snow197

i flushed mine at the dealer at 38k i now have 50k

Davestoaster

Just did mine today.

I have 41,500 on the clock and I drive easy. The tranny gets a little work out when I use my fold-up Harbor Freight trailer. But then the most I ever towed was a washer and dryer and the occasional couch. I maybe used the trailer 5 times. The tranny got a bigger work-out this winter when I was trying to get home one night in the deep snow. It was one of those reverse-to-drive-to-reverse things to get me unstuck. Some loud clunking noises then.

The drain plug is a 10mm Allen and it is a low profile and a big bolt, so I doubt you could replace it with anything else that might be magnetic.

I bought the Toyota T-IV because I was having a hard time finding a suitable replacement that matched the spec's of the original fluid. Mobil makes one but I could not find it in the store. The fluid at the dealer was $5.04 per quart, and the drain plug gasket was $1.46. I bought 4 quarts.

The old fluid came out red, but it looked a little dirty. Not the ruby red, shiny look the new fluid had. So I knew it was a little used. It did not smell bad or burnt like I have smelled in bad trannies in other cars. I think the fluid was just fine this time, but changing it makes me feel better.

The factory work shop manual says the A/T holds 3.1 quarts. After I let it drain for about 20 minutes to a slow drip, I closed it up. I then measured the drained fluid in the pan, and I had about 3 ounces under 3 quarts. That told me about around 4 ounces of fluid remained in the tranny. So the validity of the statements about the fluid remaining in the torque converter have me wondering. I think the remaining 4 ounces were in the valves and such, and stuck to the internal surfaces.

In the very bottom of the drain pan there was a lot of black "gunk". What it was, I am unsure. Metal?

So, all in all, no matter what the car companies say about their "LIFE TIME" fill, I say change your A/T fluid in your box, depending on how you use your car, at around 50,000 miles.

05_2tone

i didnt change my tranny fluid till 120k and it was still nice and red

bB2NER

Not a chance. By 35K it starts loosing the nice red color.

OakToddler

I found a 10mm allen magnetic drain plug seller, in case anyone is interested. I have one coming.

http://www.nw-offroad.com/t-gear/vie...&productid=149