Tch Atf

[laphan]

just FYI..

I did drain and refill my trans fluid this weekend for my 08 TCH with 33K miles.
It was the easiest transmission service I have ever done, even easier than oil change. 4 quarts out and 4 quarts in.
To my surprise the fluid was very dark (dark brown, almost black and it smells a little bit more like burned rubber than fresh WS fluid). All this 33K miles, 85% of them are highway miles. I really recommend transmission service at around 30-40K miles for this vehicle even if some dealer says that toyota WS fluid should last 100K miles.
I guess by the time you reach 100K, you might not only need new fluid but you may need a new transmission.
Also few dealers insist that they have to flush the tranny to get 8 quarts out and $180. I always laugh at them because there is no cooler line, no torque convertor and no valve body in this vehicle and the factory service manual states that DRY fill in this transmission is 4 quarts.

[Ed_T]

at about 47,000 miles,

2007 Camry Hybrid, but my drained fluid looked like new fluid.

Same mileage pattern as you.

Wondering if you have something 'going on' in there.

[ekpolk]

Oh thanks guys -- I'm compulsive, and being that I've got 42k miles on my 09 TCH, y'all just triggered my compulsion. I'll report back on my results shortly.

[laphan]

I did not find any metal shavings at all. Just dark fluid.
May be my driving pattern or road conditions really affects the fluid life that much.
It is nice to know that the ATF WS might last more than 30K if you drive it nice then.
But for $35 (4 qts of ATF WS) is pretty cheap, especially if you can get 30-50K miles out of them.

[Ken07TCH]

Would someone be able to post pictures of the location of the drain plug and the refill plug? I want to check mine.

[GvilleTCH]

FWIW , After some discussion with my Service Advisor I was able to get my Toyota Dealer to perform a trans service. They were pressing that it was not needed until 100k. I insisted I wanted it done at my mileage of 50,200 .

The cost was $47 labor , $51 parts (5 - 00289-ATFWS and the filter) and the local tax for a total $105 . The CVT seems to shift much smoother and is (to my hear) quieter.

These "standards" of 100k make me uncomfortable , so I pay and they provide the service requested. Next summer I'll flush the coolant (for me in FLA , it's changed every two years at most in all my vehicles) and I'm sure they will remind me it's not needed...

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted by GvilleTCH

FWIW , After some discussion with my Service Advisor I was able to get my Toyota Dealer to perform a trans service. They were pressing that it was not needed until 100k. I insisted I wanted it done at my mileage of 50,200 .

The cost was $47 labor , $51 parts (5 - 00289-ATFWS and the filter) and the local tax for a total $105 . The CVT seems to shift much smoother and is (to my hear) quieter.

These "standards" of 100k make me uncomfortable , so I pay and they provide the service requested. Next summer I'll flush the coolant (for me in FLA , it's changed every two years at most in all my vehicles) and I'm sure they will remind me it's not needed...

OK, one Gator to another (I'm UF Law '93), I'm confused: what exactly to you mean by "shift[ing] much smoother" for a transmission that really never shifts?

[GvilleTCH]

Originally Posted by ekpolk

OK, one Gator to another (I'm UF Law '93), I'm confused: what exactly to you mean by "shift[ing] much smoother" for a transmission that really never shifts?

From a stop , when I "floor it" up thru 80 mph the CVT does have a seat of the pants shift feel . Also when it drops down when the TCH goes from gas to ECH mode (battery only) . Also as the synergy transitions occur during this cold spell there is a much smoother transition than before I changed the fluid/filter... Go Gators...

[Ed_T]

Originally Posted by GvilleTCH

FWIW , After some discussion with my Service Advisor I was able to get my Toyota Dealer to perform a trans service. They were pressing that it was not needed until 100k. I insisted I wanted it done at my mileage of 50,200 .

The cost was $47 labor , $51 parts (5 - 00289-ATFWS and the filter) and the local tax for a total $105 . The CVT seems to shift much smoother and is (to my hear) quieter.

These "standards" of 100k make me uncomfortable , so I pay and they provide the service requested. Next summer I'll flush the coolant (for me in FLA , it's changed every two years at most in all my vehicles) and I'm sure they will remind me it's not needed...

Interesting. The capacity is 4 quarts. No filter. No pan to drop. Did they tell you it's a CVT? It is a PSD = power split device. Neither a CVT nor a PSD "shift".

[GvilleTCH]

Originally Posted by Ed_T

Interesting. The capacity is 4 quarts. No filter. No pan to drop. Did they tell you it's a CVT? It is a PSD = power split device. Neither a CVT nor a PSD "shift".

Now I remember why I left this forum...

I was trying to share what my invoice says. Under parts it says qty of 5 for part# 00289-atfws (description : world standard AU, with a unit price of 7.78.
Under G.O.G. & supplies it says 1.0 Dextron @12.00 /unit. I just assumed that was filter. Regarding the TCH and it's transmission , I thought it was a CVT and I used that to describe the Dealership share , if it is a PSD then great ...

My attempted point was that I also changed my trans fluid early... (-:

[ekpolk]

Fellow Gator:

Don't sweat it. I've been toying with changing my fluid also too. I was just interested in what your before-and-after observations were, specifically. And when the change only involves four quarts of fluid, I almost (well, almost) wouldn't care if the WS stuff was the price of liquid gold. Based upon your valuable observations, I will be performing this service myself, on my own ramps, sometime in the next few weeks.

Incidentally, we're in pretty good shape compared to some other makes. I did a brief detour from Toyota ownership into the Nissan/Infiniti world, when I bought a new leftover 2004 G35. That was a great fun car to drive, but its transmission required about 2000 gallons of ATF. Making matters worse, seemingly every Infiniti requires its own unique (and brutally expensive) ATF. There's Nissan Matic D, Matic J, Matic K, and several others too. Hey, when a simple (or should be simple) fluid change costs more than a car payment by a long stretch, well, that just sux. Just another reason to love your TCH. Go Gators!!!

[Ken07TCH]

Im going to be off the next few days. I think I wont be rolling out there on the driveway though. I may go buy some correct fluid from Toyota and see if I can get it on a local rack for a drain and fill.

From Toyota I bet I can just ask for 5 quarts of this then? part# 00289-atfws

If you get pics of the correct plug locations please post them.

Thanks to all, including the Gator folks. I am not a hater but I need to support my team.

Go Dawgs!

[Ken07TCH]

Wohoo I had mine done.

4 quarts fluid from Toyota $13
Rack charge at the local shop $30

Just a little satisfaction for a total of $43

[cariboulou]

whats a "rack charge" are there places in atlanta that you could rent time to put your car on a lift while you perform your own maintenance on vehicle??