Transmission Oil Change

[bassman29]

Hello
I have a 2017 4runnder SR5 with only 87500 miles on it. I did not change the transmission oil at 60K and I am concern if I change it now that I may cause more damage. I have I heard that once you past 100k you should never change the oil unless you have done it at 60k. I am not sure if I should add transmission oil change to my 90k

thx
bassman

 

[Rocko9999]

No damage will occur. Drain and fill only with OEM fluid.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Hello
I have a 2017 4runnder SR5 with only 87500 miles on it. I did not change the transmission oil at 60K and I am concern if I change it now that I may cause more damage. I have I heard that once you past 100k you should never change the oil unless you have done it at 60k. I am not sure if I should add transmission oil change to my 90k

thx
bassman

This ^^^ is a wive’s tale spread on the internet by ignorant owners and supposed mechanics. At worst you could argue that an external machine used to flush the trans could dislodge and circulate sediment that then clogs valves or solenoids. It’s all horseshit. I did our first at 120K on our 2014 and probably need to do it’s third at 331K.

 

[Jeremy556]

It’s all horseshit.

Yup.

I believe where it comes from is people start to experience slipping or hard shifts, so they bring it in for an oil change. It blows up shortly thereafter, they blame it on the oil change, when it was already broken.

 

[blksubykid]

No damage will occur. Drain and fill only with OEM fluid.

This ^^^

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Valvoline Synthetic ATF has worked perfectly fine for 331K miles.

 

[djeepin]

Nothing beats OEM fluids. Period.
Spend $30 for Blackstone lab your favorite liquid (not beer) and compare to OEM lubricant additives package.
Couple reasons people not use OEM Toyota fluid:
1. I am cheap, and don't care of this piece of shiit metal on wheels
2. I hate dealership and everything that comes out of it: parts and service
3. I am authorize distributor of domestic lubricants and want money
4. I believe that other people saying, it's easy for me to follow
... I am an idiot

 

[1jzgte]

Hello
I have a 2017 4runnder SR5 with only 87500 miles on it. I did not change the transmission oil at 60K and I am concern if I change it now that I may cause more damage. I have I heard that once you past 100k you should never change the oil unless you have done it at 60k. I am not sure if I should add transmission oil change to my 90k

thx
bassman

becareful.. change your fluid and you might experience quicker, less jerky shifts..after the initial trans fluid change you might only make it to 300k.. youve been warned

 

[armabill]

I had a 2005 Sport Edition and I never changed the transmission oil. I had 187,000 miles on it when I traded it in and it ran fine. The reason that I traded it in is due to the main frame rusting, fist size holes in 2 places.

It wouldn't pass state inspection and I wasn't going to get it "fixed" which is just covering it over to reinforce that area.
Other areas of the frame could be rusted to varying degrees and I wasn't going to chance it through another year.

Rust never stops.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Nothing beats OEM fluids. Period.
Spend $30 for Blackstone lab your favorite liquid (not beer) and compare to OEM lubricant additives package.
Couple reasons people not use OEM Toyota fluid:
1. I am cheap, and don't care of this piece of shiit metal on wheels
2. I hate dealership and everything that comes out of it: parts and service
3. I am authorize distributor of domestic lubricants and want money
4. I believe that other people saying, it's easy for me to follow
... I am an idiot

Did you read my post? 331K miles on Valvoline Synthetic ATF. Rest my case.

And yes, would never allow a dealership to touch my vehicle. Their techs are far less experienced than me.

 

[djeepin]

"331K miles on Valvoline Synthetic ATF" - does it prove that Valvoline Synthetic ATF indeed far superior to Toyota WS ? Or there are other reason, not mentioned above?

 

[iamabeliever]

"331K miles on Valvoline Synthetic ATF" - does it prove that Valvoline Synthetic ATF indeed far superior to Toyota WS ? Or there are other reason, not mentioned above?

Sounds like you are drinkin the Toyota Kool Aid. There are many better fluids available than the Toyota brand. Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. Maybe you should do some independent testing and post results before making a blanket statement like you did above.

 

[BADCUDA1]

Valvoline Synthetic ATF has worked perfectly fine for 331K miles.

My 08 too. first at 90,000 next at 150,000. Valvoline max life

There is a thread I posted here. Used the cooling out line to remove a gallon at a time and a low pressure oil pump to pump in a gallon in. 16 of them.

Then ran it in the air till the trans temp was 125f then set the level.

Runs like it did from day 1

 

[djeepin]

Every manufacturer designing it's own component and corresponding lubricants. Characteristics of of lubricants come in-par with design of engine, transmission, gearbox, transfer case ets. and no other way around. For sustainable business, it is a normal practice to keep in trade secret of lubricant's additives, vital for longevity of vehicle aggregates. No-one saying that Toyota designed transmission around characteristics of Valvoline or Amsoil transmission fluids. We have therefore the correct (if someone don't like word "superior") lubricants for every aggregate of the vehicle, and we have copies. To hold believe that there are many better fluids available than the Toyota brand (or any OEM), required to drink something stronger than sugared drinks.

 

[BADCUDA1]

I can tell you the first change there was some debris in the pan not much but some. The next charge on the Valvoline max life was cleaner. And I can tell you there was much more towing miles on the 2nd change than the first.

 

[djeepin]

someone may notice that Toyota vehicles all over the word: Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc. - in all poor countries you find Toyotas, working hard, with low maintenance, poor lubricants, unskilled mechanics - but it works! Kudos to Japanese ingenuity! Good we have a choice. For now.

 

[Pepperhead71]

Check out The Car Care Nut channel on YouTube.He's a Toyota Master Technician has a great video about when and if you should change your transmission fluid.

 

[EastTXHick]

I do realize this is an old thread but, did want to give my real world experience with Tranny fluid changes. I purchased my 05 Runner in 2014 at 89K and drove way beyond the recommended mileage, as in 133K. Mind you tranny was never serviced prior to. Like most folks, I scoured the internet for sage advice and found both the oem and aftermarket camps were very stongly opinionated. So... I decided to use the Maxlife and do a drain/fill. I then repeated at 150K. I can say 100% percent there has been no shifting issues what so ever. I would think that after 20K miles and 3 years something would occur that I had caused by not using oem fluid? I am by no means a technician, just a middle aged dude that prefers to do his own maintenance to ensure quality is performed and I am also a cheap bastard as well. Hope this helps the undecided camp in the future

 

[dexter80]

Same here. Bought ‘12 Limited with 75k miles, light towing of a 10’ Haulmark a few times a year.

One day while doing an oil change I accidentally drained ATF. Oops. So I did an unplanned ATF change at around 110k miles. Most fun part was not knowing how much fluid I drained. Took a few days due to exceptionally hot Oct North Tx Temps in 100s.

Car ran as fine after the change as before. Used Toyota brand fluid from dealership, they matched an online price.

 

[Nepatie]

Hello Bassman,

While it's true that regular maintenance, including changing the transmission oil, is essential for the longevity of your vehicle, there isn't a hard and fast rule about never changing the oil past a certain mileage without having done so earlier. The 60k recommendation is a general guideline suggested by manufacturers to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the transmission. However, if you've missed that interval, it's still advisable to change the transmission oil to prevent potential damage and maintain the health of your vehicle.

Changing the transmission oil at 90k miles would still be beneficial and shouldn't cause additional harm to your vehicle. In fact, neglecting to change the oil could potentially lead to more significant issues down the line. It's always best to consult with a trusted mechanic or refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for specific maintenance recommendations tailored to your make and model.