2000 Camry transmission flush - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

robob2 · 11-22-2007, 08:18 AM

I've got a 2000 Camry with 70,000 miles on it, I'm considering having a transmission flush or drain and fill before winter. The car has never had either as far as I know. The service department suggests not having the flush due to the high mileage. The service department said a drain and fill would be ok. I've read comments about pros and cons of a high mileage transmission flush. Is there any truth to this? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

TRD VVTi · 11-22-2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robob2

I've got a 2000 Camry with 70,000 miles on it, I'm considering having a transmission flush or drain and fill before winter. The car has never had either as far as I know. The service department suggests not having the flush due to the high mileage. The service department said a drain and fill would be ok. I've read comments about pros and cons of a high mileage transmission flush. Is there any truth to this? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

This is the Gen 5 & 6 section for 2002 and up Camry's.

70,000 miles isn't high mileage. You can do which ever you choose and no damage will occur. If the fluid is really burned/dirty then flush it. If it's barely discolored just do a drain and fill.

There are no cons to either one...

robob2 · 11-22-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

This is the Gen 5 & 6 section for 2002 and up Camry's.

70,000 miles isn't high mileage. You can do which ever you choose and no damage will occur. If the fluid is really burned/dirty then flush it. If it's barely discolored just do a drain and fill.

There are no cons to either one...

Thanks for the reponse and for pointing out I'm posting this question in the wrong forum. I'll repost in the correct forum.

Thanks again!

JSM1284 · 11-23-2007, 08:02 AM

It is suggsted NOT to do the flush svc if the vehicle has over 60k

robob2 · 11-23-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

It is suggsted NOT to do the flush svc if the vehicle has over 60k

Why is that?

JSM1284 · 11-23-2007, 09:28 AM

You are lucky you found a shop that doesn't want to make money on you. The reason it is not suggested, and your shop agrees, is because over time, any debris that may have built up in your trans is either stuck in a crevice, or in the filter.

If you go through and flush the system, you may dislodge this debris and allow it to flow through the trans, it can clog an orifice, or damage seals.

Not saying this WILL happen, it is a gamble, you could flush it and have a problem soon down the road, or you could not flush it and have a problem. Or you can flush it and be perfectly fine. You pick your path. But the suggestion is to not touch it after 60k.

robob2 · 11-23-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

You are lucky you found a shop that doesn't want to make money on you. The reason it is not suggested, and your shop agrees, is because over time, any debris that may have built up in your trans is either stuck in a crevice, or in the filter.

If you go through and flush the system, you may dislodge this debris and allow it to flow through the trans, it can clog an orifice, or damage seals.

Not saying this WILL happen, it is a gamble, you could flush it and have a problem soon down the road, or you could not flush it and have a problem. Or you can flush it and be perfectly fine. You pick your path. But the suggestion is to not touch it after 60k.

Thank you for the response. Is it still worth doing a drain and fill?

JSM1284 · 11-23-2007, 09:40 AM

Drain and fill will be less evasive. But it sill can be a risk factor due to the fact that the new fluid has detergents can also cause problems stirring up debris, I personally would not do it to my car unless I knew for a fact that the trans has been serviced previously before 60k. I have seen quite a few transmissions serviced with high miles end up taking a crap a few months down the road after the service. then again, ive seen them not have a problem at all. As stated before, It is a gamble.

This is also why the owners manual says that it is not neccesary to change the transmission fluid at any time under normal driving conditions

robob2 · 11-23-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

Drain and fill will be less evasive. But it sill can be a risk factor due to the fact that the new fluid has detergents can also cause problems stirring up debris, I personally would not do it to my car unless I knew for a fact that the trans has been serviced previously before 60k. I have seen quite a few transmissions serviced with high miles end up taking a crap a few months down the road after the service. then again, ive seen them not have a problem at all. As stated before, It is a gamble.

This is also why the owners manual says that it is not neccesary to change the transmission fluid at any time under normal driving conditions

Thanks agian for the response!

TRD VVTi · 11-23-2007, 03:02 PM

A flush will NOT cause a problem.

That's another myth that has developed over the years and has no truth.

People used to say not to even service a transmission that was never serviced and had 90,000 or more miles on it. There weren't flush machines back then. Now there are and the myth has spread to transmission flushes.

If that's the case shouldn't the same thing apply to:

Oil and filter changes
Brake fluid flushes
Cooling system flushes
Differential services
Transfer case fluid changes
Washer fluid
Fuel filters

If you don't do it on time it should never be done...

Mike Gerber · 11-23-2007, 03:13 PM

I recently had this flush service done to my 94 with 83,000 miles on car. I had previously done drain and fills myself over the years 3 times. The tech swore to me their machine only uses the tran's internal pump (trans pump pressure) to pump the fluid out and then back in, so I felt it wouldn't cause any problems and was worth it to get all the old fluid out of there. Haven't really driven it much since being done, but it seems to be shifting the same. I will report back here over time if there are any changes.

Mike

TRD VVTi · 11-23-2007, 03:16 PM

I've personally flushed the transmission fluid on an '85 Monte SS with over 200,000 miles on it.

I also did a Geo Prizm (Toyota Corolla) with 120,000 miles on it.

I've done it to so many of my own cars, and have had it performed on so many cars at aftermarket shops and dealers that I couldn't possibly begin to count. It's surely in the hundreds, at the very least.

kenny1773 · 11-23-2007, 03:29 PM

Just more anecdotal evidence, but I had a 95 camry V6 as my previous car. I did the simple drain and fill myself at 30k and 60k using mobil syntheic ATF, then at 100k I decided to do the flush and fill of the entire system with mobil synthetic ATF (yeah, it was like 16 quarts). The flush system my local mechanic had allowed him to fill with the fluid I brought in myself and also only used the transmission pump and no other external force to put in or take out fluid.

I figured that no matter how long I kept the car, that would be the last service I ever did on the trans

I never had any problems, but decided to sell the car at 150k

JSM1284 · 11-23-2007, 04:07 PM

As said before, It CAN cause problems, not a for sure. Thats why we dont say "Dont do it you will have problems" we simply suggest not to because it does in fact increase the risk of a problem. Ive seen it first hand cause problems however.

All the other fluids and drives are not as intricate as a transmission. People dont realize that it is the fluid itself that drives an automatic transmission. The fluid links the engine to the transmission via the torque converter, the fluid hold the clutch packs together, giving you forward motion. The tiniest particle, piece of gunk you stir up in the trans can get caught under a seal, and you will then have a failed transmission.

TRD VVTi · 11-23-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

As said before, It CAN cause problems, not a for sure. Thats why we dont say "Dont do it you will have problems" we simply suggest not to because it does in fact increase the risk of a problem. Ive seen it first hand cause problems however.

All the other fluids and drives are not as intricate as a transmission. People dont realize that it is the fluid itself that drives an automatic transmission. The fluid links the engine to the transmission via the torque converter, the fluid hold the clutch packs together, giving you forward motion. The tiniest particle, piece of gunk you stir up in the trans can get caught under a seal, and you will then have a failed transmission.

The tiniest particle would have a much higher chance of being stirred up from the higher pressures of normal transmission operation than the lesser pressure of a flush.

I've seen transmissions operate worse after a flush and/or service too. But they already had a problem to begin with...

ANYTHING is possible. I've seen a lot of stuff, but still continue to learn new things every day, and see bizarre things as well.

Changing the oil on a neglected engine COULD result in it's failure. It still wouldn't be the cause. There would have to be a problem to begin with.

How it operates and functions is much more important than the mileage.