1994 Toyota Camry - transmission flush @138k

[jglover82]

I have a 1994 toyota camry with 138k miles. no problems or issues. I was getting oil change and guy said tranny flush was overdue. Should i go ahead with it or is this a bad idea? i was reading that a tranny flush can actually cause problems in cars with a lot of miles.....Thanks!

[ruggz]

Just drain and refill. Do not flush!

[fenixus]

you can safely do a power flush, just make sure they use some decent quality fluid (not generic Dexron-III dino) like Castrol IMV synthetic blend. it's pricey though, complete power flush takes 12 quarts of fluid.

or as suggested above, you could do a few drain and refills at short intervals (e.g. every week or so), 4 times is usually enough.

it's still recommended to drop the trans pan and replace strainer (filter) and pan gasket.

[pmesfun]

If you do drop the pan, no need to replace the strainer, just clean it with brake cleaner.

[JohnGD]

They most likely will do a "fluid exchange" only. You can do almost the same with 3 drains/refills. Don't forget the differential too. I'd use at least Walmart SuperTech Mercon-V or Castrol Import Multi-vehicles ATF. If you have an Advance Auto with ~$5 (w/ coupon) Mobil-1 fully synthetic ATF then go for it!

If the pan was never dropped and strainer replaced, I'd do that too. Leave no lint to plug valve bodies. Use a Wix filter kit from your local NAPA. It has a all-rubber gasket with slightly undersized bolt holes that help keep the bolts in there during install. Fram used to have a cork-rubber gasket but no longer show it - may be a separate item now.

See:
DIY: 5S-FE Transmission Fluid & Strainer Replacement Procedure
DIY : Differental Fluid Change

Originally Posted by jglover82

I have a 1994 toyota camry with 138k miles. no problems or issues. I was getting oil change and guy said tranny flush was overdue. Should i go ahead with it or is this a bad idea? i was reading that a tranny flush can actually cause problems in cars with a lot of miles.....Thanks!

[JohnGD]

If you must reuse the strainer I'd just rinse with ATF. Make sure the gasket is still good so you won't have a suction side leak.

I'd keep brake cleaner (or any solvent) away from the strainer because I doubt you'd be able to get all of it out. But it's good for the pan however.

Originally Posted by pmesfun

If you do drop the pan, no need to replace the strainer, just clean it with brake cleaner.

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

If you must reuse the strainer I'd just rinse with ATF. Make sure the gasket is still good so you won't have a suction side leak.

I'd keep brake cleaner (or any solvent) away from the strainer because I doubt you'd be able to get all of it out. But it's good for the pan however.

Tech1984 told me to use brake cleaner since its just a screen not a filter. No problem since I did it last week.

[mail2_jb]

I just did a drain and fill on my camry. I used Mobile1 ATF (as recommended by Fenixus, thank you..), bought from advancedauto with online coupon for around $5 per qt. Easy job. Make sure you won't overfill the tank. Mine took exactly 2.6qt to fill the tank. 10mm hex key (from harborfrieght for $6.99) is all you need to do the job.

[fenixus]

glad to hear it's been done

don't forget to re-check the trans oil level on hot car (check always after shifting back and forth through all gears) the next day after things settle down, e.g. after 1hr local driving or 30 mins hwy driving. make sure the level falls between the HOT marks on dipstick, it should actually be closer to the top one, or could even be slightly above it when car is really hot after some heavy duty driving.

Originally Posted by mail2_jb

I just did a drain and fill on my camry. I used Mobile1 ATF (as recommended by Fenixus, thank you..), bought from advancedauto with online coupon for around $5 per qt. Easy job. Make sure you won't overfill the tank. Mine took exactly 2.6qt to fill the tank. 10mm hex key (from harborfrieght for $6.99) is all you need to do the job.

[JohnGD]

And the differential fluid?

Originally Posted by mail2_jb

I just did a drain and fill on my camry. I used Mobile1 ATF (as recommended by Fenixus, thank you..), bought from advancedauto with online coupon for around $5 per qt. Easy job. Make sure you won't overfill the tank. Mine took exactly 2.6qt to fill the tank. 10mm hex key (from harborfrieght for $6.99) is all you need to do the job.

[fenixus]

yeah, do not underestimate the destructive power of old differential fluid
drain it and refill it, it's separate on 4 cylinder model. same ATF as for auto transmission.

