High mileage runners - what's your transmission life?

[T4R2014]

I've debated doing a drain and fill, but the fluid is pretty dark.

What is there to debate? Change that fluid! I wouldn't worry about anything happening if it is shifting fine right now. No need for a flush either. Just do some drain and fills with whatever fluid meets specs.

 

[96 ToyRunner]

1996 with 310952 and I bet it had the original fluid and today did a drain and fill not to bad before I did it it was fine but you could fell it just barely shift from 1st to 2...I'm filling it up the rest tommorow when I get fluid but what I felt moving it from one spot to another its great..

 

[pluton]

What is there to debate? Change that fluid! I wouldn't worry about anything happening if it is shifting fine right now. No need for a flush either. Just do some drain and fills with whatever fluid meets specs.

And be thankful you don't have my brother's previous Ford F350 2WD crew cabs(there were several of them), where he was changing the auto trans fluid every six months to ward off some kind of trans failure.

 

[T4R2014]

And be thankful you don't have my brother's previous Ford F350 2WD crew cabs(there were several of them), where he was changing the auto trans fluid every six months to ward off some kind of trans failure.

Sounds wasteful. I guess it is better than not changing it often enough.

 

[4Runnermex]

Guys - shout out your mileage and whether or not you've replaced or rebuilt your automatic transmission?

In my shopping for good 3rd Gen I have completely ignored anything over 175,000 miles for fear that Id be buying into a tran rebuild soon after...but I've been shopping for over 9 months now and I'm kind of getting tired of simply not driving a 4runner.

So I'm starting to wonder if I should consider higher mileage vehicles and not be afraid of the transmission failing?

How often has anyone here had to replace or rebuild their transmission?

That would one of the least of your issues. I've played with about 50 4Runner 3rd gen and only 2 have been tranny issues. Have fun and don't worry about the tranny too much. My junk yard guys can't give them away, they sell them for about 125.00 with torque converters. Tells you they don't go out and the demand for 4Runner tranny is not a great one.

 

[alexbuoy]

260k miles still going strong. I think it has original fluids in it.

 

[wc11]

510,000 km (316,000 miles)
No issues

 

[SpidermanGeek]

177K miles, but I'm a fairly new owner (bought it in January '15 with 175K miles on it). Previous owner did a trans fluid change when he bought it at around 112K miles.

I installed a B&M 70268 (bypass) in the spring and the fluid was nice and red and still smelled new. Smooth shifts, no whine. I don't foresee any problems from the tranny probably for as long as I'll own this rig.

 

[jaredking733]

233k and shifts smooth as butter.

Fluid flush every 30k, and a bypassed radiator with a TruCool 4589 to keep it nice and cool.

I expect it to last the duration of the vehicle since it's smoother than other cars I've had with over double the miles.

 

[AZ4Running]

263k miles on original trans with no issues, serviced every 30k buy previous owner.

 

[warriorwagner]

237,000 (only 1000) since I bought it. Had the dealer do a flush right after I bought it to make sure. Getting the TB changed next week and going to install a new radiator and a trans cooler then, shouldn't have to worry about anything after.

Oh, and trans shifts great.

 

[JayRolla]

Sounds wasteful. I guess it is better than not changing it often enough.

You dont know the f-250 Ford trans then. The damn things fail between 60-80k miles like clockwork.

Something about material that gets into the fluid from a bad design and it wearing. If you swap the fluid like you do an oil change the tranny can last a lot longer. Same issue that the older Lexus XUV's have. They lose trannys every 50k miles. Was going to buy one for wife till I found everyone for sale said rebuild trans.

 

[cashmoney]

270k and no issues so far. Just replaced my radiator with a Koyo A1998 so as to prevent prevent the milkshake. It's a little slow to shift into 3rd until it warms up but that seems somewhat normal for the A340F. Only transmission service I have record of was at 180k, long before I got it.

I've debated doing a drain and fill, but the fluid is pretty dark.

What is there to debate? Change that fluid! I wouldn't worry about anything happening if it is shifting fine right now. No need for a flush either. Just do some drain and fills with whatever fluid meets specs.

My last truck I admittedly didn't change the trans fluid very often. I decided that after a 100k miles I would drain the pan, change the filter, and fill it back up. 2 weeks later I was buying a new transmission. It had never given me a single problem and was actually joked to be bulletproof given the hell I put it through. In speaking to several shops and other folks, if you haven't kept up with the fluid changes then just leave it alone. The grit and grime in the fluid will keep everything together and keep the clutches from slipping. Change that out and the clutches start slipping with the fresh new oil.

