Should ATF Be Changed on High-Mileage Vehicle?

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fumetsu

fumetsu

10 Year
Joined
May 16, 2012
Threads
31
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106
Location
Michigan
My vehicle is at 195k miles, transmission is working smoothly without problems, but it seems that the fluid has never been changed by the PO. I haven't got around to it until now either. I checked the fluid using the dipstick yesterday, and the fluid was still transparent but not red as it should be. Is it safe to drop pan + unhook cooler line and refill by myself to introduce 100% new transmission fluid at this stage?

I read many people who swear that servicing a virgin transmission with such high mileage can be catastrophic. Just wanted to double check with the community here. I plan on keeping this truck a while, so would like to sort things out if I can. Thank you.

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I would have no reservations at all in changing out the fluid at 195k miles, actually think it's desirable. I think the concerns you're referencing might be related back to "power flushes" or whatever where some, usually minimally trained kid, hooks a pump/suction system and stirs up all the sediment and residues in the transmission or runs a flushing fluid through.
I just do a 4q drain and refill, started at 110 k miles and I think I'm up to my 5th now. To get a good visual on your ATF put a few drops onto a sheet of white bond paper and hold it up to the light.
 
I have always hear NEVER do trans flush at this stage of the game. I like to drain a gallon and refill with Amsoil Torgue Drive ATF during every other oil change. I then take a sample and send it to Blackstone for analysis. Its interesting to see how the results have changed over time, but now my reports indicated the fluid is just like it would be if it were brand new. That's my .02
 
I performed a full flush via the transmission oil cooler at 290k and have had no issues.
 
^ not on later MY 100's...IIRC '04+ no drain plug with lifetime ATF.

Certainly debate on this but its worked for me: I, at every oil change (~10k miles using Amsoil), drain the pan and replenish with Amsoil syn ATF. Started this approximately 100k miles ago. A few weeks ago, apart of the flex plate swap out/in I dropped the pan. I was pleasantly surprised to find the screen with very little accumulated deposits. And the ATF was very bright and clear.

I personally would avoid any flush containing detergents, etc.
 
Flush is a no-no. Fluid transfer is generally accepted.

I subscribe to the pan drain and fill every other oil change...and when I got my 100 I did the fluid transfer for baselining.
 
Slickspawn said:
Flush is a no-no. Fluid transfer is generally accepted.

I subscribe to the pan drain and fill every other oil change...and when I got my 100 I did the fluid transfer for baselining.
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By fluid transfer do you mean replacing all of the fluid using cooler line for discharge and refilling via the dipstick, and by flush do you mean using a machine to pump new fluid into the vehicle? Because I would be doing the former.
 
My '04 has a drain plug and a refill plug. It's only missing the dipstick. I just do a drain and fill with WS fluid periodically. No flushing. IMHO, it's a great idea to change ATF (at least in part) at regular intervals, even on high mileage transmissions. I would suggest the simple periodic drain and fill technique and not flushing, but others have posted a procedure for fully flushing the type of transmission in your '02.
 
Do not flush your system, I normally drain from the return hose at the transmission cooler when the engine is running. Stop the engine after 2 quarts of drain fluid, then refill and start the process over until fresh fluid comes out from the return hose. Have done the same thing on my RX350 which uses the new World standard synthetic fluid, Toyota stated that it is lifetime fluid no need to replace. But I do not buy it as no fluid with last forever. It will break down eventually, better safe than sorry.
 
I think my terminology I used (flush) was incorrect. I took the hose off of the transmission cooler and let one side suck new fluid in while the other side drained. It took me 18qts of M1 Synthetic ATF before it was an acceptable nice bright red color.
 
OP, I did this procedure, after draining, then dropping the pan and reinstalling.
ranma21 said:
Do not flush your system, I normally drain from the return hose at the transmission cooler when the engine is running. Stop the engine after 2 quarts of drain fluid, then refill and start the process over until fresh fluid comes out from the return hose. Have done the same thing on my RX350 which uses the new World standard synthetic fluid, Toyota stated that it is lifetime fluid no need to replace. But I do not buy it as no fluid with last forever. It will break down eventually, better safe than sorry.
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fwiw, I'm at 270k, and no problem so far. Only a smoother shift between gears.
Agree with @ranma21, I just don't believe "lifetime" fluid.
 
Plug and fill port on the 04. However isn't 2004 Type IV not WS? IIRC there's a funky year or two in the middle between ATF III and WS. Not sure how critical that is or if it's maybe even pre-A750.

I should probably figure this out. Need to do the 90k on our 04 this fall and will do Trans at the same time.

I Blackstone the 2000 every flush. About every other year for me.
 
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OregonLC said:
Plug and fill port on the 04. However isn't 2004 Type IV not WS? IIRC there's a funky year or two in the middle between ATF III and WS. Not sure how critical that is or if it's maybe even pre-A750.

I should probably figure this out. Need to do the 90k on our 04 this fall and will do Trans at the same time.

I Blackstone the 2000 every flush. About every other year for me.
Click to expand...

2004 for is WS.
 
Thanks SWUT! What was the 'tweener' year where they had the type IV spec'd?
 
At 220k miles with no indication of a faulty trans I took mine to the dealer for a fluid exchange. I'm at 255k now, just got back from 6k mile trip and I also use my expedition rig to tow my race car. No issues.
 
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