Important anti-fubar step: first loosen the fill plug, before you drain it though,
DIY here:
DIY : Differental Fluid Change

1.7qts of fluid needed and funnel with a flexible hose (a few bucks in autozone, you may need to extend it though).
use 17mm socket on 3/8'' ratchet and a cheater pipe on it to crack the fill plug loose (use lots of PB Blaster on it before you touch it), it takes some serious force too.

also, you can use left overs of Mobil1 ATF you have to pump out Power Steering ATF (original is translucent, but it's same type of fluid as in transmission) from P/S reservoir, e.g. with a turkey baster or hand vacuum pump and refill with fresh fluid.

I neglected P/S flush/exchange for a long time on wife's car and at some point the original factory fluid turned into something which was as sticky as honey (even color was similar), didn't smell or taste as good however

[alottobuy]

Drained mine today at 278K on my LE. Fluid was black. Put in 2.5 Quarts of Advance Auto ATF. Drove the car ran so much better and smoother. Since the oil was so burnt, I drove it for 85 miles to let it mix with the old remaining fluid.
Went home and did a drain and refill again. Second drain was still dark, but not as bad as the first drain. Refilled with Super Tech (Wal-Mart) ATF for High Mileage cars, gonna let it mix and do another 2 with a week. So I have cycled 5 new quarts of fluid through the transmission today.

It's really running like a new transmission, just as smooth and quiet, Hard to tell when it shifts. I figure with a few more drain and top offs since I do not have a place to do the drop pans and a garage, I can use enough drain and fills to pretty well make my fluid acceptable.

If anything bad happens using this method, I'll post it here. So far, so good.

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by alottobuy

Drained mine today at 278K on my LE. Fluid was black. Put in 2.5 Quarts of Advance Auto ATF. Drove the car ran so much better and smoother. Since the oil was so burnt, I drove it for 85 miles to let it mix with the old remaining fluid.
Went home and did a drain and refill again. Second drain was still dark, but not as bad as the first drain. Refilled with Super Tech (Wal-Mart) ATF for High Mileage cars, gonna let it mix and do another 2 with a week. So I have cycled 5 new quarts of fluid through the transmission today.

It's really running like a new transmission, just as smooth and quiet, Hard to tell when it shifts. I figure with a few more drain and top offs since I do not have a place to do the drop pans and a garage, I can use enough drain and fills to pretty well make my fluid acceptable.

If anything bad happens using this method, I'll post it here. So far, so good.

Thats great that it helping you.

With that many miles you might wanna drop the pan next time and clean all the gunk. After that keep a pretty consistent interval to change the fluid. ATF is a very good cleaner and will dissolve all the crap inside the transmission.

Since it only uses 2.5qts I drain and fill every 2nd oil change. Fluid comes out super clean now after doing this for the past 40k miles or so. Its really cheap insurance in the long run.

[Yuko]

Originally Posted by carsrus

Thats great that it helping you.

With that many miles you might wanna drop the pan next time and clean all the gunk. After that keep a pretty consistent interval to change the fluid. ATF is a very good cleaner and will dissolve all the crap inside the transmission.

Since it only uses 2.5qts I drain and fill every 2nd oil change. Fluid comes out super clean now after doing this for the past 40k miles or so. Its really cheap insurance in the long run.

^+1

The only real filtering capability that's in the transmission is the stainer and two/three little magnets. Once those magnets are full of metal, the rest will just float around the trans, eating away at clutch packs and gears.

[fenixus]

that sounds good!

Me neither has a garage. If your township regulations allow some tinkering around/under cars in parking lots or streets, then maybe you could do it over there? Dropping the pan and replacing strainer and gasket is not that complicated at all.

I have a dead end parking lot corner behind one of building in my apartment complex, that's where I do all repairs to my cars, in the shade of trees

don't forget about the differential, if your car is 4 cylinder model with A140E transmission, then differential chamber is separate and needs a separate drain and fill.

Originally Posted by alottobuy

Drained mine today at 278K on my LE. Fluid was black. Put in 2.5 Quarts of Advance Auto ATF. Drove the car ran so much better and smoother. Since the oil was so burnt, I drove it for 85 miles to let it mix with the old remaining fluid.
Went home and did a drain and refill again. Second drain was still dark, but not as bad as the first drain. Refilled with Super Tech (Wal-Mart) ATF for High Mileage cars, gonna let it mix and do another 2 with a week. So I have cycled 5 new quarts of fluid through the transmission today.

It's really running like a new transmission, just as smooth and quiet, Hard to tell when it shifts. I figure with a few more drain and top offs since I do not have a place to do the drop pans and a garage, I can use enough drain and fills to pretty well make my fluid acceptable.

If anything bad happens using this method, I'll post it here. So far, so good.