When the vehicle dies, its been a lifetime.

 

Please help me ...

 

is it an automatic trans? usually u need to change ur transmission fluid for u auto trans about 30k miles, drain the old fluid, fill it up with new one then drive for couple days then drain and fill again, do that for 3 times, u now should have clean trans fluid. repeat those step every 30k miles.

 

I have a 2009 venza .... Do you change your transmission fluid on your Venza

 

doesn't matter wat car u have, as long as u have an automatic transmission, u need to change the fluid around 30k miles. manual transmission might take longer to b needed to change fluid but still need to be changed.

 

Yes dump that Toyota crap out and ues something like Valvoline synthetic multi vehicle red. Im at 255,000 miles so there.

 

I changed mine 140,000 km, at a Toyota Dealer.

 

Ok ... Dealer did a flush or a juste drop the fluid .... And what the Price dealer do

 

Toyota does not recommend flushes. Only do drain and fills. Dealer will most likely upsell you to do a flush.

 

 

2009 Venza here also (V6, AWD) (among others in the stable; Honda, Acura, Dodge, Toyota). The automatics get a fluid drain and refill (at a minimum) each 30K miles. Sometimes they get changed more often, depending on what kind of mood I'm in each September, when all the fluids/filters in everything get changed. Amsoil in everything. Never done, and never will do, a "flush". The Venza has around 103,000 trouble-free miles.

Most here will probably agree that no fluid is a "lifetime" fluid. Additionally, most folks' driving habits and/or vehicle use fall under "severe service" category. As such, even manufacturers suggest that fluid be changed, even though "lifetime", or changed more often if not "lifetime". Automatics are, by their design, wearing themselves out from day one. Anything you can do to slow the process is probably good. Fluid changes, auxiliary transmission cooler, whatever it takes.

 

I watched about 1/2 of the transaxle video then my face hit the desk and woke me up. How about measuring what you drain out then replace that amount? - if there are no leaks

 

Sure, that could work if you're comfortable assuming there are no leaks and that the previous level was correct. Or just do the leveling procedure for more peace of mind.

To each their own... I found that transaxle video and others, eg about the AWD system, by the same professor to be very interesting and educational. I may even have watched that video more than twice..

The extra complication and equipment is just for doing the ATF leveling when the vehicle is hot. That is relevant to shops that want to get the job done quickly and don't have time to let it cool to the level check temperature in the service manual. Not too relevant for DIYers but can still be nice to know. The videos I linked are more practical for DIY.

 

I did mine at 50k. No way I would go any longer. Although I am used to the every 10k on my Odyssey, so 50k seems like a lifetime ha ha.

 

I bought my used 2011 Venza last year with 97k and a friend of mine told me that if I didn't want to pull the pan and replace the filter that he recommended that I drain and fill around 2.5q when I do my oil change. The Venza is high enough off the ground so I didn't even need to jack it up and enough clearance in the driver wheel where I just had to turn the wheel to get to the 24mm nut behind the plastic piece. The first time I did the day after I bought the car the fluid was grayish black (also when I took off the plug there was no fluid coming out with the plastic piece still inside), the second time 6 months later it was a dark purplish brown and this previous weekend I decided to do it twice (Sat and Sun) and the color is now reddish purple. The car seems to shift into gears at lower RPM and and it doesn't vibrate as much when you shift into reverse.

 

Change mine often enough not to have all the transmission problems that most complain about here on the forums. Maintain perfect shift quality too!

At 100k, I change the filter always. By 100k, I've had 3-4 drain/refills and/or gallon pump-outs from the cooler line.

And, I always check the level using an OBD2 scanner.

ATF evaporates, just like motor oil. It's akin to NOACK volatility. So, the whole "just measure and put back the same amount is a joke". You must overfill and check per the FSM 'colder ATF check temp'. The hotter ATF check temp is for shops that don't have the time to let the ATF cool down.

 

And, I always check the level using an OBD2 scanner.

How? What PID do you check?

 

95,000 miles on this transmission and never changed it, and Yes thats the pan magnet.

 

Dang, that's sick. Yeah, I don't believe in "lifetime"...I change the fluid.

 

I use techstream. PIDs have been posted here over the years. Search for them.

 

There is no such thing a lifetime fluid, Lifetime = When warranty is up. Change it every 50k miles/80K kms. Always.

 

How much does the dealer charge?

 

I just called my dealer "the drain and fill is too labor intensive" it would be 11 hours and $2000 they recommend a transmission flush @ $376.