I have seen a bunch of threads that talk about having the transmission fluid changed. Usually its from people that have a 150k plus miles on there 4runner and it seems that it is too late to do it. Welll i am about to hit the 90k mark on my 4runner and was wondering if i should get it done. I did use the 4runner for couple of years to tow a 3500 pound boat. Whats everybody's thought on what i should do? If it helps i have a v8 in my 4runner
transmission service at 90k
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JEL
New member
IMO, definitely do it.
Personally I'd do 2-3 drain and fills, should get 60-70% (but don't quote me on that number
)new fluid in there when all is said and done. This will refresh the additive package and remove some (if not most) dirt/debris/contaminants. I know many argue it's not necessary to do a drain and fill and only the cooler line method should be used, but that is nonsense for the above reasons. Naturally the cooler line method will get far more fluid out in one shot, and waste less, but the drain and fills are super simple and, IME, if you get in the practice of doing one every 30-40k from this point forward, your A/T should last until the frame rusts away.
Of course doing it this way will waste *some* fluid, and it certainly won't get everything out in one shot, but those opponents of drain and refills seem to fail to recognize that, assuming your A/T is still functioning fine, the old fluid you were just driving around with in your tranny isn't poison to the transmission and getting it 60-70% new (or whatever that number may be) will only help prolong its life. ATF works hard, especially when towing or off-road as many of us use these rigs for.
Personally I'd do 2-3 drain and fills, should get 60-70% (but don't quote me on that number
)new fluid in there when all is said and done. This will refresh the additive package and remove some (if not most) dirt/debris/contaminants. I know many argue it's not necessary to do a drain and fill and only the cooler line method should be used, but that is nonsense for the above reasons. Naturally the cooler line method will get far more fluid out in one shot, and waste less, but the drain and fills are super simple and, IME, if you get in the practice of doing one every 30-40k from this point forward, your A/T should last until the frame rusts away. Of course doing it this way will waste *some* fluid, and it certainly won't get everything out in one shot, but those opponents of drain and refills seem to fail to recognize that, assuming your A/T is still functioning fine, the old fluid you were just driving around with in your tranny isn't poison to the transmission and getting it 60-70% new (or whatever that number may be) will only help prolong its life. ATF works hard, especially when towing or off-road as many of us use these rigs for.
jfry008
New member
Full Drain and refill procedure:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/
Discussion on the topic:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/126570-transmission-flush-drain.html
I did full drain and refill. I bought a case of Toyota ATF WS on eBay. The ATF level check procedure is kind of tedious/a pain.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/
Discussion on the topic:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/126570-transmission-flush-drain.html
I did full drain and refill. I bought a case of Toyota ATF WS on eBay. The ATF level check procedure is kind of tedious/a pain.
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
Bought my truck at 96K miles and I went back and forth on this same question. Decided to do it at 115K miles based on comments in another thread on this topic by [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION], a respected t4r.org member and a Toyota technician: "I've stated many times in multiple other threads my disbelief in anything labeled as 'lifetime fluid' especially transmission fluids. For those of us driving normally or moderately in our 4Runners a 100k flush & fill is probably a good idea. Our dealership even recommends it as a service item around that mileage."
If you don't want to mess with it yourself, check with a local dealer. The one in my town did it for $189 including the OEM WS fluid, a price competitive with my independent mechanic who does not use OEM WS fluid. That was more than fair to me.
If you don't want to mess with it yourself, check with a local dealer. The one in my town did it for $189 including the OEM WS fluid, a price competitive with my independent mechanic who does not use OEM WS fluid. That was more than fair to me.
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JEL
New member
Sometimes I really envy you guys in the South/Midwest. I haven't checked with the dealers in the LA area as mine was done not long ago, but the only Toyota dealer that would do it in Seattle wanted $390 for a drain and fill...
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
I hear you. I lived in the Bay Area for 2 years and took a transfer to Texas because the cost of living was so ridiculously high.
American Airlines bought Aircal in 1987 or so and a number of their employees sold their California homes, moved to Texas, paid cash for huge houses on an acre of land and wondered what to do with the money they had left over. True story.
JEL
New member
Yeah LA isn't as bad as Seattle, and certainly nothing like the Bay Area (Hong Kong JR perhaps), but it's definitely not cheap either. I'd love to have a nice house with a pool and some land. I guess the SoCal sunshine and multitude of activities and climates are appealing, I love that aspect for sure, but the COL and the way it kept rising in Seattle was baffling. I know a lot of that was attributed to Chinese laundering money in real estate there, but paying $800k for a 2-bed 1.75-bath townhouse with a view of power lines and no parking certainly wasn't appealing to me, on top of the horrible weather and weirdo residents. :snacker:
