Transmission fluid purge??

[zonzin]

My 2008 Gen 4 4Runner V6 has the sealed transmission with the "lifetime" fluid. Yet when I made a recent trip to the dealer for service, he said that when I hit 100K I should have them do a complete fluid purge and refill. Should this be done? Is it not "lifetime" fluid in a sealed system?

 

[jmm3807]

I'm at 164000 purchased at 160k and took to dealer to exchange all the fluid and they wouldn't do it. Said it was unnecessary. My question is who has the most miles without changing this fluid? Currently toyota has no record of mine ever being changed. I planned on taking it to a Japanese shop to have it done tomorrow however I'm worried it'll do more harm than good from what I've read.

 

[CarlWheezer]

My 2008 Gen 4 4Runner V6 has the sealed transmission with the "lifetime" fluid. Yet when I made a recent trip to the dealer for service, he said that when I hit 100K I should have them do a complete fluid purge and refill. Should this be done? Is it not "lifetime" fluid in a sealed system?

I have an '08 V6 too. I was at the dealership today and they recommended the transmission flush service at 100K. They quoted me $219.00, but have a $40 coupon online, so $180.00.

 

[jimithing]

I have an '08 V6 too. I was at the dealership today and they recommended the transmission flush service at 100K. They quoted me $219.00, but have a $40 coupon online, so $180.00.

Are you sure they said flush? The other option is a drain and fill multiple times. A flush pushes fluid through the system and could potentially stir up sediment (shavings) that have made their way to the bottom of the pan. With that many miles most people on here would probably recommend the drain and fill. You don't get 100% new fluid but it's good enough.

 

[CarlWheezer]

Yes, service dept said they recommend the detergent clean and fluid exchange. Parts guy said a quart of WS fluid was almost $10. If I did it myself I would have $130 in fluid alone...I would take the chance and let them do it for $180 and get all new fluid.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yes, service dept said they recommend the detergent clean and fluid exchange. Parts guy said a quart of WS fluid was almost $10. If I did it myself I would have $130 in fluid alone...I would take the chance and let them do it for $180 and get all new fluid.

That is the first I have ever heard of a dealership offering a chemical fluid flush on a WS transmission. As far as I know Toyota still maintains that drain and fill is the only approved method for changing the WS fluid. Also they are charging you too much for fluid, I think right now we're selling it for $8 a quart here.

I wouldn't listen to anyone who tells you that it never needs to be touched, they're either drinking the company kool-aid, complete idiots, or just slow. Toyota calls it a "Lifetime" fluid yet, if you do any severe work with the vehicle it needs to be changed at 60k, then flushed every 30k (check your owner's manual.)

Out of all the fluids in vehicle, transmission fluid is the last fluid I would believe to be "lifetime." 100k is what we recommend customers to change it at and what I recommend personally to people on this forum, unless they do a lot of towing.

 

[BOSMECH]

Look at what Lexus vehicle say to do it says to change it.
Go by what they say.
I would get it flushed.

 

[WXman]

I drained my pan at 105K or so and the fluid looked horrible. Probably had never been touched. I put 3.5 quarts back in and got the trans. warm and when I pulled the check plug fluid gushed out. So apparently 2-3 quarts is all the pan holds.

My thinking was that I'll do this every 6 months until the fluid coming out starts looking red again. But now I'm having second thoughts. This fluid is $9/quart at my dealer, and it'll take numerous 3 quart flushes to get the old fluid all purged. A second grade student could figure out that it's going to get expensive fast. My dealer will hook it up to the machine and do it all in 10 minutes for $180.

I've always heard that flushing an old trans. is a bad idea. But I can't say that I know anybody personally who has had a trans. die immediately after getting a flush done. So who knows...

 

[zonzin]

Wow,, a lot of diverse opinions stated on how these WS transmissions should be serviced. More confused than ever..

 

[JB.]

Wow,, a lot of diverse opinions stated on how these WS transmissions should be serviced. More confused than ever..