For the record, my parents truck has had the transmission fluid changed 1 time in 210k miles. Towing trailers and working around the farm. No issues with it at all. Not even a leak. Gotta be some merit to the thought of not changing the fluid.

 

[Brique]

215k on original trans. Only pink milkshake I've had is the ones I get from hardees. Tasty.

 

[amalik]

Original owner with an automatic and about 319,000 miles. Running a B& M tranny cooler through the radiator, with normal temps at about 156 and water temps at 184. I've seen the temps as high has 212 before with OD off and ECTon and water temps in the 190's off road. Anything can happen with a used vehicle. Even an original owner with meticulous maintenance records.

Damn. It's rare to find someone who has gone through all 300k miles themselves as the first owner.

Just curious, have you ever tried your B&M isolated away from radiator, as a standalone? Curious if the temps are any different.

 

[Rock_Rat]

Damn. It's rare to find someone who has gone through all 300k miles themselves as the first owner.

Just curious, have you ever tried your B&M isolated away from radiator, as a standalone? Curious if the temps are any different.

Yea, a bit rare indeed. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/195830-original-owners-only.html Been fun the past 14 years! I have a brand new < 5000mi) OEM radiator installed and monitor temperatures EVERY day! So far I plan on leaving it the way it is as my temperatures are staying in range. See photo below. I've read a lot of pros and cons on the site about doing it both ways. I think the installation is th emost important and using the correct fluid. Install it so the return line back to the tranny is on the bottom. Dual electric fans are on my list of mods to reduce the engine load and reduce temps.

Living in the NW I don't experience a lot of stop and go traffic but I live on a mountain with a 3 mile climb and I drive with the OD off and ECT on. The temps go up. Water goes up into the 190's to low 200's on a HOT day and ATF temps will push about 180 upwards of 210. I experience similar temperatures with mild off road excursions.

 

[amalik]

Yea, a bit rare indeed. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/195830-original-owners-only.html Been fun the past 14 years! I have a brand new < 5000mi) OEM radiator installed and monitor temperatures EVERY day! So far I plan on leaving it the way it is as my temperatures are staying in range. See photo below. I've read a lot of pros and cons on the site about doing it both ways. I think the installation is th emost important and using the correct fluid. Install it so the return line back to the tranny is on the bottom. Dual electric fans are on my list of mods to reduce the engine load and reduce temps.

Living in the NW I don't experience a lot of stop and go traffic but I live on a mountain with a 3 mile climb and I drive with the OD off and ECT on. The temps go up. Water goes up into the 190's to low 200's on a HOT day and ATF temps will push about 180 upwards of 210. I experience similar temperatures with mild off road excursions.

I thought 200's is a bit high for good cooling. I know a lot of variables are at hand, but in general.

I am curious on your setup if you tried the B&M alone.

But I guess if you're doing electric fans, then a moot point :biggrin2:

 

[Oprah]

224,000 with original fluid, still doing fine. According to my mechanic Toyota says you don't ever NEED to change the fluid, however, I can't imagine changing on a regular basis would be a BAD thing. But now I'm scared cuz shes old and never had it done, people say it isn't good to change it if it hasn't been changed regularly throughout it's life. I'm gonna leave it for now... wish me luck haha

 

[02SE]

Is Bob still around? The last I heard, he was in the 750k mile range on his one owner, all original drivetrain '99.

Of course he also had it regularly maintained.

 

[Rock_Rat]

I thought 200's is a bit high for good cooling. I know a lot of variables are at hand, but in general.

I am curious on your setup if you tried the B&M alone.

But I guess if you're doing electric fans, then a moot point :biggrin2:

I think you misread my post - "but I live on a mountain with a 3 mile climb and I drive with the OD off and ECT on. The temps go up. Water goes up into the 190's to low 200's on a HOT day and ATF temps will push about 180 upwards of 210."

This is only on the drive back home. I have a 900' altitude gain in three miles so the temps go up. I have to turn the OD off and the ECT on otherwise my tranny has problems finding the gears and my foot is in the gas. Other than that the temps stay in the 186/134-156 range. Electric fans are on the list for later on. Not a high priority right now. Never ending...