Lifetime automatic transmission

[AloRock]

In this forum there are a lot of writings about change oil, drain, refill automatic transmissions. As we believe Toyota, this is not nessesary if you use your car in normal condition.
Concluding this is only good for the oil brewery
What about the real life of this transmissions, is here anybody who had ever problems with his tranny ?
What is your milage at your car without changing that oil ?

[sxe-10]

it would be wise to change it even though the manual says it doesnt need to be changed, it will turn brown over time and will not be as effective in cooling or lubricating, or you can pray your tranny doesnt fry because im guessing its $1500+ to get it replaced

how often do you change your motor oil and brake fluid? im just curious

[isrb710]

I'll bet a new Tranny on a 2010 is over $2,500! I paid $2,500 10 years ago for a new Chrysler tranny. Hopefully Toyota trannies don't cost as much!

I've seen enough on this website to where I'm changing mine every 30K miles. Cheap insurance IMHO.

[Zembonez]

Anytime a fluid is protecting an item that wears internally, it makes sense to change it. Bands and clutches wear in automatic transmissions and the particles contaminate the fluid over time. Fluid also goes through many intense heating and cooling cycles.

I'd recommend regular changes.

[AloRock]

It's always a good feeling for every car owner if oil and other liquids are fresh and clean. For my work I have lots of contacts at dealers.
Other brands of cars have problems with their tranny's, so the advise is to change oil. Toyota don't give the advice to change that oil.
I never heard, damage of an Camry Tranny because the oil wasn't change on time.
I'm wondering what milage others are driving with their Camry, without changing the transmission oil. Than we can make conclusions.

[JohnGD]

The older dino ATF has a severe service life of 15-20K miles and synthetic 50K miles. Sure the normal service life of synthetic/blend is about 100K miles. That's longer than what most manufacturers consider "lifetime".

If people lease or plan to sell the car after a few years absolutely no need to change the ATF, coolant or brake fluid. It's the next owner's problem.

[tengiday]

Originally Posted by AloRock

It's always a good feeling for every car owner if oil and other liquids are fresh and clean. For my work I have lots of contacts at dealers.
Other brands of cars have problems with their tranny's, so the advise is to change oil. Toyota don't give the advice to change that oil.
I never heard, damage of an Camry Tranny because the oil wasn't change on time.
I'm wondering what milage others are driving with their Camry, without changing the transmission oil. Than we can make conclusions.

I know many cars (not just Toyota Camry) can have over 300,000 miles and still run excellent with just regular maintenance. I understand the feeling to have all oil fresh and clean, but is it really so necessary that without doing so, our cars will fail?

[retiredgentleman]

Some people only keep a car for 3 to 5 years. They tend to do almost no maintenance, just leave it for the next owner.

If you plan to keep your car for a long time, then proper maintenance is a wise thing to do. All machinery using fluids will contaminate the fluids and the filters will start to get a differential pressure across them.

Its like they say, you can pay me now or pay me later. A tranny with no regular fluid or filter changes may run a long while or it may self destruct.

I like my 2005 Camry, and plan to keep it at least 20 years. I do all my own maintenance. After 6 years and 10 months, I decided it was time to change some fluids. Anti-freeze coolant, power steering and transmission fluids all changed (transmission filter removed and rinsed clean). Very easy to do, and just makes sense to me.

I only drive 8000 kms per year, so my maintenance schedule is done by time not by kilometers. I don't buy into the "long life" fluid idea.

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by retiredgentleman

Some people only keep a car for 3 to 5 years. They tend to do almost no maintenance, just leave it for the next owner.

If you plan to keep your car for a long time, then proper maintenance is a wise thing to do. All machinery using fluids will contaminate the fluids and the filters will start to get a differential pressure across them.

Its like they say, you can pay me now or pay me later. A tranny with no regular fluid or filter changes may run a long while or it may self destruct.

I like my 2005 Camry, and plan to keep it at least 20 years. I do all my own maintenance. After 6 years and 10 months, I decided it was time to change some fluids. Anti-freeze coolant, power steering and transmission fluids all changed (transmission filter removed and rinsed clean). Very easy to do, and just makes sense to me.

I only drive 8000 kms per year, so my maintenance schedule is done by time not by kilometers. I don't buy into the "long life" fluid idea.

i do not always keep my vehicles for a long time, but what i WILL DO is the maintenance and keep records..then at trade in time, i present my records, and i usually get a better trade in for the vehicle, as it's LESS work for the garage to do when they go and resell it..other than a washing and minor detailing, ALL my vehicles were "line ready" at trade in day..i even go as far as getting a state inspection as well...

it's just the way i have always been....

but you are correct i suppose, that some people simply do not care, and just let the new owner go through all of that...

[william m dowd]

the cost of replacing a trans in a 2007 2.4 motor Camry at the dealer is about $4000.00 including everything and some tranny shops get from $2900.00 to $ 3500.00 for a trans they are not cheap change your oil and for the newer Camry's 2007 to 2011 with the synthetic trans oil from Toyota change about every 40,000 miles.

[arabianobsession]

40,000 miles? Holy crap.... That seems a bit excessive.

*Edit: For WS fluid, Toyota recommends an inspection every 30,000 miles or 24 months.

[DavidHB]

for me, working on my cars is a hobby, and has little to do with the need of the car.

[Donald E. George]

That's a good way to be Glen8963. Something,anything worth having is worth taking care of----your health,family,home,yard,pets. If you have it, you should take care of it. Regards

[gs_aristo]

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

40,000 miles? Holy crap.... That seems a bit excessive.

*Edit: For WS fluid, Toyota recommends an inspection every 30,000 miles or 24 months.

I was told by the dealer 100K fluid change. Camry has a sealed unit and no dipstick. How is it checked?

[arabianobsession]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

Ideally, the WS, World Standard fluid for the new generation of Toyota transmissions do not have to be changed; however, it is entirely up to the owner to decide.

There is indeed no dipstick for the 2007 trans, but there is a drain plug and a overflow plug on the pan, and a filler plug behind the left splash shield. The procedure for filling the trans is rather complicated, you need to monitor the trans fluid temperature to properly adjust the level.

N.E.O.

Taken from this thread:
2007 - 2009 Camry Transmission Fluid