"Drain and Refill" OR "Filter Change"? - Transmission Fluid

[samuel49]

01 Camry CE 2.2L 90k
Bought used 4 years ago @ 73k, nothing was done on transmission fluid. It is pretty dirty on the dip stick. I searched and found out that flush seems to be the last thing you wanna do for a high mileage vehicle. My questions is which is better currently for my car? repeat drain and refill several times or drop/clean the pan and change the filter?
Probably I need to change the differential fluid too?

[carsrus]

Yes change differential fluid.

First drain and refill, drive around a few hundred miles.

Then drop pan and clean and change strainer. After that just repeat drain and refill every 2-3 oil change.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by samuel49

01 Camry CE 2.2L 90k
Bought used 4 years ago @ 73k, nothing was done on transmission fluid. It is pretty dirty on the dip stick. I searched and found out that flush seems to be the last thing you wanna do for a high mileage vehicle. My questions is which is better currently for my car? repeat drain and refill several times or drop/clean the pan and change the filter?
Probably I need to change the differential fluid too?

Why would you go to the trouble of cleaning the filter then reintroducing dirty fluid to it. The don't-replace-all-the-fluid-at-once crowd is full of bunk. Drop the pan, clean the filter (actually it's a screen) and pan. Replace the fluid in the pan and do the complete fluid change method you'll find here or on the internet. It's not a "flush" in the context of high pressure, you're just using the tranmission's own pump to replace the fluid.

[samuel49]

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

Why would you go to the trouble of cleaning the filter then reintroducing dirty fluid to it. The don't-replace-all-the-fluid-at-once crowd is full of bunk. Drop the pan, clean the filter (actually it's a screen) and pan. Replace the fluid in the pan and do the complete fluid change method you'll find here or on the internet. It's not a "flush" in the context of high pressure, you're just using the tranmission's own pump to replace the fluid.

Sorry for not making myself clear. Either way I will replace the fluid for sure.
I just don't get the point why we should not replace all the fluid at once.

[samuel49]

Originally Posted by carsrus

Yes change differential fluid.

First drain and refill, drive around a few hundred miles.

Then drop pan and clean and change strainer. After that just repeat drain and refill every 2-3 oil change.

Thanks. sounds like a plan to me.
when after the drop and clean, I fill in new fluid, do I?

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by samuel49

when after the drop and clean, I fill in new fluid, do I?

The pan only holds a fraction of the fluid in the transmission. You need to replace the fluid in the torque converter as well, that's why you'll need to run the engine and pump out the old fluid as you add new. Look for the procedure here or on the internet. You can also get one of those quicky lubes to do it as well, but usually they don't drop the pan.

[JohnGD]

Of course.

The reason some have concerns is with varnish buildup coming off with the new fluid because of the detergent. But if the dipstick is clean as a whistle then you should be fine.

Walmart's dino ATF or Supertech Mercon-V should do fine, and you can always find Mobil-1 ATF around $5.6/qt at Advance Auto with coupon, so go with Mobil-1 first at those prices.

Definitely do the differential and flush the PS system too.
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Originally Posted by samuel49

when after the drop and clean, I fill in new fluid, do I?