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

[Bob22222]

This might be a dumb question but how do you perform a drain and fill? Is this procedure documented anywhere on this site? This isn't something I've done before but I think it would be a good idea on my '07 I just purchased with 120K miles on it. Thanks.

Here you go. Be sure to pay attention to the pointing out of the editorial error concerning shift lever position in the level check instructions. And the update concerning the removal of the jumper wire once the temp light illuminates. It's pretty easy the key is to keep every time as near surgically clean as possible. And have a least one extra pump on hand as many have found these little pumps quite fragile.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...rval-question-those-familiar-factory-rec.html

 

[Dustin4185]

Just traded our 08 4Runner in on a '16. We had 240,000 miles on the original fluid. I towed a small trailer maybe 3-4 times per year and it was mostly highway miles. Talked to the service department when I had to have a few things done the other day (out dated GPS card, something unplugged in the dash lighting) and they did some sort of exchange on our old one. They said the fluid looked fine and should have left it alone. Hope they didn't screw the next owner! They did have to do a rack and pinion, tie rod ends, ball joints, oil change and one door lock actuator also. I feel like I robbed them on trade in since they just looked at it and never drove it. Gave me $13,500 in trade value. I was going to ask $10,000 private party. With that being said, I may not change the fluid in the '16 as long as we drive it the same. I generally do my own maintenance, but we have free PM for 30,000 miles.

 

[m85476585]

I just changed mine at 100,000 miles with the cooler line exchange method. The fluid was brown but not too bad. Shifting is about the same as before.

 

[aquilon]

I just changed mine at 100,000 miles with the cooler line exchange method. The fluid was brown but not too bad. Shifting is about the same as before.

Maybe I'll do this at 100k... I got 85k on my V6. Won't be towing any time soon.

 

[bob3dsf]

Bob,

This most recent change was on my GX470, but it should be pretty close to the same. I ran the tubing down by the exhaust manifold and cat. I tucked it under the heat shielding to keep it pretty straight and level and then went into the fill port. There was a small "low" section that pooled a small amount of fluid, so I just added a little extra fluid each fill to compensate. When I finished adding the last few quarts, I had my helper pull up on the tubing while I held it in the fill port and the fluid drained right into the transmission. I used some duct tape to secure a block of wood the passenger side of the engine compartment and then secured the funnel to the wood. Two of three pieces of tape total. I didn't even need to go under the vehicle during each drain/fill cycle -- the tubing stayed put then entire time. If I can dig up a picture I'll post it up.

Finally got a chance to log on and read this... Yea, If you have a pic that would be cool to see it. Maybe I'm being OCD on this specific thing, I just remember trying to do this, thinking I was all smarty smart.... then my plan went a bit awry. If it's convenient I'll be looking out for it, but otherwise it's not that huge of a deal... :thumb3:

 

[V8Limited4wd]

Still on original WS ATF 2004 - 138k miles. Will get it done along with the timing belt and water pump... still on the original!

 

[other1]

Had 156K on a 2005 4.7 until last night. Transmission dropped after accelerating hard out to get out in traffic. Waiting for the news this morning....:boom:

 

[3eyedRaven]

131k on original everything. (Except air filter, oil/filter), 05 Sport


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[Ratubbs]

Still on original WS ATF 2004 - 138k miles. Will get it done along with the timing belt and water pump... still on the original!

Playing with fire!


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[V8Limited4wd]

Playing with fire!


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Not really but ok.

I'm realizing more and more how well built the 4th gen 4runners are... Especially since they have the same engine/tranny/4wd system as the 100 series Land Cruiser - which are designed to have A 25 year service life with no major failures.

I finally did a full 16qt flush of the original ATF at 139k miles with Valvoline MaxLife ATF and it came out dark brown. Shifting is definitely smoother after the flush. Just glad to have that old WS fluid out.

I'm going to wait on doing the TB/WP Next year. Probably sounds crazy to people who are OCD about doing maintenance by the book, but I'm comfortable with waiting.

 

[mr_plow]

I performed this method:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/195074-atf-exchange-using-cooling-line.html

A full fluid exchange.
You can perform it yourself for less than $150.
Buy a case of Toyota ATF WS on eBay..a fluid handpump, new crush washers, small hose from autoparts store.
My fluid came out very dark...black with red tint...2008 V6 4wd...114k

My truck has 115,550 miles and I did a full flush today. Same deal, dark black with reddish tint and smelled nothing like new ATF. She's running so much better now!

Pain in the butt procedure, but the only other maint I've ever done is an oil change so I'm definitely a beginner, plus don't have a lift and I hated going underneath the truck 10 times on my back.

 

[232vzlano]

I dont plan on touching mine. its lifetime and sealed. i dont think we know better than toyotas engineers they said leave alone ill leave it alone.

