I just picked up a 97 4Runner with ~86k on it. I got it from the original owner who said that he has never changed the tranny fluid. I check the fluid, its not brown, but pretty dark red. The tranny shifts fine. I'm not exactly sure what to do now, any ideas? I'm not sure exactly what burnt fluid smells like, but when I smelled it, it seemed like it was ok. Any suggestions appreciated.
The age old question, To Flush Transmission or Not
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If it still has its red color and hasn't turned black then I would say you are alright.
And you can do a test in a way to compare fluids, get some tranny fluid, smell it, and then smell yours, if the odor is different then it might be burnt.
I have 113k on mine and it was changed i believe (i am the second owner) I looked at my fluid, it is still good but i will be flushing it after my next outing.
And you can do a test in a way to compare fluids, get some tranny fluid, smell it, and then smell yours, if the odor is different then it might be burnt.
I have 113k on mine and it was changed i believe (i am the second owner) I looked at my fluid, it is still good but i will be flushing it after my next outing.
Deep_palancar
New member
Do NOT power flush the transmission. The owner boards are flush with horror stories of full failures following power flushes. It tends stir up too much debris which clogs the valves and solenoids.
Drain it one pan dump at a time. One pan drain will take out about 4 quarts. The system holds 16. Drain once, refill, drive it, drain, repeat x2. You can disconnect the return line at the radiator and allow the Trans pump to pump it out as you are adding fresh but this method is a little tricky and has its risks if you let pump down too far.
If you had burnt fluid you'd know it. It smells, well, burnt--like a charred piece of plastic.
Drain it one pan dump at a time. One pan drain will take out about 4 quarts. The system holds 16. Drain once, refill, drive it, drain, repeat x2. You can disconnect the return line at the radiator and allow the Trans pump to pump it out as you are adding fresh but this method is a little tricky and has its risks if you let pump down too far.
If you had burnt fluid you'd know it. It smells, well, burnt--like a charred piece of plastic.
RunnerUp
New member
flushing your transmission isnt bad if your tranny is in good shape, it only hurts the ones that are screwed anyways. i have mine "power flushed" every 60k and it works perfectly. as long as you have a reputable shop do it for you then you will be fine, unless your tranny is already on its way out. i dont know of anyone that has ever actually done what deep suggested, the disconnect return line ive heard of before, but i would rather pay toyota 120 to flush my tranny and not worry about it.....
Bamboozler
New member
I agree with Deep_palancar & Kmvreter 100% - don't power flush. I bought ours used w/40k and it was apparent the fluid had never been changed. I drained the pan and refilled at every oil change until the fluid was bright red. Now I change it every 12k.
You should consider changing rear axle fluid every 6k or so, as the manual recommends. It too is very easy to do. If you are using squeeze bottles, drop the spare to make it easier to get the bottle in position.
Speaking of gear lube, is everyone else running regular 75-90 without any problems? You can't find the Toyota spec'd gear lube at any of the typical auto parts stores where I live (AutoZone, NAPA, Checker, CarQuest, etc). For simplicity I've been running 75W-90 in the front transaxle, T-Case, & rear axle.
Scott
You should consider changing rear axle fluid every 6k or so, as the manual recommends. It too is very easy to do. If you are using squeeze bottles, drop the spare to make it easier to get the bottle in position.
Speaking of gear lube, is everyone else running regular 75-90 without any problems? You can't find the Toyota spec'd gear lube at any of the typical auto parts stores where I live (AutoZone, NAPA, Checker, CarQuest, etc). For simplicity I've been running 75W-90 in the front transaxle, T-Case, & rear axle.
Scott
Bamboozler
New member
Yep, more or less. I'll let it go to 9k when it's freezing outside, 'cause my garage isn't heated. Unless I really misread the manual, I'm pretty convinced that Toyota requires it every 6k, along with greasing the driveshafts, which is also a good idea with these trucks.
Bamboozler
New member
quote:
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Originally posted by Bamboozler
Yep, more or less. I'll let it go to 9k when it's freezing outside, 'cause my garage isn't heated. Unless I really misread the manual, I'm pretty convinced that Toyota requires it every 6k, along with greasing the driveshafts, which is also a good idea with these trucks.
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Get your reading glasses on. You've mis-read the manual. Don't have it in front of me but I did mine at 80,000 Km (~50,000 miles.)
Kmvreter, you're right. It's the SEQUOIA that requires rear diff fluid change every 5k, 4Runner is every 15k, per the Service Interval booklet. I think because these trucks are known to eat rear axle seals, I must have convinced myself to change it every other oil change.
