O-T Mechanic Baws

Drain change filter and refill.


Don't flush if your over 100k.

I'll shake shite loose you don't want.

If you're on schedule with the service manual then follow that.

I agree, with that many miles and possible slipping, now might be a good time.

My unprofessional opinion based on owning many high mileage cars is too not changed/flush on a small typical car.

Heat is a transmission'enemy so on a higher powered vehicle that tows, I would changed per schedule.

But that is just an opinion based on experience. Don't think there is a definite answer.

Get Toyota ATF and drain replace.. make sure to measure how much came out for refilling. You want to have the correct amount of fluid. Drive around for some miles, You need to do it several times until the fluid looks clean and new. May also want to research adding an additive.

If it’s started to slip, it’s probably too late. However, you don’t have much to lose. Everyone up thread is correct. Doing a fluid “exchange” won’t hurt anything, but you don’t want to put any cleaner/detergents in there. What “can” happen is varnish/sludge that may be in some of the internal passages/valve body etc. can be loosened and can move and block something else. Fluid exchange first, if that doesn’t help you have nothing to lose trying a cleaner because it’s probably toast anyway.

eta: i goofed

So the following is a synopsis of much research on the subject.

You should definitely change the transmission fluid! And also a complete flush.

Doing this will likely cause more problems though, due to the detergents breaking up built up deposits.

But I'd certainly advise against changing and flushing the transmission fluid.

Understand though, if you don't do it, you'll shorten the life of the transmission, due to the natural break down of the fluid and water absorption.

quote:

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Never changed, fluid is grey/pinkish.....starting to slip a bit.

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Wasting your money. If it’s slippin, you are rippin it out. Unless you are lucky and it’s just a clogged filter.

Here is why people say to not bother when it gets too old. You have metal particles and particles from the bands, clutches, etc in the fluid. That has gradually risen the pressure in the trans because of the thicker fluid.

All of the seals, rubber components, springs, etc have been ran at the higher pressure.

When you change the fluid…. Pressure drops. And automatic trans works on trans fluid pressure.

If you change it routinely, this process doesn’t happen. Plus the metal particles doesn’t wear on the rest of the trans.

You can put some trans fix in to possibly temporarily get the shift back. But you need to be shopping for a trans shop.

quote:

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Change it, run it 500 miles, change it again. Don't flush.

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This is what I would do too.

The issue with changing now is a ph and friction issue. You 100% can have more issues after a change based on the ph shock and less friction from the detergents in the new fluid cleaning the gunk off the parts in the transmission.

Does it smell burnt?

The changing it twice twice will get the gunk that was released out of the system.

I'd drop the pan, change the filters, drive awhile, do it again, and add some Lucas no slip when you fill it the second time.

I have a 98 Frontier. Changed the transmission fluid and filter religiously about every 50,000 miles. At 150,000 miles it went out with no signs of slipping or hard shifting. Just stopped shifting out of first.

Had a used transmission put in that had 60,000 miles. I haven't changed the fluid or filter ever since and the truck now has about 305,000 miles. The transmission has about 210,000 miles. No issues. I have even done some heavy towing that was probably above the truck's capacity

There's something to the old fluid is best if it isn't burned. I gave up on doing the maintenance by the book. My 2 cents