Should I have my transmission fluid changed/flushed?

[AuSeeker]

Link to video ?

If it's the video I was posting you're seeking the link is in my post, you may have read my post while I was editing trying to get the video to show up in the post but I was unable to do so, but the link is there now.

There are 3 plugs you will have to deal with, 2 on the bottom of the pan, the drain plug in the one flush with the bottom of the pan, the level check plug is the one on the bottom of the pan up in a dimple, the last plug is the fill plug and it's on the right/passenger side of the transmission, IMHO it's very important that you have a torque wrench to proeprly torque the plugs and the pan bolts if you do remove the pan, all of these bolts and especially the pan plugs are very easily over tightened and often stripping the threads if you're not careful, the fill plug is much larger and not as easy to strip but I would still use the torque wrench.

If you have the V6 removing the pan is simple, remove the bolts and drop the pan, if you have the V8 you will first have to remove the exhaust crossover pipe to be able to drop the pan then remove bolts, etc., you will also nee to have on hand a new pan gasket which usually comes with a new strainer/screen, a new screen form the dealer will cost aorund $40+/-, but you can get one from an autopart store for between $15 to $25, since you will need to buy a new gasket if it were me I would just goahead and get the new screen.

If you just do a drain and fill you will need approximately 3 quarts of fluid, if you drop the pan then appproxinately 4 quarts, I would also recommend getting the hand pump that screws on the oil bottles to do the refill.

That all being said here a video where he doing this on a FJ Cruiser, it is exactly the same as what you would be doing if you have the V6, it's the same tranmission as what is in the 4th Gen T4Rs, this video also shows the hand pump mentioned above, if you don't get the exact one shown that comes with tubing you may also need to get some tubing as well.

https://youtu.be/4FflypYGgh8

 

[Prommy]

I changed my fluid and filter a few weeks ago. Pretty painless. Took about 4 hours start to finish.

From my research, a mechanical flush isn't necessary and can be - with some cars - more harmful than good. Swapping out the fluid in the pan is sufficient to maintain proper viscosity and active detergents to maximize the life of the mechanical systems in the vehicle.

It takes about 4 quarts of Toyota WS AT Fluid. 5 if you are swapping the filter. Just get a bottle pump, a good drain pain, and the right sockets and follow the available guides specifically.

The transmission needs to be in a certain temperature range to have the fluid level bolt provide an accurate reading. While there is a "manual" was to get the car to enter this mode, it was so much easier using my bluetooth ELM327 OBDII module connected to my Torque app on my phone. A widget can be added to extract the current transmission fluid temperature sensor readings (there are two) in real time to ensure the car reaches and maintains the temp range during the fluid level portion of a swap.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

Well I just had a drain and fill done at the dealer today, only cost about $120 and that included getting the drive shaft lubed. Next time it needs done I'll probably be doing it myself, I've just been super busy lately and we are going on a trip next week towing our camper so I wanted to get some new fluid in there.

 

[eleven14]

Well I just had a drain and fill done at the dealer today, only cost about $120 and that included getting the drive shaft lubed. Next time it needs done I'll probably be doing it myself, I've just been super busy lately and we are going on a trip next week towing our camper so I wanted to get some new fluid in there.

Wait, what? Does the receipt show how much fluid you were charged for? My local dealer wants $300 for a fluid exchange

 

[JoshuaHufford]

Here is a copy of the receipt. There is also a charge on there for 3 light bulbs I bought. Looks like 4 quarts of fluid.

 

[eleven14]

Here is a copy of the receipt. There is also a charge on there for 3 light bulbs I bought. Looks like 4 quarts of fluid.

Thanks for sharing, looks like the drain and fill on an 07 (3.2 qts) is vastly different than the 08 (11.3 qts) for some reason. It seems they drained roughly 1/3rd of the fluid and replaced with new. Did the dealer offer a fluid exchange service?

Appreciate it, I need to do either a D&F or exchange on mine at my next oil change.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

They did. However everything I've read, and all the videos I've watched suggest that if you don't know the history of the vehicle, it is better to do just a drain and fill. I don't know if the fluid has ever been changed on this, just got it a few weeks ago. The service manager I talked to also suggested just the drain and fill because of not knowing the service history, which we checked.

I'm probably going to do another drain and fill in a few months, might try it myself this time.

 

[eleven14]

Drain/Fill OR Toyota Flush

So to further complicate this oft-debated topic, I'm just over 100k miles on my 2008 and would love to replace the old fluid. I called four Toyota dealers in my area and all of them refused a drain/fill (said they don't do it) and recommended to "flush" it based on miles/age without hesitation.

