Transmission fluid change

Here's a new video on the proper way to change the transmission fluid. Enjoy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NUAuGmDGntY

 

I saw this also… love his channel. It looks way more complicated than I thought. Anyway, I have 55,000 miles till I need to worry about it for my truck.

 

Another good reason for me to get a Scangauge at some point.

 

I been doing this transmission pan drain and fill procedure since I owned my 08 FJ.
Sold my 08 FJ in 2019 with over 200k miles on it and now doing the same procedure for my 2018 4runner.

 

I did a flush on my 07' FJ years ago. With two people, it's relatively easy. Unplug tranny cooler line on the output side of the rad cooler, start engine, run for 10 seconds draining the tranny while feeding fresh oil into the open tranny line, then shut engine off. Grab another quart & do it again. Have oil barely dripping out of the check-port on the tranny at around 105-110*F. Reinstall plug on tranny and crack open a beer.

If I remember correctly, took about 12 quarts to get the oil coming out nice and red. That shit's expensive, btw...

 

I need to do this!

 

Although i understand the reasoning behind doing it the proper way, for me, I think a cold drain and fill (measuring the exact amount that was drained) is sufficient for my purposes.

I don't have a Scan Tool or want to "hotwire" my OBDII port, personally.

It also seems a little subjective that the oil should be running (not dripping), but not flowing too much out of the high fill port.

 

I took my 2005 to the Toyota dealer for a 6-quart D/F at 105,000 miles. $120

4runners hold 12 quarts of tranny fluid. The T. Dealer uses Toyota brand T 1V

That's what my 2005 4runner came with when delivered to me new from Japan.

Gone 179,000 miles on the T-1V. Never any issues.

IMO Best to let the dealer do this job and stick with what the Japanese (and the Toyota dealer) used from the beginning. WS was never in my tranny.

Here's what internet recommends;

ATF TYPE T-IV is a fully synthetic automatic transmission fluid specially engineered to exceed the service fill requirement of all TOYOTA and LEXUS vehicles installed with AISIN WARNER gearboxes, where ATF T-IVfluid is recommended. High performance fluid for use in certain slip-controlled lock-up automatic transmission systems. Superior characteristics for a quiet and smooth gear shifts, ensuring efficient transmission power under severe driving conditions.
Microsoft Word - TDS_ATF TYPE T-IV (Rev 1)_Mar 20, 2020.doc (totachi.com)

$50 Toyota 00279-000T4 Automatic Transmission Fluid, 192 Ounces, 6 Pack

Amazon.com: Toyota 00279-000T4 Automatic Transmission Fluid, 192 Ounces, 6 Pack: Automotive

 

A total drain/fill really is the way to go. The pan holds about 3-ish quarts out of a total of 13. Doing just a pan drain/fill is something akin to draining 1 1/2 quarts of engine oil, refilling it, and calling it a day. If you use the pump up sprayer method that's been documented everywhere, it's really not bad. Maybe 45 minutes max.

 

You should go back and have it done with the proper fluid: WS

 

Editing your post to include incorrect information about Toyota T-IV (NOT T-1V) doesn't make it the right fluid for your 2005 - this would be the WS fluid. I still recommend putting in the right fluids, despite Toyota transmissions having the ability to run for many miles with the wrong.

 

I do like the idea of doing a full oil change rather than doing a partial 2-3 qt pan change.

The video is titled "flush", but it's more of a 12 qt oil change technique. I don't think I'd drop the pan and clean the filter (strainer). I'd just do the full oil change.

https://youtu.be/AKmMrPAr3iM

 

The flush is definitely the right way but the filter change is part of the job!

 

You're not wrong, but you're drastically underestimating my laziness.

 

WS transmission fluid is not the end all do all for modern Toyota transmissions. It absorbs moisture and cannot be used in older models without chancing transmission damage (not backwards compatible). Another big negative of this fluid is while it is considered "lifetime" fluid, when it starts to shear at the end of it's life it does so quickly. This is a known issue with any of the "lifetime" fluids.

OTOH, many other transmission fluids are perfectly fine to mix in WS such as Vavoline Max Life, Toyota T-IV, Ravenol T-WS, Idemitsu TLS-IV, Pentosin ATF44, Motul Multi ATF VI, and many others. I just listed the more common ones that all of us are familiar with. That being said, WS is an outstanding quality fluid as long as it is changed out before the end of it's serviceable life.

I personally use Vavoline Max life and Mobil 1 ATF since the mid 90's no issues at all. In fact the Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF is an outstanding transmission fluid I have used in both my Beta and KTM transmissions in the cold water months.

 

Excellent input, but disputed in many google searches. In addition, the original poster has a 2005 4runner that came with WS - @captsolo claims it came with T-IV

 

While i might look for an oil on a google search, It's what is printed on the bottle or the manufacturers data sheet that counts. It is quite possible that Tom's 05' 4Runner came from the factory with T-IV fluid from the factory. We will have to take him for his word. At 179,000 miles that's darn good evidence that his dealer is using the right fluids.

 

Unfortunately, both of you are wrong. It doesn't take much of a search to determine that 2005 4runners came with WS - it is not possible for Toyota to have put T-IV in it. It's always possible for the dealer to have made a mistake when they did the service. It's always best to research what @captsolo puts on any forum, as no one should ever follow it.

 

I am not going to question or ridicule a fellow member over what oil he uses. What we do know for certain is the Toyota T-IV is perfectly fine to use in any year 4Runner automatic Transmission. The reality is the only real way to know what transmission fluid came with Tom's vehicle is to do a Blackstone test.

 

That's excellent advice, don't "question or ridicule a fellow member". Toyota does not claim that T-IV is perfectly fine to use in any year 4runner, they specify WS for the 2005 transmission. A Blackstone test would be one way to determine what is in @captsolo's transmission - unfortunately, his dealer made a mistake and serviced it with T-IV. Now his transmission has a mix of WS and T-IV.

I plan to stick to what Toyota specifies for their transmissions.

 

OIL THREADS!!

 

Go on a motorcycle forum and check out the tire threads. They are way worse!! I am one of the few riders in the world that considers handling, grip, traction, and stopping distance over the life of the tread.

 

It's all good my man!!

 

This is exactly what I will be doing. Re-fill with the exact same amount, and a little more, and then let the extra come out of the high fill port. I already changed it once last year (mechanic did 4 quarts and the filter), so another drain and fill of around 3.5 quarts seems fine to me. Idemitsu TLS-LV going in.

 

Really? "Crack open a beer" is the final step in your process?

 

Very good video but the procedure looks like a PITA.

I think when it's time, I'll pay the dealership. I'm curious, the Toyota Car Care Nut recommends only a drain and fill, but this video shows cleaning the four magnets and replacing the filter which seems like a really good idea.

We are faced with too many decisions and opinions on this topic.

 

It's true.

The fact that there are 12 quarts that are being used by the trans/torque converter looms over our heads.

If you only do a pan drain/fill, you're only replacing 2-3 quarts.......not to mention a lot of people who do this are NOT using the same oil and thereby mixing oils. That would make me feel uneasy, personally.

So I guess the options are:

1) Full drain, filter/magnet cleaning, and refill
2) Full drain and refill
3) Partial drain and refill
4) Do nothing

Obviously we all aspire to do option 1, but things get in the way.

I think I'm comfortable with option 2........and 4 (if I'm honest).

With Option 4 my thinking is just drive the thing and don't look back. After all, how many 4Runner trans failures do you hear about? None. That's exactly my point.

I'm most uneasy about option 3, but logically I guess it's better than nothing. Would you feel good about a partial drain and refill for your engine oil?

I'm so conflicted

 

I agree, my preference would be option 1.

Why would they use a filter and chip magnets and not expect anyone to ever service them? Doesn't pass the logic test.

I haven't looked into it, but what do the dealerships typically offer?

Another thing I wonder about, is why are so many 4Runner owners so adverse to using the Toyota recommended fluids?

 

I guess Toyota could argue if the ATF is "lifetime" then the filter and chip magnets help with making the ATF "lifetime" by taking out all the metal.......but that's a hard pill to swallow. I'll definitely feel better changing it out at some point.

Dealerships typically offer both if I'm not mistaken. One is the pan change and the other is a "flush". But I'm not sure if they clean the filter and magnets with the flush. You'll have to ask your particular dealer.

Yeah, this is funny. It seems like a fair number of people are really gun-ho about changing their ATF at ridiculously low intervals using the defense that it's "cheap insurance" but when it comes to shelling out the money for the WS oil, I guess it ain't that "cheap" after all.

 

Good points,

Next time I'm at the dealership buying OEM engine oil and filter I will ask about the transmission service.

I know we've had the transmission service done on our Sequoia, but I don't pay as much attention to it as my Toy.

Only changing a fraction of the fluid on such a critical and expensive component just doesn't make sense to me. But it could just be my ignorance.