I just use the drain plug. Measure what comes out and replace with that amount.

 

If it really only has 39000 miles you can just drain the fluid and refill with the same exact amount of ATF as stated and you should be good for another 40,000+.

If you want to get even more fluid out to change as much as possible, after doing the drain and refill, you can pop one of the ATF cooler hoses going to the radiator, aim it into a bottle or drain pan, then turn the engine on until it pushes out a quart or so, refill with a quart of new ATF, and do that a few times until the fluid coming out is red and not brownish or dirty looking. Sometimes it only takes a few quarts so it can be a pretty effective way to change most of the fluid.

It can be a good idea to drop the pan so you can clean the sludge and film off the bottom of the pan, as well as the magnets. but not everyone wants to mess with the pan gasket and it can be slightly tricky to get back on correctly and you have to be careful to only snug the pan bolts, both so you don't get gasket leaks or strip the threads.


Dealerships tend to either just drain and refill, or sometimes they offer a "transmisson flush" which uses a machine to push the fluid out. This isn't a good idea and the method above of running the enging to push out the fluid then refilling is much easier on the transmisson and arguably more effective, but not a method dealerships use. Dealerships tend to charge a lot for just a simple fluid change so you're better off doing it yourself if you can.

Even if you only drain the fluid and refill every 30-40K, that's still keeping some new fluid in there which is better maintenance than most cars on the road get.

For what a dealer wants for a single ATF change, let alone a flush, you could buy several cases of ATF and the tools to do the work.

 

A few years back the dealer recommended transmission service. The quote was about $220 and only showed being charged for 3 quarts of fluid. Doing a drain & fill takes about the same time as doing an oil change.

 

Yeah, that's how the dealerships make money on service.

You can get a case of Toyota ATF for about $50-60, so 4 cases, and do your own ATF changes for the next 200,000-300,000 miles for that $200+.

 

I usually find WS best price about $9 qt. All I've seen are 12 pack cases. Would you share where you're finding the pricing you mentioned?

 

I don't have anything that uses WS, but $9/qt isn't TOO crazy from a local dealer, you should see what Hyundai/Kia dealers want for their ATF. I've mostly been after the T-IV fluid, which is just Mobil 3309 in a Toyota bottle, but the Toyota stuff is cheaper by the case these days for whatever reason.

Usually I look on ebay/amazon for any amazing deals, otherwise use google to search something like "toyota ws fluid case" and click on links for the various larger Toyota dealership parts departments that sell and ship quite a bit of stuff. They tend to have the lowest pricing and can beat the retail price by quite a bit, plus you don't pay out of state tax, just shipping.

You might also contact some of the Toyota dealers that are site vendors on here, they may be willing to meet or beat whatever online prices other dealers have, and might give you free shipping or something else too.

 

I just did a transmission fluid change on my granddaughter's new to her 09 1.8 Corolla with 110K and an unknown service history. I purchased 2 gallon jugs of Valvoline Max ATF from Walmart. I did three drain and refills with a short drive between each change. The manual states that a drain and refill takes 2.6 quarts and that is what I measured when I drained the fluid.

 

I know this is an unpopular opinion for most here but on my Camry I go to the dealer. They have a machine that measures what is taken out while pulling it out and pushes in the exact correct amount. It is the only way to get all of the fluid out. Push Pull machine is what I like. Sure it's a couple hundred bucks but I only do it every 50k.

 

That "push-pull" flush machine can be the problem. They can operate at higher pressures than the transmission is designed to handle, and damage internals leading to issues and an eventual need to rebuild or replace.

You can get ALL the trans fluid out by dropping the pan, changing the fluid, then starting the engine with a ATF cooling line disconnected from the radiator, and letting the engine push out a quart, then refilling it with a quart, and repeating that until the only fluid that comes out is nice, clean, transparent red.

For what the dealer charges, it's quite a savings, AND you know the job was done right.

 

I'll let you know if it dies early. 282500 miles so far. Highly doubt the dealer has been using a machine for years on millions of Toyotas that damages things. You do whatever you want.

 

On ebay Toyota WS ATF fluid is going for about $10 a quart and sometimes less. I did 3 drain and refills on a 2009 Corolla with 2 gallons of Valvoline MaxLife ATF. Total cost from Walmart with tax about $38.

 

I used Pennzoil Platinum LV ATF fluid: http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/other-oils-fluids-fuel/automatic-transmission-fluids/platinum-lv-multi-vehicle.htm

It does bear WS certifications and I've had no issues with it. Plan on using it again in about 15,000KM again for another tranny fill and filter replacement.


They have another oil meant for CVT's btw in case your's has a CVT transmission. My 2012 Corolla doesn't.
Paid about $50 CAD for 5 quarts I think. My dad did get a discount on them I think though.