How many guys are still on original transmission fluid? Come on in!

[t-man]

Was having issue's with my trans, 220k miles, and I went in and had a full flush done. The old fluid was brown and sludge! All my issue's have gone away now and it shifts like new! Wish I had done it when I first bought the truck, but I just didn't think of it. New fluid on top, old crappy stuff on bottom!
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132186222@N08/28963647370/in/datetaken/" title="20160826_165942"><img src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8024/28963647370_48ca4e720d_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="20160826_165942"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[t-man]

BTW, my trans was flushed by disconnecting the lines at the radiator, then this piston in my above picture was hooked up. I started the truck and the one line sucked in the new fluid and the other line pushed out the old fluid. The pump in the transmission did all the work and changed all 14 liters of trans fluid. Cost me $150 at an oil change shop, with the correct synthetic WS trans fluid.

 

[Velonici]

BTW, my trans was flushed by disconnecting the lines at the radiator, then this piston in my above picture was hooked up. I started the truck and the one line sucked in the new fluid and the other line pushed out the old fluid. The pump in the transmission did all the work and changed all 14 liters of trans fluid. Cost me $150 at an oil change shop, with the correct synthetic WS trans fluid.

Is this a chain store? Might have to find someone here in AZ that can do that. Im at 198K original fluid as far as I know. Going to change it when it cools down and have time off from school.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

BTW, my trans was flushed by disconnecting the lines at the radiator, then this piston in my above picture was hooked up. I started the truck and the one line sucked in the new fluid and the other line pushed out the old fluid. The pump in the transmission did all the work and changed all 14 liters of trans fluid. Cost me $150 at an oil change shop, with the correct synthetic WS trans fluid.

Was the fluid level set correctly after you had the service done?

 

[Neil]

Hi all,
240k on my 04 v6 4x4. I've never changed transmission fluid and it seems to run good as new. I am the original owner.

 

[Ventil8]

I'm at 135,500 miles and still with original fluid. I'm on the fence about this as well. No issues thus far but when I hit 150,000 I'll consider a full drain and fill.

 

[t-man]

Is this a chain store? Might have to find someone here in AZ that can do that. Im at 198K original fluid as far as I know. Going to change it when it cools down and have time off from school.

Yes. It was called uncle eddys oil change. Biggest thing is you need to make sure they don't use a machine that pumps it through because that can mess stuff up. The one they used on my truck is just a tank and the my Trans pumped the fluid through.

Was the fluid level set correctly after you had the service done?

Yes. There's no way for it to get more or less fluid because it is sealed inline and the Trans pumps the fluid. After it was done they pulled the check plug on the pan though to make sure. The owner was really knowledgeable which was a nice change. Lol

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[superman3043]

Looking back through my build thread, looks like I did my first drain and fill at 189K almost two years ago. You can see a picture of what the fluid looked like here.

Finished flushing about a month and 1k miles later. You can read about it here.
I'm very happy I did it and I feel like I could feel a difference in shifts afterwards even though the trans was always smooth.

I remember rolling into a dealer a long time ago (maybe 60k) and them telling me that the trans was sealed and didn't need servicing. Becoming a forum member changed my mind regarding that. I'm happy I did it. If for nothing else, I at least have piece of mind. Hope that helps.

 

[Ralph Blake]

Anyone ever hear or read of a 4Runner having a trans failure, that was blamed on it's fluid?

 

[Bluesky 07]

Anyone ever hear or read of a 4Runner having a trans failure, that was blamed on it's fluid?

A fair point, but we have to take into account the tiny number of total 4Runner owners who participate in a forum or would otherwise publicize such a failure.

Also, these trucks will run - conservatively speaking - for 20+ years and 500K+ miles. I don't care if WS fluid is made of liquefied diamonds wrapped in teflon-coated kevlar. It's just logical that nothing is going to maintain a sufficient level of protection and lubrication for that long a period in a transmission or any other mechanical device comprised of a bunch of hot metal parts moving in close proximity to one another.

I think BlackWorksInc said this, and I may be paraphrasing, but it makes sense one way or the other - to us, "lifetime" means as long as the vehicle lasts. To the manufacturer, it means the time they're responsible to fix it if something goes wrong.

