How long have you guys gone without changing the tranny oil? I put 60k on mine. I'm not sure when recommended interval is. One mechanic said 60k, another said 90k on any toyota..
The lifespan of my tranny will likely determine the lifespan of the car... so I'm motivated to keep good ATF in it all the time. I change the fluid every 30K miles using the trans. cooler line method.
If you're in a different situation, you might not benefit from higher freqency ATF changes. 60K might be just fine, though using an expensive synthetic ATF would surely help.
Some people think its bad to flush an old transmission because it loosens but doesn't fully remove solid crud, which then obstructs small fluid passages. A simple drain/ refill plan is better for those occasions.
is Toyota ATF different? The specs say to use Dex III or (DEX II*). I was told to go to places that have a machine to get it flushed? This is different than manual drain/refill?
is Toyota ATF different? The specs say to use Dex III or (DEX II*). I was told to go to places that have a machine to get it flushed? This is different than manual drain/refill?
Normal DEX III should be just fine. DEX II was replaced by DEX III. I personally prefer the drain/refill method. Drain and Refill at every oil change until you like the color of the fluid (brownish red), replace the washer at every change. If you will choose the drain refill method, I would pick a good brand DEX III fluid.
Manual drain refill involves as stated above draining and refilling at intervals. When doing a fluid flush, some shops will use pressure, DO NOT perform the flush at these shops, you might loosen up sludge and your trans is out. Another way is by adding chemical in the mix, which I don't like cause if it wasn't there before I don't think it should be there AT ALL. The dealer should simply drain the system. I don't know how it's done, but it doesn't involve chemicals or pressure and SHOULD be fine on the trans. Don't blame me if your trans goes bad after you leave the dealer. I would recommend the drain/refill method. It's safe and you have full control of what's done to the car.
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1995 Toyota Camry V6 LE-6M1 250K Miles, Fun Car
1997 Acura RL-Gone
2007 Acura RL SH-AWD, Technology Package, Opulent Blue Pearl- Fun Car/Daily Driver
i guess i can flush via drain and refill, until the color gets right? the filter is the magnet underplate of the pan? can i just drop the pan and scrape off the scrap collecting at the bottom?
i dont mind spending money on the fluid, i will buy bulk if i have to. do u recommend a specific type of dex III? synthetic as well?
i guess i can flush via drain and refill, until the color gets right? the filter is the magnet underplate of the pan? can i just drop the pan and scrape off the scrap collecting at the bottom?
i dont mind spending money on the fluid, i will buy bulk if i have to. do u recommend a specific type of dex III? synthetic as well?
Yes you could drop the pan, but make sure you seal it correctly with gasket material when putting all back together. Buy that stuff from the dealer. As for the fluid, that will be up to you!!! I personally put valvoline DEX III in my car, and that's all I've been putting in since my warranty expired back in the stone age for my car....
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1995 Toyota Camry V6 LE-6M1 250K Miles, Fun Car
1997 Acura RL-Gone
2007 Acura RL SH-AWD, Technology Package, Opulent Blue Pearl- Fun Car/Daily Driver
i went to Pepboys to get my tranny flushed, i asked if they had the machine to do it and they said yes. I told them that i wanted it flushed until the color gets right, no matter what it takes i wanted most of the old fluid out. So when they worked on my car, they drained, dropped the pan and replaced the filter. I didnt see any machine hooked up to it. If they simply drained it, is there a lot of fluid left in my tranny?
They only used 3 bottles of dextron and when they were pouring it, they added additive bottle which I wasn't sure what it was.
did i just get ripped? is it likely that, that "additive" bottle may have been something to loosen up the gunk in my tranny?
I'd say you got ripped. The filter is a metal lifetime filter and doesn't need to be changed. Most likely, they replaced it with a paper filter. I would also be concerned about the additive? There is no need for any additive unless you put it in right before the change. AutoRX comes to mind. But, again, that is just to loosen up the old fluid and should be changed right away. The tranny is designed to run with only TypeIV fluid, nothing else.
If you paid for a flush and only got a drain/fill then you were cheated. On the other hand, I do not advocate flushes as they tend to loosen up old dirt/sludge and could cause problems.
To do a proper drain and fill, you need to do about three of them. I would do them at the next two oil changes. Also, there is a another reservoir just behind the tranny pan that should also be drained. It is a continuous system so it all gets filled from the transmission dip tube. If you drain both you should get about 4 qts out at one time. I think the total capacity is around 7 (not sure about that one without going to look it up).
If you don't mind spending extra on fluids, then I recommend Amsoil transmission fluid. The best there is.
i remembered looking 3 yellow jugs of pennzoil ATF. I couldnt figure out what it was but i remember something with IIV on it. could it be type IV that was backward compatible with type III?
I tried looking online but didnt see the same pennzoil jugs online. i guess i will do drain and refill on the next change.
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Another way is by adding chemical in the mix, which I don't like cause if it wasn't there before I don't think it should be there AT ALL. The dealer should simply drain the system. I don't know how it's done, but it doesn't involve chemicals or pressure and SHOULD be fine on the trans. Don't blame me if your trans goes bad after you leave the dealer. I would recommend the drain/refill method. It's safe and you have full control of what's done to the car.
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