Transmission killer advice

Ripper238

Ripper238

Senior Member
As the title says i am a transmission killer, every car i have owned has had a transmission go except for my last car (Mazda 3). My 79 & 82 Buick went through one each, my Dodge caravan went through 3 transmissions, my Acura went through 1 at just under 100k. My Mazda was the first to not have an issue, but i sold it just over 100K.

I don't beat my cars, tow heavy boats or anything, no neutral drops or manual down shifts.

So, what advice can you guys provide that will help me not kill my 2019 4R transmission?

How often should i change the transmission fluid?

Is slightly rolling when putting into gear harmful (I tend to do this sometimes)?

More likely the transmissions in the cars i had sucked, but i want this 4R for well over 300k.
 
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figure out what bad driving habit(s) is killing your transmissions and stop doing it.

what gear are you starting in from a roll to be shifting? neutral? if so, why are you putting an auto in neutral and shifting back into park when rolling?
 
A lot of this is technology. 4runner transmissions were likely fail eventually until 2006.

New computer sensors and monitors watch the temperatures and function a lot better. The transmission in your 2019 is tried and true for 13 years without significant issues. You can get plug ins and data to monitor your transmission performance and fluid temp.

The scheduled maintenance recommends changing the transmission fluid every 60k if you're towing or carrying a lot of weight; for standard use no maintenance required
 
mesooohoppy said:
figure out what bad driving habit(s) is killing your transmissions and stop doing it.

what gear are you starting in from a roll to be shifting? neutral? if so, why are you putting an auto in neutral and shifting back into park when rolling?
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Good question. Its probably just me. But going from reverse to drive there's soo much more of a lag then my last two cars. Even park into drive lags so I find myself ever so slightly moving when I put it into gear.



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Syr4RinNC said:
A lot of this is technology. 4runner transmissions were likely fail eventually until 2006.



New computer sensors and monitors watch the temperatures and function a lot better. The transmission in your 2019 is tried and true for 13 years without significant issues. You can get plug ins and data to monitor your transmission performance and fluid temp.



The scheduled maintenance recommends changing the transmission fluid every 60k if you're towing or carrying a lot of weight; for standard use no maintenance required
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I agree. Like another implied not one of my cars with transmission problems was known to have very good transmissions.



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Heat is the biggest transmission killer. Get a scan gauge and keep an eye on the temps. When off roading when ever possible keep it in 4low and slow.
 
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Mid 80s gm were junk, the caravans all have transmission problems. Honda/Acura had troubles with their automatics not lasting for a long time too. I wouldn't be too worried about it.

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Definitely don't put the truck in drive when you are still rolling backwards from reversing, come to a stop and then put in drive. It's not that hard.

I would say just try and keep the accelerator steady, are you like jerky with the accelerator, making the trans do unpredicted downshifts, then you let off throttle? I grew up only driving manuals and not until my 4th gen 4runner did I own an auto, and I noticed that being more smooth and predictable for the trans helps with smooth shifts.
 
pDubs said:
Definitely don't put the truck in drive when you are still rolling backwards from reversing, come to a stop and then put in drive. It's not that hard.

I would say just try and keep the accelerator steady, are you like jerky with the accelerator, making the trans do unpredicted downshifts, then you let off throttle? I grew up only driving manuals and not until my 4th gen 4runner did I own an auto, and I noticed that being more smooth and predictable for the trans helps with smooth shifts.
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I will definitely put more effort into slowing down my reverse to drive transitions. Besides that i am pretty consistent with the accelerator. Its just the lag from reverse to drive or park to drive that's so darn slow relative to all my other cars.

Getting to know my 4R has been interesting with its odd transmission, but if its reliable ill take any oddities and work with them.
 
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just throwing it out there but I run an OBDii wireless bluetooth reader I got off amazon for $10 and connect it wirelessly to an app I paid for called Dash Command. I can wirelessly monitor every sensor in the vehicle when on road trips or hitting trails. Helps keep an eye on the trans temp or oil pressures etc... in total I think I was into the reader and app for under $30 and it works better then anything else iv tried, plus no wires to run through the dash!
 
Cranberry said:
just throwing it out there but I run an OBDii wireless bluetooth reader I got off amazon for $10 and connect it wirelessly to an app I paid for called Dash Command. I can wirelessly monitor every sensor in the vehicle when on road trips or hitting trails. Helps keep an eye on the trans temp or oil pressures etc... in total I think I was into the reader and app for under $30 and it works better then anything else iv tried, plus no wires to run through the dash!
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Link to Amazon?
 
pDubs said:
What's the reasoning behind this? I drive in 4hi all the time when offroading.
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My mechanic told me that. I didn't ask why but my transmission fluid was darker than it should have been at 50k and he asked me if I was driving on 4x4 roads in 4hi. I said yes and he advised not to do it. They changed 2 quarts and he said to come back in 15 k and they would do it again. He said after that you should be good for 75k. The mechanic only works on Toyota's and mainly 4x4s so he knows what he is doing.

I also downshift a lot in town rather than using the brakes. I didn't ask him about that but that also might be something to avoid. Obviously you would want to do that on a 4x4 road going downhill, but in town might not be a good idea.
 
mteolus said:
My mechanic told me that. I didn't ask why but my transmission fluid was darker than it should have been at 50k and he asked me if I was driving on 4x4 roads in 4hi. I said yes and he advised not to do it. They changed 2 quarts and he said to come back in 15 k and they would do it again. He said after that you should be good for 75k. The mechanic only works on Toyota's and mainly 4x4s so he knows what he is doing.

I also downshift a lot in town rather than using the brakes. I didn't ask him about that but that also might be something to avoid. Obviously you would want to do that on a 4x4 road going downhill, but in town might not be a good idea.
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Hmm, interesting. I would think being in 4lo when not needed would be more wear and tear than 4hi.

Yeah I definitely would rather replace brake pads, rotors, and fluid more often than putting wear on transmission by downshifting instead of braking.
 
pDubs said:
Hmm, interesting. I would think being in 4lo when not needed would be more wear and tear than 4hi.

Yeah I definitely would rather replace brake pads, rotors, and fluid more often than putting wear on transmission by downshifting instead of braking.
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in 4hi going up steep inclines the the trans slips and the engine works harder to provide the torque and grip thus working harder. In 4lo the transmission is at the lowest gear which increases the torque and makes the trans and engine work less thus reducing the stress i.e heat which kills transmission. I have a torque pro app and have seen atf Temps drop when put in 4lo.
 
ive seen a thread or two where people get trannys real hot on extended driving in 4hi on 3rd gens. i dont think ive ever seen that with 4lo.
 
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