The transmission, and diff. fluids should be replaced every 15k miles or every 5th oil change. You don't have to change the trans/diff fluid at every oil change. Just keep in mind that the trans and diff use the same type of ATF, but do not share the same supply of it. Each has it's own compartment for ATF, so each is changed separately.

As for what brand, use whatever you like. I use Royal Purple, but that doesn't mean you have to. Also, if you're unsure of the age of the ATF, I suggest you change the trans filter as well. A flush isn't needed unless the shifts are sluggish, and if the color of the trans fluid is black. Although, at that point damage would have already been done, and you'll have bigger problems than just old fluid. If your trans is still shifting ok, a drain, filter change, and refill should be enough to freshen up your transmission.

 

I thought tranny fluid can be good for 100k in new car (came with dexon III) and 60k for old car (like ours).

I'm planning on doing it at the 25k routine.

 

I thought tranny fluid can be good for 100k in new car (came with dexon III) and 60k for old car (like ours).

I'm planning on doing it at the 25k routine.

Here's a link to an enhanced maintenance schedule...
http://www.partsamerica.com/Maintenance/MaintenanceTypes.aspx?MaintSchedID=5604&stypename=Enhanced

 

you should regularly check the color of the tranny fluid, when it starts to darken is the best time to change it, that way the trans will last longer. I have changed mine, about two years ago. I don't drive the car that much, maybe 6k a year.

 

i've change it on my rolla, very easy to do!

 

i've drained and filled mine a few times.. about to to another drain and fill at the end of the month when im back at my parents' house.. apartment FTL..

 

let me say some stuff real quick here....

got my gf a 95 camry with 168k on it... had a 92 yr tranny in it.. when we bought the car it was smooth and didn't shift so hard but a few hundred miles later it was horrible... fluid was pretty dark, i put new fluid/filter on it.. tranny still shifted bad and another 1,000 miles later or so the diff exploded in it taking out all the gears..

put a 95 yr tranny in, new axle seals, filter and fluid.. it shifts so nice and smooth.. OD is the only shift I ever feel in it sometimes slightly but I figure thats just how its suppose to be in these cars not having all the technology today's transmissions have

 

Well, I'm unsure of the last time the fluid was changed, but I don't think it was anytime recently. And I think the fluid was black last time I checked, but I'll look quick and get back to you. Either way, doesn't sound like a bad idea to flush it out.

I didn't know there was a transmission filter, and I don't really know where that is...I'll have a look at the Hayne's manual and see what I can find.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. So it's safe to say if it's as black as I remember, it's a good idea to change it out? Also, how do I "flush" it, and how is this different from simply draining and refilling?

Thanks!

 

A drain and refill is very easy to do. Take off the drain plug, let the fluid drain out, and refill with equal amount of new fluid. Do not overfill.

When you drain the transmission only some of the fluid comes out. A flush removes all the fluid. As far as I know you would have to take your car to a shop to do a flush. Alternatively you could do a couple of drain and refills to get more of the old fluid out.

The filter is inside the transmission. You would have to take off the transmission pan. Then it's just a matter of unbolting the filter. The filter is nothing fancy, a piece of metal with a wire mesh. Then you should clean up the pan, including the magnets inside the pan. If the pan has been sealed with RTV you have to scrape it off with your fingernails before applying a new gasket which is a pain in the ass. I tried using tools to remove the old sealant but they also stripped the paint off the pan. A rubber gasket is the best because you don't have to screw around with applying sealant. A transmission filter kit includes a new filter and gasket.

The 4 banger Camry has a separate transmission and differential BTW. I believe there is a DIY thread for the differential fluid change.

 

If I had black fluid.........I would NOT "power flush" it. That sounds like an abused transmission. There are screens inside the transmission, and what can happen with power flushes is all the crap clogs one or more of those screens. Once that happens, it's just a matter of time before the transmission sh!ts out altogether.

With black, dark dark red, or burnt-smelling fluid, I would just drain it out, change the filter, and refill.

Nissan has just announced to its dealerships to stop power flushes on Nissan cars......for basically the reasons I stated above.

 

Well I went and checked...I wouldn't call the fluid black, but it's pretty dang close. Also, are you supposed to check the tranny fluid hot or cold? I checked it hot and the fluid was pretty far above both sets of notches...not exactly sure how to read that thing.

So anyways.....keep doing drain refill cycles until most of the old fluid is gone, and replace the filter. Sounds like a plan. I'll look for the differential fluid DIY..I'd imagine that's never been done either...

Thanks!

