2004 Toyota Land Cruiser transmission question

[20Diesel21]

This is my 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser. I’m the second owner. It currently has 200,200+ miles on it. We love the vehicle and it is a daily driver.
When temperatures are 40 degress F or less, the transmission slightly delays shifting into fourth gear. During the summer months the transmission shifts perfectly. I don’t believe the transmission fluid has ever been changed. Is it safe to change it now? If it is, what transmission fluid would you guys recommend. Synthetic?

 

[Bisho]

Yes, it’s safe to change it, and highly recommended. Most here use the factory Toyota WS. I used Valvoline Maxlife synthetic, and it’s been great.

 

[20Diesel21]

Yes, it’s safe to change it, and highly recommended. Most here use the factory Toyota WS. I used Valvoline Maxlife synthetic, and it’s been great.

Thanks for the reply and the advice!

 

[LXfromTX]

Thanks for the reply and the advice!

My advice would be to do a drain and fill, not a flush.

 

[Bisho]

I would change all 12 qts. There is a good thread or two on here (check Lazy man WS ATF filler - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lazy-man-ws-atf-filler.905640/ and another thread from @2001LC ). Just drain and fill is based on an old wives tale and a big waste of atf.

 

[excessive]

i would change 4qts at a time. drain & fill, and wait a few thousand miles, and do again. with that many miles and never being changed before. its too risky to change all 12 qts at once

 

[Couvi]

I did a full flush on my 2004 last year, still had original fluid. Mine had 250k when I did it and all's great, smoother now.