Berty_K
Member
My thoughts exactly (though my garage for me lol). I'd hate to break down on the middle of a long drive.
Should I Change My Transmission Fluid?
- Thread starter Berty_K
- Start date
My thoughts exactly (though my garage for me lol). I'd hate to break down on the middle of a long drive.
Berty_K
Member
Read the link I posted right before you. Its a FULL
[MENTION=274360]firebirdguy[/MENTION] is right. Link is an exchange, not a flush.
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firebirdguy
Member
i think some of you guys may be confusing the term flush with exchange. a flush is when a shop uses a powered machine to literally flush under pressure the old fluid out. an exchange is simply using the trans pump when starting the engine to pump out ~2qts of fluid, then you replace 2 qts & do that cycle 6-7 times to exchange all the old fluid with new. no harm caused at all & you get more new fluid in than doing a drain & fill. but both ways work & are better than not doing it.
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Mr_Dobalina
Member
I had a flush done on my 2002 Tacoma. The transmission blew up 4 months later....
Berty_K
Member
Context? How many miles when you flushed the transmission?
Do a 5 quart drain and fill, that is what is recommended at 110,000 miles.
I have 2005 4runner from new. I did a tranny d/f at 110,000 andpaidthe dealer for the job. I’ll do the next one with Toyota brand tranny fluid myself.
I have 145000 miles now and will do another D/f in the next 6 months or so.
New tranny fluid made by Or 4 Toyotas cannot hurt a 4 runner. Type T IV.
My change saw black old tranny fluid that was 12 years old, but I’ll bet it was still functioning OK. Toyota dealer didn’t say anything, they just did the d/f.
Have a friend measure and drain 5 quarts And replace with new 5 quarts of genuine Toyota T 1V.
JMHO
I have 2005 4runner from new. I did a tranny d/f at 110,000 andpaidthe dealer for the job. I’ll do the next one with Toyota brand tranny fluid myself.
I have 145000 miles now and will do another D/f in the next 6 months or so.
New tranny fluid made by Or 4 Toyotas cannot hurt a 4 runner. Type T IV.
My change saw black old tranny fluid that was 12 years old, but I’ll bet it was still functioning OK. Toyota dealer didn’t say anything, they just did the d/f.
Have a friend measure and drain 5 quarts And replace with new 5 quarts of genuine Toyota T 1V.
JMHO
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firebirdguy
Member
curious where you got 5 qts from? the manual only says the mileage interval, not the amount. pretty sure they mean a complete exchange of all the fluid at 100k miles (60k when towing or abused)
how are you measuring 5 qts at a drain? the pan on a 4runners sealed trans only holds about 3-3.5qts. toyota T 1v fluid?? these transmissions call for toyota WS fluid, or other fluids rated for WS use.
The Toyota dealer that sold me the 4runner in 2005 did the Transmission service (Drain and Fill of 5 quarts of WS IV). I have their receipt with date and mileage and costs.
The 4runner holds about 12 quarts of WS, so you get a good (but not complete exchange/flush) renovation.
Read what happened here and above:
Mr_Dobalina View Post
I had a flush done on my 2002 Tacoma. The transmission blew up 4 months later...
4runner transmissions have gone to 250,000 miles with no tranny service. Some have gone over 500,000 miles (with D/F 5 quart service??).
Every 60,000 miles after the first drain and fill at 100,000 miles is good practice with Toyota lifetime WS. IMO.
The 4runner holds about 12 quarts of WS, so you get a good (but not complete exchange/flush) renovation.
Read what happened here and above:
Mr_Dobalina View Post
I had a flush done on my 2002 Tacoma. The transmission blew up 4 months later...
4runner transmissions have gone to 250,000 miles with no tranny service. Some have gone over 500,000 miles (with D/F 5 quart service??).
Every 60,000 miles after the first drain and fill at 100,000 miles is good practice with Toyota lifetime WS. IMO.
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Drcoffee
Senior Member
“ ... of 5 quarts of WS IV”. That is a generic phrase. I sure hope the dealer did not use IV ATF. That would be the wrong fluid. So, dont put too much faith in what exactly the dealer did. You can say they did a drain and fill, thats all.
The shop overcharged for the fluid. A drain and fill is only 3.5qts but the average consumer would not know that and just accept the charge for 5qts. I think the issue here is miscommunication. Stop saying 5qts. You dont know that for fact, only that someone was charged for it.
