifically inquired them to flush my Diffs,Trans and transfer case.


They cautioned me to NOT flush the transmission because "the dirt, sludge and shavings may be the only things hold the transmission internals together"

Stating this may cause more harm than good. My thought is at 208,000 miles IT NEEDS IT.

Your thoughts?

 

[absolute yota]

Depends on prior maintenance. If this is its first or second trans service probably just drain and fill. If its been done at recommended service intervals go with the flush. I doubt they will hurt it by flushing the tranny in any case, it requires maintenance and its probably been done before with high mileage like that. Mine is 05 and I did flushes at 60k 110k and I'll prob do it again around 140 or 150.

 

[JB.]

I took my 2005 SE in to Brakes Plus- they do EVERYTHING. I specifically inquired them to flush my Diffs,Trans and transfer case.


They cautioned me to NOT flush the transmission because "the dirt, sludge and shavings may be the only things hold the transmission internals together"

Stating this may cause more harm than good. My thought is at 208,000 miles IT NEEDS IT.

Your thoughts?

Drains and fills aren't hard. Do 3 or 4 spaced a few days apart. Measure what comes out and put the same back in. If that part happens to get messed up, fluid level checks are not hard either.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...r-ways-check-ws-transmission-fluid-level.html

 

[gaterose]

I don't know much about the 4runner trannies and I haven't changed my fluid due to all the extra work ...

But (and this may not be always true and just coincidence) I was told that same thing with my last truck, '00 Silverado. At about 110K I went ahead and changed it since it was a self-serviceable/non-sealed tranny (unlike the 4R). It was an easy process but within a few hundred miles the tranny went out and it ended up being rebuilt 2 more times in the next 70K before I passed it on to my parents. They haven't had any trouble since but drive like the old folks they are.

Never had any problems before, just figured it was time to change the fluid since it could be changed.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

This has been covered many times before. Toyota states NOT to machine flush WS transmissions (anything that doesn't have a dipstick.)

Drain and Fill is the approved method, it shouldn't hurt your transmission, but honestly if this is the first time you've changed the fluid I'd pay attention to what comes out and do quite a bit of drain and fills until its close to the dark red the new fluid is.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I don't know much about the 4runner trannies and I haven't changed my fluid due to all the extra work ...

But (and this may not be always true and just coincidence) I was told that same thing with my last truck, '00 Silverado. At about 110K I went ahead and changed it since it was a self-serviceable/non-sealed tranny (unlike the 4R). It was an easy process but within a few hundred miles the tranny went out and it ended up being rebuilt 2 more times in the next 70K before I passed it on to my parents. They haven't had any trouble since but drive like the old folks they are.

Never had any problems before, just figured it was time to change the fluid since it could be changed.

What kind of fluid did you put in your truck? I have heard that one reason manufactures went to sealed transmissions was to keep from putting the wrong type fluid in the trans and that many failure were happening shortly after someone changed the fluid and used the wrong fluid.

 

[gaterose]

What kind of fluid did you put in your truck? I have heard that one reason manufactures went to sealed transmissions was to keep from putting the wrong type fluid in the trans and that many failure were happening shortly after someone changed the fluid and used the wrong fluid.

I honestly don't remember any more but I do know that it was the appropriate fluid recommended in the owner's manual.

 

[CXS]

within a few hundred miles the tranny went out.

Same happened with my wife's Honda Accord. I doubt I'll ever do anything other than drain & fill again. Transmissions aren't cheap!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

What kind of fluid did you put in your truck? I have heard that one reason manufactures went to sealed transmissions was to keep from putting the wrong type fluid in the trans and that many failure were happening shortly after someone changed the fluid and used the wrong fluid.

That's a large part of the reason, the other was an attempt to force the customers to come to the dealerships for service. There's no reason the procedure to check fluid level has to be as ridiculously complex as it is for the sealed transmissions.

I would recommend either Toyota WS Fluid or compatible fluid, I believe Amsoil makes a WS alternative (this does void warranty if used, just incase you have an extended warranty.) Make sure it is a WS fluid and not a "Universal" I wouldn't trust that stuff...

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I flushed my trans at 95,xxx miles and no issues. Either way is fine be it a few drain and fill intervals or flushing it providing the trans is in good shape before hand. In all honesty people should be servicing this transmissions sooner. I also did a drain and fill on a friends turbo tacoma with 40,xxx miles while I installed a new valve body. Getting the level set was easy on it provided you have a level surface to work with.

 

[CAD_GA1390]

I flushed my trans at 95,xxx miles and no issues. Either way is fine be it a few drain and fill intervals or flushing it providing the trans is in good shape before hand. In all honesty people should be servicing this transmissions sooner. I also did a drain and fill on a friends turbo tacoma with 40,xxx miles while I installed a new valve body. Getting the level set was easy on it provided you have a level surface to work with.

how did you go about flushing it? i have 96k on mine, and am concerned about drain and fill vs. flush

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I had to call around my city first to find a competent dealer with techs that knew about the a750 and were willing to do it, it was tedious but paid off. There seems to be alot misinformation out in the dealer network about these types of transmissions. Dropped off my truck and within a few hours had it back with no issues.

 

[CAD_GA1390]

I had to call around my city first to find a competent dealer with techs that knew about the a750 and were willing to do it, it was tedious but paid off. There seems to be alot misinformation out in the dealer network about these types of transmissions. Dropped off my truck and within a few hours had it back with no issues.

ah, i see, thought you may have done it yourself through the cooler lines or something. out of curiosity what was the cost? i've only talked to two dealers here in GA, one refused to do it, the other said drain and refill for $129.99, i'll have to call a few more

 

[08T4R]

Terminology is also key here. A flush is using powered equipment to remove the old fluid and put in the new. There are machines that connect to the transmission cooler lines and do nothing more than let the transmission pump the old fluid into a reservoir which in turn pushes new fluid into the transmission under the same pressure it would normally operate. Basically just exchanges the fluid. I do not consider that a flush. My only concern would be is there any old fluid, dirt or other debris from the vehicle before you. The poor man's way of doing this is to drain your trans pan, top it off and disconnect the cooler line. Run the truck and let it pump out ~3 qts, shut it off and refill. Repeat the process until you have new fluid from the cooler hose. Then use the procedure found on here to check fluid level and top off or drain as needed. I don't see how there could be any negatives to doing either of these, provided you do not let and dirt or debris into the system..I've done this fluid exchange plenty of times and never had an issue. The 4r doesn't have but about 10k more miles until I do this.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

ah, i see, thought you may have done it yourself through the cooler lines or something. out of curiosity what was the cost? i've only talked to two dealers here in GA, one refused to do it, the other said drain and refill for $129.99, i'll have to call a few more

I've done both. I did the drain and fill method on my friends truck and I let the dealer flush my trans. The flush cost me $170 and some change. I would recommend if you diy it have it on a level surface so when you bring the trans to operating temp (your gonna overfill on purpose) you just open up the over flow and let the excess fluid into your drip pan. If you just do the drain and fill your gonna do this several times.

 

[V8Man]

I agree with 08T4R both methods work great without any bad side effects. The problem with most quick change places is that stock only one type of fluid and they say “this will work” in your truck without really knowing. There are a lot of bad stories out there on guys using any red fluid. The transmissions today require VERY specific fluid. If you do take to a place that does the fluid exchange method that 08T4R describes, take in your own fluid to know for sure you are getting the WS fluid. Also any good shop should purge the clean side lines with your WS stuff before attaching it to your truck. You’ll find that the best guys are the smaller independent ones, not the national chains.