Transmission fluid question..

[bsa70]

I have a 2014 4runner with 35k miles that never tows anything. Do you trust toyota's 130k mile transmission fluid change recommendation or should I do it sooner?

I'm reading so much conflicting info on line. Some guys are hard core and changing it at 30k.

I also have a highlander 2007 117k miles with a 4 speed transmission. The manual says lifetime fluid but I dont trust that. Would I be ok with 3 drain refill(4qts) over about 2k miles of driving?

 

[bob3dsf]

I, personally, wouldn't go 130k miles on the fluid, but Toyota wrote the maintenance schedule so I doubt you'll kill the tranny with just normal everyday driving. I have an 08, if I remember right, my original maint. book said check the trans fluid at 60k if it was used to tow things and driven in "extreme" conditions. I did my 1st fluid change at around 105k. It was browning-red colored and I did 3 or 4 successive drain/fills. It drove completely fine. I remember reading opinions of doing changes at around 50k intervals (don't remember the rationale other than close to published recommendations as I mentioned and also it's a good interval that's easy to remember... I guess). Now that I think of it, I think it had to do with doing just a drain and fill, where you don't get all the old fluid out, but just "freshen" it a little. The shorter interval accounts for some % of old fluid. My next change was at 150k and I used the trans cooler line method. Really easy and allowed a 100% fluid change. I'm at 200k now and I have a case of WS fluid waiting for some free time to do another change.

My wife has a 2010 highlander with 105k and I need to change hers. Problem is I don't know which fluid line is the return line from the radiator/cooler. I looked on the toyota nation site and that method is mentioned but no one posted identifying info for my vehicle type to find the right fluid line. I could do the drain/fills easy enough, especially since it has a trans fluid dipstik (yipee!!). I just want to get as close to a 100% change as I can. I guess I could buy a short subscription to the toyota tech info to access the service manual. Maybe I'll re-read some threads and see if I missed any info. Anyhow, This biggest PIA is filling the tranny. Not sure how the 5th gens are, but the lack of a trans dipstick is frickin" ridiculous, and the need to use a jumper wire in the ODB port to access the fluid temperature info... Hope this is useful..

 

[ZebRuaj]

If you plan on keeping the rigs forever, then change away.

I did 3 drain and fills right off the bat on my new to me 07 4Runner at 142k, then drain/fill recently at 175k.

I do 30k ish drain and fills on our 11 Rav4, now at 107k

Used WS while under warranty, jumped over to Maxlife post warranty. Nothing bad to report.