If your tranny was shifting well before a fluid exchange, it should be better afterwards. If it wasnt working well before the fluid change, chances are it will bring on an early failure.
Here is my take on it. New ATF is a great cleaner. What happens to all that crud when you put a cleaner in tne old transmission? All that crud frees up and blocks small passages within the tranny. Results in failure. The solution is to add a high quality filter to catch the crud before it can reenter the tranny. Check out MAGNEFINE inline filters. I add it to all my vehicles on the cooler line and power steering return line. Never had a transmission failure, ever.
The shop overcharged for the fluid. A drain and fill is only 3.5qts but the average consumer would not know that and just accept the charge for 5qts. I think the issue here is miscommunication. Stop saying 5qts. You dont know that for fact, only that someone was charged for it.
If your tranny was shifting well before a fluid exchange, it should be better afterwards. If it wasnt working well before the fluid change, chances are it will bring on an early failure.
Here is my take on it. New ATF is a great cleaner. What happens to all that crud when you put a cleaner in tne old transmission? All that crud frees up and blocks small passages within the tranny. Results in failure. The solution is to add a high quality filter to catch the crud before it can reenter the tranny. Check out MAGNEFINE inline filters. I add it to all my vehicles on the cooler line and power steering return line. Never had a transmission failure, ever.
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Mr_Dobalina
Member
Around 160K. I was broke at the time and thought spending the money to flush would make it last longer.
Then I took it to a no name transmission shop to get it fixed as it was the cheapest. You get what you pay for. It shifted so abruptly- like it was going to break again. I drove it for a while and then unloaded it to a dealer for a new car. They only drove it in the parking lot so they never knew it was a junker.
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firebirdguy
Member
you really need to quit posting misinfo like this... nowhere in any toyota owners or service manual does it say to drain 5qts at 110k miles... where are you getting those number from? just because thats on your receipt does not mean thats a recommended amount. & you cant drain 5qts on a pan drain. my guess is that the dealer just overfilled the trans by ~1qt & charged you for 5 qts, that is how youre supposed to check the fluid level, let it drain at the right temp until a trickle to verify the correct fluid level. not have a friend drain 5qts then have a friend refill 5 qts.
& whats with the T 1V or WS IV. WS does not have IV after it, its just WS. your first post told everyone to use T 1V in their 5 speed sealed trans!!! :wacko:
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I was getting the transmission rumble strip effect and hard downshifts on a transmission with 180K original fluids. Had the dealer change the fluids according to something similar (4th gen vice 5th): Transmission fluid change - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum
It immediately cleared up the rumble and the hard downshifts. Had about a week were I was worried it would blow up per peoples comments. But 2 years and 20K miles later it's still working fine.
It immediately cleared up the rumble and the hard downshifts. Had about a week were I was worried it would blow up per peoples comments. But 2 years and 20K miles later it's still working fine.
What's a full exchange
Sorry, I'm not a mechanic, just a female trying to maintain my 04' Limited 6 cylinder runner and don't know what you mean by a full exchange. I've never had the ATF changed yet and after reading posts with different suggestions of drain and fill vs. flush, thought it's about time I take action and get er' done. Is there any kind of machine involved in a full exchange? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I'm original owner and have 128K miles on the vehicle. I had planned on doing a drain and fill 2 or 3 times as some have suggested because of high mileage. I think I saw a post that recommended driving around 500 miles in between drain and fill. If I do a drain and fill 2 or 3 times putting mileage on between each drain and fill, will that totally get all the old fluid out, including what's in the torque converter? What are your thoughts for my year and mileage? Thank you!
Sorry, I'm not a mechanic, just a female trying to maintain my 04' Limited 6 cylinder runner and don't know what you mean by a full exchange. I've never had the ATF changed yet and after reading posts with different suggestions of drain and fill vs. flush, thought it's about time I take action and get er' done. Is there any kind of machine involved in a full exchange? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I'm original owner and have 128K miles on the vehicle. I had planned on doing a drain and fill 2 or 3 times as some have suggested because of high mileage. I think I saw a post that recommended driving around 500 miles in between drain and fill. If I do a drain and fill 2 or 3 times putting mileage on between each drain and fill, will that totally get all the old fluid out, including what's in the torque converter? What are your thoughts for my year and mileage? Thank you!
