When does everyone change their transmission fluid ??!

So I have a 2021 4Runner with 35,000 miles and I’m doing the front/rear diff and transfer case fluid changes this week myself. I’m about to head out on another 7,000 mile or so road trip and am curious what everyone’s opinion is on if I should do my transmission change as well. If so, what does everyone think I should do at the stage I’m at? Toyota dealer will do a drain and fill for about 70bucks which I’m aware only drains 3 quarts or so and isn’t a complete change. Otherwise, they said they can do a complete flush which I’ve heard some say not to do. I’m wondering if my transmission is fairly new if a flush is a bad idea still or if it would even be recommend by some?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Id do it at 50k at least, if not 60k miles. 35k is quite early, unless you pull heavy stuff every day or really drive in stop/go in traffic 7 days a week at 100F.
A 7k trip is nothing, especially if it will be mostly highway.

 

50K miles.

Typically you don't want to flush if you never had and you have a ton of miles. If you do it on the regular, you'll be fine.

 

I’m doing mine here soon, I’m at 60k miles and that’s with a decent amount off off roading. If you’re only on pavement I wouldn’t worry about it only at 35k miles.

 

Cool!
Thanks everyone for the advice!!

 

The Car Care Nut recommends a drain and fill every 60,000 miles. Not a flush.
https://www.4runners.com/threads/transmission-fluid-change.21290/#post-269030

 

+1, this seems to be the general consensus.

 

I changed mine using the gravity feed method with a funnel in the engine compartment and a length of nylon tubing to the trans filler hole. Makes it very easy.

 

The severe use interval for the front/rear/t-case is 15,000 miles. I drain and fill the trans at that same interval while I’m under it with the skid plates are off, it’s only like $45.

 

You don’t change the filter?

 

Occasionally but the filter is just a screen, you can see it in the video I did below:
https://youtu.be/H3H9JGg_rF0

 

Flush is okay if you use a hand pump.

 

Had my transmission fluid replaced at my local dealership yesterday on my TRDOR. 92k miles. Somewhere between 11-12 quarts, about $270 for the job. First time ever replacing trans fluid for me. I bought this new in October 2018 and am a teensy bit older than I was when I did virtually everything myself, so I let them do it. Plus, pre-2005, every vehicle we had was a manual transmission. In the next week I'll be getting tires (original Duelers have gone 92k miles so far, and for a road tire, they've done well), brakes (I'm curious about the rotors, haven't looked at them yet), and diff/transfer case oils. Then my 100k service items will be done - my interval, not necessarily Toyota recommendations.

 

manual transmissions have fluid change intervals….

 

Right, I was simply referring to the auto transmission and this being my first fluid replacement on one. I never replaced the oil in a manual transmission either.

 

I plan to do the same since this is our first auto trans since 2007. I've replaced manual transmission oil on all of our vehicles, but it's just a basic drain and fill. The whole process of keeping the auto transmission in a narrow temperature range while shifting between gears and draining/filling multiple times just adds too many variables that I don't want to deal with, so I'll probably just pay a pro to do that. I've gotten to that point in my life where I can afford it, and its just not worth the hassle anymore. Same goes for the spark plugs in my wife's Outback. They need to be changed in ~5,000 miles and I just don't feel like disconnecting engine mounts and jacking the engine part-way out of the bay just to be able to get a wrench in there.

 

Why is the gear shift knob backwards in the video?

 

I took my 2017 to the dealer for the same reason. 80k, just do a drain and fill for me. They would not touch it. "it isn't recommended with a lifetime fluid"... So guess I'll be doing that one myself.
It doesn't seem difficult, just a PITA, so I would rather not. I do all the other fluids, so I'll just have to add that one to the list. I have 3 of them to do though. 2017 4Runner, 2015 Tacoma, and a 2016 Lexus GX460. all need it.

 

Sounds like your Saturday just went to s*** lol