Yeah, taking in the entire vista at once can make it seem confusing but if you assume that, like most things, the answer lies probably near the middle, it comes into focus a little better.

Add to that the fact that a highly experienced Toyota Tech and 4Runner owners's advice (Blackworksinc) is in that middle range as well and the path, at least to me, looks pretty clear.

 

[BOSMECH]

I Plan on getting my flushed like Lexus says to do.

 

[Radial GT]

I drained my pan at 105K or so and the fluid looked horrible. Probably had never been touched. I put 3.5 quarts back in and got the trans. warm and when I pulled the check plug fluid gushed out. So apparently 2-3 quarts is all the pan holds.

My thinking was that I'll do this every 6 months until the fluid coming out starts looking red again. But now I'm having second thoughts. This fluid is $9/quart at my dealer, and it'll take numerous 3 quart flushes to get the old fluid all purged. A second grade student could figure out that it's going to get expensive fast. My dealer will hook it up to the machine and do it all in 10 minutes for $180.

I've always heard that flushing an old trans. is a bad idea. But I can't say that I know anybody personally who has had a trans. die immediately after getting a flush done. So who knows...

Did you jump the diagnostic plug in the cab when you pulled the check plug? When you jump that diagnostic plug you can hear the tone of the engine change, like it is activating a pump in the trans or something. I have drained and filled twice now, and both times it took about 3.5 quarts to fill it. I put in 4 quarts ran the engine until warm, jumped the plug in the cab and .5 quart came out of the transmission check plug.

Really easy job to do. It takes me about 40 minutes to do it. Longest part is standing in your garage drinking beer waiting for the transmission to get warmed up.

I did this job because the dealer also told me they wouldn't change it (not needed). Yet I was having the speed bump issue while driving in "D". After the fluid change, the transmission shifts wonderfully.

The alldata procedure that is on the forum here was spot on with the procedure.


Mitch

 

[jmm3807]

I went in yesterday and had the dealer purge/flush/exchange the fluid. I was scared with 164k miles it would mess things up if they used the additive that loosens things up so I requested they didn't. But they did completely exchange/flush the fluid. Shifts seem slightly different but not much. It seemed before I was getting some "rumble strip" issues but I haven't experienced them since then although it's only been around thirty miles.

 

[MikeInNH]

My question is who has the most miles without changing this fluid?

Are you trying to get the most out of your transmission oil..or the most out of your transmission??

I try to get the most out of my transmission.

Transmission oil is CHEAP...transmissions are not. I take mine to a good independent transmission specialist. They charge me $90. They drop the pan..change the filter...and refile with WS fluid from Toyota. I do it every 50k miles. It's EXTREMELY CHEAP insurance. I'd rather spend a few hundred over the years by changing my transmission fluid every 50k miles...instead of spending THOUSANDS on a new transmission because the fluid didn't last like it should have.

 

[shallcallhimtim]

I just did mine yesterday and I have 170k on it. I dont think the fluid has ever been changed.

 

[CarlWheezer]

Had mine done today. 102,000 miles.

 

[Gatafly]

Did mine at 100k and the fluid was really brown, but not burnt. Did it myself with the help of a buddy because I took the lines off the tranny cooler, started the engine and while the tranny pumped out the old we poured in the new. When the fluid coming out was completely clean I shut the engine down and connected the lines again. After that I opened the check plug and put in about 1 qt of fluid until it started coming out. Put the plug back in and ran it until the tranny temp came up to range, I believe it is 90-105 but would have to check again. When it reached temp I checked the level again and only had to add about 6-8oz. Ran it a couple days and checked again and all was good. Seemed a little smoother shifting to me. I used a laser temp scanner to check tranny temp since the pan will be within a degree or 2 of the fluid temo and is an easy way of doing it. It has been almost 2 years and 26K since I did that and it is going strong and shifting smoothly. I used Amsoil WS tranny fluid because I use Amsoil in everything and like how it shifts easier in the cold winter months.