I pressed them on the definition of a "flush" which sounds like a basic fluid exchange (no pressure other than the transmission itself) but using additives/detergents. All of them were in the $250ish range.

Thoughts? None of them were remotely concerned with the relatively low miles on mine. It seems there are literally no definitive answers on this topic, hah

 

[CookieJHWK20]

I have a v6 with 145k miles on it, so I should probably look to have this done again. Think last time was around 68k or something? Anyone know a good place in OP, KS? Or got videos on how to do it yourself?

 

[2003-4x4runner]

So to further complicate this oft-debated topic, I'm just over 100k miles on my 2008 and would love to replace the old fluid. I called four Toyota dealers in my area and all of them refused a drain/fill (said they don't do it) and recommended to "flush" it based on miles/age without hesitation.

I pressed them on the definition of a "flush" which sounds like a basic fluid exchange (no pressure other than the transmission itself) but using additives/detergents. All of them were in the $250ish range.

Thoughts? None of them were remotely concerned with the relatively low miles on mine. It seems there are literally no definitive answers on this topic, hah

I had the same thing done to my 2003 4Runner at 150K miles. You should do it.

 

[Morphyne]

So to further complicate this oft-debated topic, I'm just over 100k miles on my 2008 and would love to replace the old fluid. I called four Toyota dealers in my area and all of them refused a drain/fill (said they don't do it) and recommended to "flush" it based on miles/age without hesitation.

I pressed them on the definition of a "flush" which sounds like a basic fluid exchange (no pressure other than the transmission itself) but using additives/detergents. All of them were in the $250ish range.

Thoughts? None of them were remotely concerned with the relatively low miles on mine. It seems there are literally no definitive answers on this topic, hah

Do it. Hands down. $250 is not a bad price for a full exchange.

 

[Montego Murph]

And see, this is where I get confused.

I want to have a full fluid exchange done on my 03 V8, but the service manager at the local Toyota dealer advised that I *not* do it. He has the same vehicle (over 200k miles) which he admittedly drives very hard on the trails with zero issues, and feels it should be left alone. I figure since his job is sales-based and his bonus depends on how much service he can sell, he must be pretty confident in his opinion to turn away someone saying "hi, I would like to spend a few hundred dollars in your shop."

The fluid was exchanged at 65k, and I'm at 110k now. I tow a rather heavy trailer (parade float) three times a year, and towed a U-Haul trailer about 1000 miles earlier in the summer. I plan to keep this truck as long as I can, so of course maintenance is important to me.

What would you do?

 

[eleven14]

And see, this is where I get confused.

I want to have a full fluid exchange done on my 03 V8, but the service manager at the local Toyota dealer advised that I *not* do it. He has the same vehicle (over 200k miles) which he admittedly drives very hard on the trails with zero issues, and feels it should be left alone. I figure since his job is sales-based and his bonus depends on how much service he can sell, he must be pretty confident in his opinion to turn away someone saying "hi, I would like to spend a few hundred dollars in your shop."

The fluid was exchanged at 65k, and I'm at 110k now. I tow a rather heavy trailer (parade float) three times a year, and towed a U-Haul trailer about 1000 miles earlier in the summer. I plan to keep this truck as long as I can, so of course maintenance is important to me.

What would you do?

I'd do it, especially due to the fact it's been done once already and you tow.

I had mine done this AM and everything seems fine. Shifts are slightly buttery-er but for the most part I don't notice much difference. They charged me for 12qts of WS fluid, $44 for a "transfusion" kit and the rest was labor. I plan on doing it every 50k from here on out.

I spoke to several service advisors in doing research and all recommended this service at 100k. Notably, the service advisor today recommended a drain and fill only for anything north of 170k unless it had been performed routinely.

Hope that helps and thanks to everyone for the advice

 

[barongan]

That's interesting!

 

[2003-4x4runner]

And see, this is where I get confused.

I want to have a full fluid exchange done on my 03 V8, but the service manager at the local Toyota dealer advised that I *not* do it. He has the same vehicle (over 200k miles) which he admittedly drives very hard on the trails with zero issues, and feels it should be left alone. I figure since his job is sales-based and his bonus depends on how much service he can sell, he must be pretty confident in his opinion to turn away someone saying "hi, I would like to spend a few hundred dollars in your shop."

The fluid was exchanged at 65k, and I'm at 110k now. I tow a rather heavy trailer (parade float) three times a year, and towed a U-Haul trailer about 1000 miles earlier in the summer. I plan to keep this truck as long as I can, so of course maintenance is important to me.

What would you do?

Change that transmission fluid when you can. The owners manual even says to change it if you tow. I think the manual says every 60k miles.