 

if the fluid has been in there for a long time, a drain and fill can do more damage than good

could disrupt chunks or build-up thats holding things together ... its broken people's transmissions before, and im sure you can find someone on every forum that has seen it happen, so its not quite as rare as getting struck by lightning

an exchanger machine will take a little old fluid out, put a little new in, repeat over and over again until its displaced a set # of quarts/pints .... thats the best way to do it, but its still not fool-proof

thats how most shops & dealerships do it

 

See, that's why Dad was saying it hadn't been done, because his mechanic had said that redoing it could do more harm then good. Hmm...

 

If you have the transmission flushed regualrly, there's no harm flushing it at high mileage. On my Maxima, I had the transmission flushed every 25K miles. The last flush was at 175K miles. That car has almost 200K miles and the transmission still shifts like new.

On my Camry, I get it flushed every 30K miles, but the ATF seemed to breakdown more on that car, so at 75K miles, I decided to try a drain & fill.

Usually,I get whatever ATF the shop uses, but I tried this Castrol ATF. It's a synthetic blend and it is good stuff. The car shifts even smoother now and after about 11K, I have not noticed any degradation.

 

I have a drain and fill and after that my gearshift flew into place not instead of having to be dragged there. If has gotten worse over the last year or so. I think I will do a total exchange.

 

I did a drain and refill on my gen 5.5 and the difference was immediately noticeable. I did it twice (not on purpose, but that's another story) and even though Toyota Type T-IV is expensive, it was well worth it. Way cheaper than a transmission right?

I need to do it on my mom's gen 3.5 - already got the ATF and the crush gasket. A few months ago I tried for an hour to take the transmission drain bolt off but it's kind of stripped now. The service station who flushed it a few years ago must have over tightened it. When I go to pick up some oil filters I'm going to pick up a new transmission fluid drain bolt.. I just have to figure out how to get the old one off!

 

Don't forget the differential also since it doesn't share the fluid with the transmission. The differential takes between 1.5 and 2.0 quarts. Ensure you can take the fill bolt out first if you attempt this! I learned the hard way.

 

blow your diff up?

 

How do I check tranny fluid on 97 Camry???

 

There's a dipstick. Use it after driving the car for a while... while keeping the engine running.

 

I did a flush about 12,000 miles / 15 months ago.

Hook up a 3/8" ID hose to the radiator transmission fluid out line and put the other end in a milk jug. As the car is running and pumping out transmission fluid, be adding fresh fluid through the dipstick tube. About 8 quarts if I remember right. This is common with Volvo’s which is why I did it on the Toyota. Here are a few thumbnails:

Equipment: three milkjugs marked with quart lines (so you know how much has left the engine so you know how quickly to be adding), the 3/8" ID hose (about 6 feet long), funnel, and transmission fluid.


The hose hooked up to the correct tube. The reason you see fluid on the splash guard is that I at first hooked it up to the wrong tube, about a half quart of transmission fluid squirted out before I was able to stop it. The line in the photo is the correct line to hook up to.


The other end of the hose in the milkjug.

 

Hmmm. this doesn't sound that difficult to do, thanks for the information!

 

your second picture is it looking down from the top ?

 

Yes, the view is from the top. Those are the radiator fans on the bottom of the picture and the black plastic which the pliers are on is the splash guard.

Here are the instructions on how to do a transmission flush for an older Volvo:

http://www.ipdusa.com/uploads/sku_files/5310_INST.PDF

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/TransmissionAuto.htm#7XX940FluidFlush

Read them - the only difference is the amount of fluid and where you hook up the hose. And if you do this, remember to put the car through the gears while doing it (to flush out around the gears).

You don’t need a flush kit as shown in the first link, a 3/8" ID hose works just fine and is much cheaper, about 25 cents per foot at your local hardware store, get six or seven feet. And for what it's worth, I sold my Volvo about a year ago, it was between that car and the Camry. I loved the Volvo, but the Camry is much more reliable and gets better mileage.

 

Easiest fluid change EVER.


Seriously.

 

It looks easy but I don't really know where to flush from and where to add. Do I add to the same hole where there is a metal bar to check the status of the fluid? I checked tranny fluid today and it looks clear red to me so I guess I will wait with it a little

 

Add to the dipstick hole. Getting all the old out is tricky since there is a lot in lines and the cooler. I found it easiest to have a large container under the tranny pan, and start loosening bolts. Then catch all the fluid that drains out of there, that'll be a large majority of it. then pull an tranny cooler line and pull it lower than the cooler itself. Gravity will help this flow (started pretty quick on my end) eventually and you'll get most of it out.

Then while you're in there, replace the tranny filter (metal cage with a screen). And you're golden. Cheap and easy. The Jiffy Lube places charge you a large amount and don't change the filter to do it while it's hot and just to run new stuff in and the old out.