transmission fluid change?

[meooem1]

first post, but have been looking around for a while.

i have a 2004 v6 approx 70K miles and would like to change the tranny fluid. i am not a believer in lifetime fluid. has anyone done it? if so what is the procedure?

what are your thoughts on the 4runner transmissions and the fluid topic?

thanks

 

[eskimochaos]

first post, but have been looking around for a while.

i have a 2004 v6 approx 70K miles and would like to change the tranny fluid. i am not a believer in lifetime fluid. has anyone done it? if so what is the procedure?

what are your thoughts on the 4runner transmissions and the fluid topic?

thanks

have the dealer do it.

I would not attempt it myself.

 

[riverider]

Re: Re: transmission fluid change?

have the dealer do it.

I would not attempt it myself.

I agree it's not a home project.

 

[toto]

If you have a trans dipstick, then the process is the same as you'd expect - drain and then refill with however much came out.

The V6 didn't get the "sealed" transmission - without a dipstick - until 2005. The process for the sealed trans is much different and a pain in the neck for DIY. That's best left to a dealer, but there are instructions posted in a "sticky" thread at the top of the Maintenance section. Here's the thread.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

You can do it! :bigok:

There's a great, detailed how to link off of that thread that cover a thorough flush/fill and filter change. (Thanks Mike the Wino) Read it, skim it a second time and then DIY it. It's not a big deal. There's good info in the thread Toto linked you to also...

Good luck! This is a great read: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42071


:cheers:

 

[meooem1]

thanks cj, i was doing searches for transmissions, but only in 4th gen forum...i did not know about the maintenance forum sorry.

awesome write up. might wait til about 90K miles and then tackle that job.

when does toyota recommend changing the fluid on the none sealed tranny, anyone know? i looked on the toyota service interval website and didn't see anything.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

thanks cj, i was doing searches for transmissions, but only in 4th gen forum...i did not know about the maintenance forum sorry.

awesome write up. might wait til about 90K miles and then tackle that job.

when does toyota recommend changing the fluid on the none sealed tranny, anyone know? i looked on the toyota service interval website and didn't see anything.

I would do it before then. It's cheap and easy compared with transmission issues. Your '04 uses the less expensive fluid (non-WS fluid) so I'd just do it.

Toyota suggests do it 60k if you tow. (Scroll down to notes at the bottom.) I would argue lots of city driving or off-roading could be nearly as hard on the fluid as towing. Another point to consider is you have the same transmission as 2002. On the '02 they suggested 30k for towing or car top carrier... I'll give you they did upgrade from Dexron to TypeIV on your '04 but why chance it for so little money.

I think Mike said his filter looked pretty good. IMHO, if you change out the fluid early and frequently don't bother dropping the pan. On principle I have dropped a few pans at between 120k and 150k on vehicles under my care (meaning frequent, early fluid changes) and wished I didn't waste the time and effort; they looked that good.

Just do it...:biggrin2:

 

[meooem1]

so cj in your opinion, i would probably do alright by just draining fluid and then refilling. that would be a whole lot easier than dropping pan, replacing the filter.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

so cj in your opinion, i would probably do alright by just draining fluid and then refilling. that would be a whole lot easier than dropping pan, replacing the filter.

:bigok: Yes! If I were you I wouldn't drop the pan. That's an IMHO statement though...



I, personally, would take it to the next level. I would follow the suggestion to truly flush it out by:
1) Drain & Fill (Don't start it)
2) Remove the cooler line
3) Start it to pump fluid out, shut it off, refill until clean fluid comes out.
Read Mikes post for more details.

The transmission pan holds 4-5qts (or something like that). The transmission has another 2-3 trapped in it and the torque converter will have 3-4quarts.

The bottom line is a simple drain and fill will change 4-5qts of 12+ quarts in the system. By using the method in Mikes post you'll end up with 99% new fluid vs 35% new fluid.

You could also drain and fill for the next 3 or 4 oil changes. That works but I don't like that method unless you started earlier; something like 45k-50k miles. Even then it seems better to do it all at once (to me).

Good luck!

:cheers: