Transmission filter and oil change in a 5th gen?

I have a week off coming up and have been stockpiling fluids. I plan on doing the entire drivetrain on my 15 4x4. I picked up the ATF at the stealership's but the guy asked me how I planned on doing it myself......this made me worried. Did they screw up the tranny the way they did the oil filter and make it overly complicated for no reason? I don't see any posts or videos on this procedure.

 

It is complicated, but not too bad, and requires many steps...a complete PIA~! compared to the old transmissions

 

That’s sounds easy.

 

Well, at least I won't have to do it again for a long time.

 

since you have a 2015 runner this change is not required unless you have 100K miles or more.
your runner does not have a filter it is a screen .. now if you do the tranny fluid and did tow stuff with 50K miles all you need to do is drop pan , clean pan and screen .. put it all back .. put in that same amount of fluid that you drained out .. if you spilled some then add a few more OZ.. tranny must be level use a magnetic level on the pan jack up runner so it is level.

start engine , do the tranny temp procedure .. or I use the scan gauge II .. put it in gears then park. as the temp rises open the fluid level hole .. container under it .. when the temp gets to 110f and some fluid comes out your good.. if not then add fluid in the top fill hole..

when temps are 60F and colder much easier to get the temp to 110F and should hold for several minutes .. if hot out like 90F temp rises quickly ..

toyota has a totally different transmission than GM.. GM has a filter and the tranny creates clutch particles so on a GM truck used as a truck 30-40K miles on the fluid filter change ..

.

 

Thanks and definitely sounds easier that way. I tow a lot so I will have to do this at 50K.

 

Excellent info

 

Jesus Christ what a PITA...My '09 Honda (car) tranny service is a drain/refill what come out easier than an oil change. Yeah it doesn't get it all but it's what Honda recommends. 150,000(+) miles and the vehicles shifts like the day I bought it! Since around 75,000 I've done the drain/refill annually every summer takes 25 minutes.

 

I appears more complicated than it actually is. My rule of thumb is to put about a half quart more in than what was drained out. Start temp check mode, when up to temp, pull the overflow and drain til it drips, done.

 

So I may start doing this every other oil change. Is that overkill? I'm thinking since it's only a couple quarts at a time this way the fluid will stay fairly fresh.

 

If you're at about 50k miles, prob not a bad idea. I do mine at every 30k.

 

So are you saying simply a drain/refill of what comes out?

 

must do the temp procedure yes add a 1/2 qt more than came out .. start engine setup the tranny temp procedure ..

put a drain pan under the tranny fluid level plug.. when the temp hits 110f range open plug and let the excess drain out .. that is a quick way to do it but tranny pan MUST be level.. use a level to be sure the pan bottom is level..

 

I am at about 26K right now. Ok I will plan on doing it every 30K. Is anyone using Amsoil or just using factory Toyota?

 

It is not that expensive to have it done by someone with the proper tools. The dealership is usually competitive too.

 

use the toyota fluid . this is a special formula .. good to have all the fluid the same exact chemistry.

 

I heard it was $400 plus from the dealer mainly cuz it's so time consuming. Not confirmed.

 

Even if it is and that does sound overly expensive better to have it done correctly what every couple years than do it half-assed and buy a new tranny at 150,000 (ish) miles. I'm far from there yet haven't even been in for 5,000 check yet but dealers doing mine at around 40,000 that's plenty early by any measure unless your maybe towing something to big for the vehicle to even handle which I don't anyway. I'm more stressed about the drive shaft greasing everyone talks about that's new to me. One of these days I've got to crawl underneath and find those grease fittings.

 

Pretty much, and add the additional .5qt in case trans was already low.

WS is junk, Amsoil is much better. I've been using Valvoline max life dex merc ATF and gallon jugs sell for $17 on Walmart.com

WS is junk compared to amsoil, Mobil, and Valvoline.

 

Great info! Thanks!!

 

WS is junk compared to amsoil, Mobil, and Valvoline.

well I do disagree with your Toyota ws transmission fluid , as not good to use.
on the Toyota forums the members have not any transmission problems unless , they did not do the fluid changes after 180K miles.some have dropped the tranny pan and they thought it was waste of time @50K miles.so with this report from owners the Toyota fluid and transmissions are very reliable.

now IMO GM transmissions did have massive failures in 4l60/80 .. dexron III did put the old GM into bankruptcy. GM banned this in 2006.

If Toyota members did have transmission problems , then the fluid or design would be an issue..

I have been GM owner for decades but I did luck out and used mobil synthetic transmission fluid merc/dex synthetic back in 1999.
aircraft engineer told be about the GM fluid could not handle the tranny temps, turns to acid .
that tranny fluid in the GM vehicles, is the same spec as dexron III , but synthetic handles the high temps esp when towing .

I can buy WS at the dealership for $7 QT.. in my area ..

last GM vehicle I purchased is my 2000 GM truck still have it .. now 2016 runner is the most reliable vehicle. no defects ..GM defects .

 

I have not discussed that service with anyone for my 4Runner. Service prices vary depending on the location. Rent for the business, taxes, dollar/hour for the labor etc. are critical to the cost.
I do most of the auto maintenance myself on my vehicles, but I know when to let the pros take the reins. Of course, what I save doing the other things myself can be dedicated to the services I farm out.

 

I understand what you are saying but do you trust your dealer? Or any dealer? Where the techs are paid by the job and the faster they can turn out a job the more they get paid??? Half the time a real tech doesn't even see your vehicle. After having my oil changed at several dealers I have had to go back several times due to them overfilling the engine oil. Monkey tight oil filter cap, stripped skid plate bolts, etc...
Now that Toyota care is over, I do it myself.
Half the people that work in the service department of any dealer USA have no clue about the specifics of your vehicle. It's actually kind of nerve racking for me to go to the service department.

 

I don't disagree totally but I'm just at a place in life where I'm done crawling under my car in February (northeast) and changing out fluids. Yeah they can f something up but generally speaking I've had ok results servicing my Honda the last 9 years, Toyota's are new to me. I don't think their clue-less and I do know their "factory trained" on an on going basis.

 

I think the techs are trained but the oil monkeys...not so much. But that is my opinion and I totally get what you are saying. As we get older it's just easier to pay for things an there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I do it a lot these days.

 

I do my oil changes and vehicle servicing in November .. do the whole thing .. oil/rust/grease/filter checks/lube all the bushings silicone,door rubber silicone , oil door latches and a complete wash/synthetic wax job .. also drop spare and check air pressures/ lube the winch ..rotate tires wash the back sides of wheels then spray with silicone spray ..check brake pads/rotor wear ..
I doubt the dealership will do all this type work ..
some cannot do this type work because they cannot fit under the vehicle belly issue .. LOL..

 

That's funny...I can fit under the 4 but One day I will have a car lift at my house!