Transmission fluid change dilemma - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

maniax · 10-31-2006, 07:23 PM

my 96 camry auto tranny has 96k miles on it and i dont think the tranny fluid was ever changed. I checked the condition of the fluid thru the dipstick the other day and the color of the fluid was grey-black. Smells a little burnt too. Now i was going to change it right away but then i read about it online. Many experts recommend you don't change the fluid on an old car with mileage over 80k if it has never been done before. They said it does more harm than good. It can destroy the transmission right away. I spoke to a co-worker about this and he said it's true. It happened to his brother's car. So how long can i expect this transmission to last with the current tranny fluid? Is there any other solutions?

Btw the transmission seems to be in perfect working condition. doesnt slip or anything.

***toyomoho*** · 10-31-2006, 08:33 PM

If not changed, transmission fluid can become very black, thicken up and smell extremely burnt. As such, maybe yours is not that bad. Having read about a fluid change causing transmission failure, I still change it. I have never had a problem doing this. But, if I leave the old fluid in, I know the transmission is going to fail sooner then later.

DFBonnett · 11-01-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniax

my 96 camry auto tranny has 96k miles on it and i dont think the tranny fluid was ever changed. I checked the condition of the fluid thru the dipstick the other day and the color of the fluid was grey-black. Smells a little burnt too. Now i was going to change it right away but then i read about it online. Many experts recommend you don't change the fluid on an old car with mileage over 80k if it has never been done before. They said it does more harm than good. It can destroy the transmission right away. I spoke to a co-worker about this and he said it's true. It happened to his brother's car. So how long can i expect this transmission to last with the current tranny fluid? Is there any other solutions?

Btw the transmission seems to be in perfect working condition. doesnt slip or anything.

Manure. Change the fluid. The best fluid is new fluid. Those stories get promulgated when some meatwhistle waits until the trans is slipping then decides to change the fluid. By that time it's too late but the genius decides to blame it on the fluid change, not on a woeful neglect of maintenance. "Is there any other solution?" There is only one solution. Change the fluid. Today.
There are other opinions. They are wrong.

PeonHonda · 11-01-2006, 07:59 PM

Now are you just changing the fluid or are you FLUSHING the trans? If youre flushing the trans heres the deal, the info about flushing your trans fluid is infact true, DFBonnett has no idea what he is talking about. The reason why it can do more harm than good is simple. All the dirt and grime that has been in your transmission for all those 1000's of miles has actually became part of your trans, so by flushing the entire trans you are changing the way your trans has been working all that time. However that doesnt mean it will infact damage your trans. it just increases your chances.

maniax · 11-01-2006, 10:17 PM

thanks for the reply guys

hmmm......so would it be better to change the fluid through a transfusion machine in quick lube places or drop pan, drain fluid, clean filter, refill?

PeonHonda · 11-02-2006, 07:36 AM

i wouldnt go to a quick lube place, take it to your local toyo dealership and have it done, at the toyo dealership i work we charge like $149.99.

Now if you do just drop you pan and so forth youre actually only draining 4qts. (your trans holds about 16) The decision is yours but just remember if you do the flush you may run into problems.

BakaWill · 11-02-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniax

thanks for the reply guys

hmmm......so would it be better to change the fluid through a transfusion machine in quick lube places or drop pan, drain fluid, clean filter, refill?

iv heard of that flushing is bad bs before probably the best thing you can do youself is drop the pan and change the filter. new filters dont run that much and should pick out alot of the shit your new fluid will dissolve.

BakaWill · 11-02-2006, 10:34 PM

as for my personal exp iv changed the fluid and the filter on a car with 150k on it and it never had a fluid change. and 3000 miles later it was still running strong last i heard. and the owner uses it to deliver papers. so id say your probably safe.

donaldd34 · 11-03-2006, 09:46 AM

I asked a mechanic the same question about changing the fluid in a vehicle where it had not been done before or not in a long time. His answer was if the car has no problems, then its a good idea. If the transmission already has problems it could make things worse.

I would go to a trusted mechanic with a trans flush machine and have him do it (or dealer). Avoid the quick oil change places. A local quick oil change place (that sounds iffy to me) did a state inspection, pulled a wheel to inspect brake pads where there was no pad left and passed it. The metal was scraping the rotor within 2 weeks.

I'd go with synthetic ATF and then you do not need to do it for 100K miles.

kamrhee · 11-06-2006, 02:59 PM

For those who's afraid of loose particle clogging/breaking loose after so many miles, anybody tried using an inline transmission fluid filter? Its the one with the magnet inside to capture any floating metallic particle that flows. I bought it for extra insurance. Its about $20 buck and I'll replace it every 2 years. Aside from doing the regular transmission fluid change, I'll let the filter handle smaller particle that the mesh misses. Like I said, its extra insurance but I have peace of mind knowing its there.

kamrhee