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Originally posted by Bamboozler
Yep, more or less. I'll let it go to 9k when it's freezing outside, 'cause my garage isn't heated. Unless I really misread the manual, I'm pretty convinced that Toyota requires it every 6k, along with greasing the driveshafts, which is also a good idea with these trucks.
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quote:
Get your reading glasses on. You've mis-read the manual. Don't have it in front of me but I did mine at 80,000 Km (~50,000 miles.)
Kmvreter, you're right. It's the SEQUOIA that requires rear diff fluid change every 5k, 4Runner is every 15k, per the Service Interval booklet. I think because these trucks are known to eat rear axle seals, I must have convinced myself to change it every other oil change.
My post below is related to a Toyota Camry, not a 4Runner. However, the topic is related to transmission flushes, and I own both a Camry and 4Runner, so I thought of posting here. If this was inappropriate nonetheless, moderator: pls. ignore/delete this post, I'm a newbie & apologize.
My 2002 Camry has 104K miles. I bought the car used from the local dealer at 90K. I did extensive research on these forums, google, carspace, etc., and was not sure what to do. The general consensus from what I gathered was to do a flush for your car/truck every 30K miles. However, the ATF dipstick on the Camry has a little sticker that says not to worry about replacing ATF until 100K miles (something like that.) I also heard of stories about taking it to cheaper chains vs. the dealer, and ending up with major problems. While I have in the past taken my car to Firestone, etc., for oil/filter changes, I decided anything to service the transmission: I
My 2002 Camry has 104K miles. I bought the car used from the local dealer at 90K. I did extensive research on these forums, google, carspace, etc., and was not sure what to do. The general consensus from what I gathered was to do a flush for your car/truck every 30K miles. However, the ATF dipstick on the Camry has a little sticker that says not to worry about replacing ATF until 100K miles (something like that.) I also heard of stories about taking it to cheaper chains vs. the dealer, and ending up with major problems. While I have in the past taken my car to Firestone, etc., for oil/filter changes, I decided anything to service the transmission: I
uscgretired
New member
Trans Oil Change
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chad99
New member
When i flushed my trans i just removed the line from the supply line from the trans to the radiator and turned on the engine and let it pump till it sputtered then shut it off and filled it up then repeated till the oil coming out was like new....i think about 16 quarts or so
The oil was dirty red but it didn't smell burnt.
The oil was dirty red but it didn't smell burnt.
Just bought my t4r w/150k miles. It wasn't that well taken care of, so i assume no trans fluid changes. Plus, it shifted kind of funny. I took it to a trans shop and paid $200 for a flush (I assume it was a power flush) and new filter, pan gasket, etc. It shifts MUCH smoother now. I just finished towing my motorcycle trailer on a 1500 mile roadtrip and it ran great. I'd go with the flush from a reputable trans shop or dealer.
00t4rlimited
New member
Deep_palancar said:
I don't agree with this method. 99% of all shops do not perform what is called a power flush, a true power flush destroys transmissions and was abandoned months after equipment started hitting the dealers in the early 60's.
The way 99.99% of all shops & dealers perform a transmission flush is using a T-Tech transmission flush machine, this machine does not have any power source, no pumps, just a cylinder tube with a sealing disc inside of it. You make sure the disc is at the bottom of the tube, fill the tube with the appropriate transmission fluid, then put the cap back on. you hook the transmission cooler line that pumps fluid out to the cooler from the transmission to the bottom of the cylinder & the line that goes back from the cooler to the transmission gets hooked up to the top of the cylinder. Then you start the car lift the car with a lift stick the car in drive & let it accelerate to approximately 15mph & watch the tube once the disc has reached near the top it has pushed all the old fluid out & pushed the new fluid in. shut off the car disconnect the machine hook the lines back up start the car, top off the fluid & voila flush is performed. typically this is done along with a chemical additive poured into the transmission prior to flush & test driven for about 10mins to cycle through the transmission. BY using this flushing method you are using the transmissions fluid pump to pump all the fluid out & new fluid into the transmission not subjecting to any more pressure than normal driving, therefor not stirring up any more debri than normal.
I know this process quite well having worked at several toyota dealers as a toyota master technician 2004 Southwest region Toyota Technician of the year, And having worked for several toyota & lexus specialty shops.
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peter78
Super Moderator
That is good to know. I had the transmission changed at 60.000 and the local dealer charge me for 16 quarts. Then a friend of mine did a 90,000 mile tune up and told me to get 5 quarts of transmission fluid. I thought maybe the first dealer was ripping me off, I guess I got it flushed at the 60,000 mile mark.Deep_palancar said:
