High Mileage Transmission Service

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1

14runnerl

Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Threads
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Location
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Hi guys. I have a 2005 Toyota 4Runner V8 which has a very similar transmission to yours on your Land Cruisers and Lexus LX's. Have any of you done a drain and fill after 150K?

My 4Runner has 211K. It looks like there was a drain and fill done at 50K but nothing since. We do not tow. The shifting between 3rd and 4th and 4th and 5th has gotten kinda harsh recently so I was thinking of doing a drain and fill but I didn't know if 160K is too late.

I have heard stories about metal shavings, etc. but it seems like that is mostly true on older cars.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!
 
I had a drain and fill done at Toyota by a mechanic I trust at 175k, I am currently at 191k. Granted, he did the drain and fill using the fluid exchanger, and pointed out that it generally is a risk if you don't refill with exactly as much as you remove. The fluid came out cleaner than expected, but my shifting became marginally smoother. Your results may vary.
 
elk said:
I had a drain and fill done at Toyota by a mechanic I trust at 175k, I am currently at 191k. Granted, he did the drain and fill using the fluid exchanger, and pointed out that it generally is a risk if you don't refill with exactly as much as you remove. The fluid came out cleaner than expected, but my shifting became marginally smoother. Your results may vary.
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Was that the first fluid service ever done?
 
"Dain and fill" Dain pan of ATF fluid, replaced plug with new washer (gasket), then fill with ATF (a few qts)
Example of drain & fill: Take a glass of gray water, pour out 1/4 of the glass then top off with clean water. Would you drink it now?

Flush removes 99% of old fluid (12 qt) in our 100's.
  • Some shop Flush use a pump that exchange fluid under pressure. There is concerns with pressure on internal parts with this technique. Honda & Acura Dealers will only do drain & fills as their transmission are very delicate.
  • DIY Flush no external pressure is added to transmission.
I only do DIY flushes with synthetic fluids, which has yielded very good results. But I've never done one with your millage for the first time. I did do a GM transmission with ~100k miles, which I think was the first time, worked great. The concern most have is that the old transmission is held together with gunk and may come apart if cleaned with new fluid. Synthetic fluid will remove all gunk after just a few flushes. My feeling is if the transmission is that weak might as well fined out now. Although I would not subject to external pressure of shop flushing pump.

If your concerned do multiple drain and fills over short periods, then do a Flush.
 
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Fluid exchange -BG trans service machine on mine at 165k - it had been 70k since the previous drain and refill according to service history. No issues in the past 2500 miles.

Or as others here have suggested on high mile trans with limited or unknown service history partially drain at the pan and refill over time to slowly introduce clean fluid into the system.
 
Toyota DOES NOT flush anything with pressure. They use a machine to put new fluid in as the old is pumped out via the trans cooler lines.

A complete fluid exchange at a dealer is what you need. We've done it twice to our 04 Cruiser with 190k and once on a 4Runner with 150k.

/thread
 
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I've never used or had done on machine, because I like to use synthetic (Mobil 1). Shops generally have their own fluid and are hesitant to use anything else. That and I like DIY my stuff.

I do know with my girls friends MDX, the dealer will not flush with machine. They stated this was do to pressure of pump in machine. Toyoya may indeed only use free flow, but don't some shop have a power flush machine?

 
I wouldn't hesitate to do a drain/refill at 150k on the A750. It seems to be pretty easy on fluid and is a fairly robust tranny.
 
2001LC said:
I've never used or had done on machine, because I like to use synthetic (Mobil 1). Shops generally have their own fluid and are hesitant to use anything else. That and I like DIY my stuff.

I do know with my girls friends MDX, the dealer will not flush with machine. They stated this was do to pressure of pump in machine. Toyoya may indeed only use free flow, but don't some shop have a power flush machine?

Click to expand...


Maybe....that's why you communicate with them. Find a dealer that has what you're looking for and is familiar with working on sealed WS transmissions. The LC isn't the only Toyota that uses WS fluid. Ask to speak to a master tech and have them show you.

This isn't brain surgery, communication is key.
 
Thanks for the replies so far guys. We bought the truck brand new in 05 and like I said only the 1 drain and fill at 50K has been done. So at 211K now it has been 160K since any service was done. We have not towed so I guess that is good but my dad drove her pretty hard and he drove her like a manual, constantly engine braking and switching between 3rd, 4th and D on the shifter as needed.

I have asked a Toyota Tech on the 4Runner forums about doing the fluid exchange and he said that it should be fine but that he would rather do a drain and fill then drive 5-10K and see how it goes then do the fluid exchange. He just doing a straight fluid exchange right now might "shock" the system. I was thinking of just doing drain and fills because I want to be as gentle as possible. I want to keep this truck forever but I have noticed the harsher shifting recently so I was thinking some fresh fluid would be good but I don't want to kill the transmission by putting new fluid in.

I am thinking that these transmission were some of the best ever built so a drain and fill should be fine. I just wish I knew what to after, do I drive 5K and then drain and fill again at every oil change until the fluid is clean or what?

Is there such a think as new fluid killing a Toyota A750 trans? And is mixing old and new fluid ok?
 
Sounds like you're set in your ways so why even ask? What does "shock" it with new fluid even mean?

Do you have any documented proof of an A750 that was destroyed when doing a fluod exchange service? Or are you listening to incorrect, uneducated, wives tales.
 
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No, I don't know anything about it that's why I am asking you guys. I figured you would know more.
 
14runnerl said:
No, I don't know anything about it that's why I am asking you guys. I figured you would know more.
Click to expand...

I would go ahead and do a machine fill at Toyota. Mine was the first in the truck's history, and it has had no ill effects so far. I paid less than $200, although my friend is a master tech there and a lot of other punch list items were magically covered, so for me it was worthwhile. I'd have a dedicated Toyota shop cover this one as opposed to a general pressure flush, at least you'll have peace of mind. I prefer to do most service on my truck myself, but transmissions are a little bit of black magic to me and I feel better this way.

Either a drain and fill or professional flush sound like they are in your future. You won't go wrong either way, and Mud is full of helpful people. A few occasionally seem to have sand in their shorts, don't let them turn you off of this community.

Good luck, and keep us posted.


Sent from my iPhone
 
Thanks elk! My Toyota dealer won't even do a flush so my only option there is the drain and fill. I was asking about the flush because I could go to another dealer but I guess I will stick with the drain and fill for now. I will do one and see how that goes and maybe keep doing it until the fluid is clean.

Just wanted to make sure it was safe to drain and fill at a higher mileage/age with only 1 other service done in the past.
 
I just did mine at 255k diy with the drain , fill then undo the cooler lines and flush 2 qts at a time. Shifts much better now
 
14runnerl said:
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I have asked a Toyota Tech on the 4Runner forums about doing the fluid exchange and he said that it should be fine but that he would rather do a drain and fill then drive 5-10K and see how it goes then do the fluid exchange. He just doing a straight fluid exchange right now might "shock" the system. I was thinking of just doing drain and fills because I want to be as gentle as possible. I want to keep this truck forever but I have noticed the harsher shifting recently so I was thinking some fresh fluid would be good but I don't want to kill the transmission by putting new fluid in.

I am thinking that these transmission were some of the best ever built so a drain and fill should be fine. I just wish I knew what to after, do I drive 5K and then drain and fill again at every oil change until the fluid is clean or what?

Is there such a think as new fluid killing a Toyota A750 trans? And is mixing old and new fluid ok?
Click to expand...
IIMHO the Toyota tech gave you good advise, it's what I'd do.

You'll never really get clear (even if it looks like it) with Drain & Fill. I'd just do a few D&F every 2K to 5K miles, if all goes well, then consider the flush.

All Dextron I thru VI are compatible. But I stick with the specific Toyota recommend for you 4runner, if that is what you used at 50K miles.
 
I'd probably just do a drain and fill every 15-30k miles, but wouldn't hesitate to do a 100% fluid change. Just did that on a 150k transmission on a different truck. The only problem I've had remotely related is doing 100% fluid change on a rear differential and had to add some friction modifier when the real end was locking up on turns.
 
Believe removing and replacing three quarts with every oil change should be more than sufficient to reach the maximum life of a transmission. That's far more effective than a complete change every 50-75,000 miles in my opinion.
 
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