 

[Texas8668]

2nd owner, 155K, and I will be flushing next week. mostly for peace of mind maintenance and that I do not think that "lifetime" meant as long as this car will move.

 

[blind squirrel]

My tranny got replaced by a toyota dealer several years ago. Wife took it in for an oil change while I was out of town. The tech pulled the trans drain plug instead of the oil pan plug.... then put 5 quarts of oil in (didn't check the dip stick) and sent her on her way. The next day we pulled our jetskis 250 miles down to Oklahoma with no issues. After the weekend was over we headed home and about 50 miles into the trip all dash lights went on. It ran and pulled fine so I kept on going home, not much more I could do. The point of this story is to show how robust this trucks really are... 500 mile trip with 3-4 quarts low tranny pulling ~1k worth behind it. Had plenty of engine oil though........:dancin:

 

[t-man]

My tranny got replaced by a toyota dealer several years ago. Wife took it in for an oil change while I was out of town. The tech pulled the trans drain plug instead of the oil pan plug.... then put 5 quarts of oil in (didn't check the dip stick) and sent her on her way. The next day we pulled our jetskis 250 miles down to Oklahoma with no issues. After the weekend was over we headed home and about 50 miles into the trip all dash lights went on. It ran and pulled fine so I kept on going home, not much more I could do. The point of this story is to show how robust this trucks really are... 500 mile trip with 3-4 quarts low tranny pulling ~1k worth behind it. Had plenty of engine oil though........:dancin:

Holy Shit!!! I hope they fired that guy! That's like the most basic stuff that he should know without thinking! Wow...

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[T5RUNNER]

I remember when "lifetime" trans fluid first started showing up on GM cars. For GM at least, "lifetime" literally meant the life of the transmission, which they estimated at something like 200,000 miles. So run it for 200,000 and then replace the whole trans. Of course, not many GM cars would make it that far anyway. I think the trucks still had change intervals.

I plan to keep my truck for a long time, and changing fluid is cheaper than treating my whole transmission as a disposable unit.

 

[robaroni]

I'm at 151k on the original fluid. The truck still goes forwards and backwards with not issues.

 

[T5RUNNER]

I'm at 151k on the original fluid. The truck still goes forwards and backwards with not issues.

My engine still starts, guess i don't need to change the oil.

 

[robaroni]

My engine still starts, guess i don't need to change the oil.

Guess you out smarted me on this one!LOL

 

[Ratubbs]

Was having issue's with my trans, 220k miles, and I went in and had a full flush done. The old fluid was brown and sludge! All my issue's have gone away now and it shifts like new! Wish I had done it when I first bought the truck, but I just didn't think of it. New fluid on top, old crappy stuff on bottom!

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132186222@N08/28963647370/in/datetaken/" title="20160826_165942"><img src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8024/28963647370_48ca4e720d_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="20160826_165942"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What were the "issues" you were having ? I'm at 225K and on the original fluid to me knowledge.[emoji15] I'm experiencing some hesitation or stumbling when taking on a long distance incline. 2004 V8 4x4 BTW


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ralph Blake]

I remember the first time i changed the filter and oil on my 08 4Runner v6, i had to really look to make sure just where that plug was at.

I can see where some can make a mistake, if they don't check closely.
I have seen myself how some other brand also even the Toyota stealer ships, service work is done by just who ever they can hire, to get under there and pull the plugs.
So i just pickup a new filter and some Mobil1 and get it done myself.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Some food for thought. You know how people often say, "If you want the truth, follow the money"? I don't have time to search for it, but during my research I read an article about how automakers who import their cars into the US have to pay a fee per vehicle for the fluids that will presumably be changed and need disposal. Calling a fluid "lifetime" supposedly gets them out of paying the fee.

Then there's this quote from "They Convince You They Use A Lifetime Fluid!", which is the very first item on this list titled Eight Ways Automakers Make Cars Obsolete: When automakers use the term "lifetime" to describe their engine coolant and transmission fluids, they strictly mean the lifetime of their warranty.

Finally, we must always consider the potential consequences, which in this case is transmission malfunction or failure. I'll take the most conservative approach to preventing that and just change the fluid.