 

[mr_plow]

I dont plan on touching mine. its lifetime and sealed. i dont think we know better than toyotas engineers they said leave alone ill leave it alone.

Oh man. You'll put a smile on the face of your local dealership service associate! Lol. It's not lifetime, even the owners manual calls for inspections and flush if heavily used at 60-100k as far as I know.

Adding a quote from John Lombardo, trans expert –

"A transmission flush is the best maintenance that one can do to extend the life of your automatic transmission, don't miss out on the benefits because of the nonsense that exists surrounding changing your transmission fluid!"

 

[232vzlano]

Oh man. You'll put a smile on the face of your local dealership service associate! Lol. It's not lifetime, even the owners manual calls for inspections and flush if heavily used at 60-100k as far as I know.

Adding a quote from John Lombardo, trans expert –

"A transmission flush is the best maintenance that one can do to extend the life of your automatic transmission, don't miss out on the benefits because of the nonsense that exists surrounding changing your transmission fluid!"

thats not accurate. nowhere in my 07 manual says something like that. i agree with jhon lombardo quote above but thats for most cars. toyotas tranny dont need service again toyota engineers built that tranny they know way better than us. as long as mine shift smooth im not touching it.

 

[t-man]

Lol, the ignorance is thick!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[jfry008]

Toyota reasoning-'if you tow, change ATF every 60k. If you don't tow the ATF has an unlimited lifespan.'

The tsb says to not change at 100k, only inspect it. So Toyota has to consider lifetime >100k, but continue reading and it says to not change for life of vehicle...



:toilet:

thats not accurate. nowhere in my 07 manual says something like that. i agree with jhon lombardo quote above but thats for most cars. toyotas tranny dont need service again toyota engineers built that tranny they know way better than us. as long as mine shift smooth im not touching it.

Here is the literature on it.

 

[luke87gt]

My truck has 115,550 miles and I did a full flush today. Same deal, dark black with reddish tint and smelled nothing like new ATF. She's running so much better now!

So much better, really...

 

[t-man]

And I'll add to [MENTION=137652]jfry008[/MENTION] comment. Adding a lift and larger tires ranks up there with towing. You are adding rolling mass, weight, adding height, wind resistance which makes more load on the engine and trans. All this means you will be making the Trans work much harder, and destroy the ability of the oil to do its job. Also, as stated several times lifetime does not mean life! Lifetime fluid is ~100k depending on what you do. So grandma barely getting over 45, and taking a mile to reach that speed, will easily get high mileage without issue of the Trans fluid. Some ******* like me with 35's driving like a ratfienk, offroading, towing heavy trailers, and in general having a heavy foot heating that fluid up will destroy the integrity much sooner. So every 60k is probably the max I should do.
But, let's be honest, the guy that thinks that Trans is good forever is probably not going to have that vehicle more than a couple years and in the end doesn't care anyways. So it's all good!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[mr_plow]

Lol, the ignorance is thick!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

And I'll add to [MENTION=137652]jfry008[/MENTION] comment. Adding a lift and larger tires ranks up there with towing. You are adding rolling mass, weight, adding height, wind resistance which makes more load on the engine and trans. All this means you will be making the Trans work much harder, and destroy the ability of the oil to do its job. Also, as stated several times lifetime does not mean life! Lifetime fluid is ~100k depending on what you do. So grandma barely getting over 45, and taking a mile to reach that speed, will easily get high mileage without issue of the Trans fluid. Some ******* like me with 35's driving like a ratfienk, offroading, towing heavy trailers, and in general having a heavy foot heating that fluid up will destroy the integrity much sooner. So every 60k is probably the max I should do.
But, let's be honest, the guy that thinks that Trans is good forever is probably not going to have that vehicle more than a couple years and in the end doesn't care anyways. So it's all good!

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

Agreed!! On everything you said!

I towed a 2ton e30 BMW from FL to CA. My WS was so black... 60k would be waiting too long if you tow. I wish I had changed mine when I first purchased the truck.

 

[t-man]

Agreed!! On everything you said!

I towed a 2ton e30 BMW from FL to CA. My WS was so black... 60k would be waiting too long if you tow. I wish I had changed mine when I first purchased the truck.

I'm in same boat. I never checked mine, put almost 80k miles on, then it started having issues. When I changed it you couldn't even see through it! I wish I had changed it when I bought it, it had never been done... Here's a pic. Old fluid on bottom that you can't see through, new on top.. Very bad! Had sediment in it too. Smelled burnt up, truck wouldn't shift right, all sorts of issues. Cleared up after changing although I still have a solenoid that surges a little.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132186222@N08/28963647370/" 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>

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.