Drain & Fill
I have 128K and have never changed mine yet. Going to bring to my mechanic next week for drain and fill. At what intervals did you perform your 4 drain and fills? I also have an 04 (it's my baby!). Did you go by time, miles put on vehicle or some other interval in between each drain and full? Also is there anything that should be done after each drain and fill, like filter change (if there is one), etc? Thank you!
I have 128K and have never changed mine yet. Going to bring to my mechanic next week for drain and fill. At what intervals did you perform your 4 drain and fills? I also have an 04 (it's my baby!). Did you go by time, miles put on vehicle or some other interval in between each drain and full? Also is there anything that should be done after each drain and fill, like filter change (if there is one), etc? Thank you!
Drain and Fill
Hi I'm just reading your post now. I'm not a mechanic but have an 04 V6 4WD 4Runner and wanted to have my ATF changed but concerned b/c I have 128K miles so don't want to do a flush. If I let my mechanic do a drain and fill 3 or 4 times putting 300-500 miles on the vehicle between each drain and fill, do I have to worry about the crud getting into tranny? If so, where is the high quality filter placed on the vehicle so crud doesn't get into tranny? Or would you recommend a full fluid exchange (doing it all at once)? I was reading not sure if it was this thread but a full fluid exchange it done using the trans. pump? Thank you.
Hi I'm just reading your post now. I'm not a mechanic but have an 04 V6 4WD 4Runner and wanted to have my ATF changed but concerned b/c I have 128K miles so don't want to do a flush. If I let my mechanic do a drain and fill 3 or 4 times putting 300-500 miles on the vehicle between each drain and fill, do I have to worry about the crud getting into tranny? If so, where is the high quality filter placed on the vehicle so crud doesn't get into tranny? Or would you recommend a full fluid exchange (doing it all at once)? I was reading not sure if it was this thread but a full fluid exchange it done using the trans. pump? Thank you.
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
A flush involves a machine pumping new fluid in under pressure. A full exchange is really just a drain and fill done all at once instead of a few quarts per session. There’s no machine and the fluid is poured into the transmission rather than pumped in under pressure. This thread describes the process. I recommend reading the entire thread as people make some good points and suggestions based on their experience. Personally I don’t see the point of doing several drain & fills as opposed to all at once but that’s a judgement call.
The purpose as I understand it is to reduce the possibility of stirring up stuff in the fluid that might cause problems (same reason not to get the pressure flush) but the counterpoint is that modern transmissions are less susceptible and I’ve yet to see anyone with an issue from doing a full exchange.
As for year & mileage, imo you’re in a great place to replace your fluid. I did my first one at 114K miles.
I’m not a mechanic either ;-) but am happy to answer any other questions as best I can. Actually, I have one for you: does your ‘04 have a transmission dipstick or had Toyota gone to the sealed system by then?
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AuSeeker
Elite Member
The 2003 and 2004 V6 has the 4 speed transmission and isn't sealed, and yes it has a dipstick.
If it was the 2004 V8 it would be a 5 speed and sealed, that's the first year of the sealed transmission for 4Runners, 2005 and onward both the V6 and the V8 has the 5 speed sealed transmission, also an FYi the 2003 V8 had the 5 speed transmission as well but it wasn't the sealed version and had a dipstick.
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Fluid exchange?
Does your method use the trans pump to pump the old fluid out. I have an 04’ non sealed tranny and trying to understand process so I can be clear with my mechanic, so please pardon my lack of knowledge. If my mechanic can’t do the exchange in a non-pressurized method, I guess I’ll have him drain and fill and do that 3 or 4 times. Do you know if the drain and fill done several times will eventually get the old fluid out of the torque converter? Thank you!
Does your method use the trans pump to pump the old fluid out. I have an 04’ non sealed tranny and trying to understand process so I can be clear with my mechanic, so please pardon my lack of knowledge. If my mechanic can’t do the exchange in a non-pressurized method, I guess I’ll have him drain and fill and do that 3 or 4 times. Do you know if the drain and fill done several times will eventually get the old fluid out of the torque converter? Thank you!
SurferUK
Member
You could always send the link for the process to your mechanic to see if it is something they can do. If it helps I am an experienced DIYer but by no means an expert. I followed that guide as this is my first ever automatic and as long as you are methodical and have someone to shift through the gears and turn the engine off as soon as you say, it really is a straightforward job. I used a cheap 12V pump to pump the fresh fluid in, and did the differential and transfer box oils at the same time. All in all a relaxed days work.
I think the advantage of this method is that you're not mixing too much new fluid with old fluid.
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