Transmission Service Thoughts

So I just picked up a used one owner 2016 Tundra. 88,400 miles on the clock. Previous owner lives in the same town as me. I was able to get his phone # and ask a few questions before buying the truck. He said that ALL maintenance has been done with the one exception of the transmission. The dealer did the diffs, t-case, etc for him but they told him not to do the transmission.

Well, I'm very anal about maintenance and I want to do the transmission. Ideally, I would drop the pan, replace the filter, clean the pan and magnets, then reinstall and fill the pan. Then after that do a drain and fill once per year. However, I've seen a few reports on the internet of the trans pan bolts shearing off when the owner tries to remove them. That's a nightmare. Drilling and tapping a transmission? UM, no...don't want to do that if I can help it.

So now I don't really know what to do. I want to give this trans. the best chance possible of reaching 200,000 before any issues. What do you guys do? Is the filter just a metal screen that's OK to leave alone forever? Am I overthinking this?

 

Just drain and fill and done

 

But that's only 1/3rd of the fluid. Do you drain and fill yours annually or on some other schedule?

 

Here you go

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2014-transmission-maintenance-question.57617/

 

Many thoughts and ideas on servicing transmission with all having their opinions and ideas on what and how to do it. You may wish to go to Google Search and plug in Toyota Tundra transmission fluid and filter changing that will show you a video of instructions and recommendation for performing this service. For info, due to having 100k miles I choose to pull pan to inspect for metal and possible problems. I was very surprised there was none very clean with oil looking good. so I wiped out pan and magnets, added fresh oil and adopted a maintenance program to change oil every 20k miles about once a year and will not pull pan again unless something goes wrong. So the oil is being replaced over time and can also monitor color to determine if it had run hot.

Good luck with your decision on maintenance.

 

My current tundra has 201k, drain 3 qt and refilled 3 qt every 30k miles. No problem. Use a measuring cup from the paint store, and i use a pump to put atf back in.

 

I heard the same reports of bolts breaking, but I took my pan off anyways. No problem...bolts came out easy. So I would just take my time and go around and make sure all the bolts come loose before you pull them all out. I cleaned out the pan but did not replace the filter. Its your truck. Do want you want to it. Even if you do nothing to the transmission...odds are in your favor that it will easily make 200,000.

 

Tap into the cooler line and you can drain all of it.

 

I know it’s probably taboo but I have my local shop do the BG flush ever 30 to 40k. I tow a flatbed with a tractor all in weighing around 6000lbs several times a year, 400 mile round trip and lots of driving hwy and slow ranch driving, I usually average So far I’m at 140xxx miles and have had zero issues at all.

 

Irritating. The trans oil is supposedly good for the “life of the transmission” or something. So dealer doesn’t touch it. Prob is the “life” of the transmission is just past warranty. Silly. Anyway, I’d find a good mechanic that you trust (not the dealer), and have them do a drain under pressure. Not a full on flush. But will replace all the fluid. And every 30K after, you should be golden. I do a lot of work on my Tundra, but leave the trans to the pros!

 

I’ve always done simple drain & fill every 30k on Toyotas. 4 qts out, 4 qts in. Just be sure to use WS or a compatible synthetic fluid.

 

I drains a gallon, add a gallon via funnel into the pan. Do this until fluid coming out is clean.


It would seem your method would work.

 

I did my first drain/fill around 60ishk miles. It was really dark compared to new OE fluid. I have since done 4 more drain/fills with valvoline maxlife. Im at 93k miles and plan to do a drain/fill once per 20k

 

Drain and fill about 3 or 4 times with a few miles between each. Then leave it alone. Repeat about every 30k. Do it cold and measure what comes out, pump that amount back in, makes it pretty simple.

 

After reading many many posts on these Tundra tranys, all I've seen so far is some doing maintenance , some not. But through all the reading I have yet to read of a FAILURE anywhere, only dirty fluid , and alot of you really use these as a Truck, and with all my years of racing , street, strip and off road, the only problems with automatic tranys were broken gears ,or convertor failure, rarely ever a valve failure or fluid issue. These new tranys are built so complex and tight they should and do withstand the test of time and useage with even the harshest of use. Remember the old GM Turbo 350 , and 400 , we beat that thing to death on the drag strip with very minimal failure. I trust Toyota design and recommendations, Dark or discolored doesn't mean bad , with this fluid it was usually smell for burnt, but now we even have a cooler and temp gage on them. Only my opinion.

 

And the GM 400 also, burned up more clutches in limited slip rear end . But like you said ,WHAT A RIDE. This is why almost all racers went to automatics.

 

I have a 2016 with fewer miles and just did a full fluid change disconnecting one of the trans cooler lines and using the transmission to pump out a couple quarts at a time. Seems a little intimidating, but it's pretty easy. That way you know it's all new fluid and you can start your regular service schedule from there.

 

Running the trans 2 -3 qts low on fluid is nuts. You are really running a large part of your trans without proper fluid pressure ,and all the small valve assemblies rely on a certain pressure to operate , you need to realize the majority of your fluid , 6-8 qrts is in the convertor and you are creating air pockets in a very precision and probably the most complex part of your truck. This really sounds very foolish , trying this process on a trans that the one company we trust for the best quality and dependability , says it's NOT NEEDED. JUST MY OPINION AGAIN.

 

@Bucks04 wtf are you talking about mate?

we drain what is sitting in the pan, then fill it back up.

 

I hear your point, but it's not like the truck is being driven with low fluid, it's idling for 15 seconds in park. I "pre-overfilled" it so the level wouldn't be a full 2 quarts low when 2 quarts are removed. I'm sure the transmission will last as long as I own the truck if I never change the trans fluid, but there is no such thing as a trans fluid that never breaks down or gets dirty, especially if you tow in the summer. I feel it's not an unsafe procedure and it can't be a bad thing to have fresh transmission fluid. To each his own.

 

Easy Hbjeff , not draining pan if running thru cooler hoses . And this is a sealed system, so as far as dirt, only if opened up ,or parts wearing excessively. No breather parts as far as I know, and by over filling before drain you're just mixing so no big change. Sorry to ruffle feathers , but been on cars for over 50 yrs, and I do understand the precautionary measures , but I'll just back off this one. AGAIN, SORRY TO UPSET SOME.

 

I just had my tranny flushed by my local mechanic at 100,000 miles. They said they kept running fluid through the system. Whatever they did the truck shifts and feels better.

 

Check out this video. Am thinking about doing a drain and fill myself. Seems like a lot of ways a mechanic can cut corners. Would be nice to know it was done right. This video is very detailed and it makes sense. Only thing I would do differently is change the fluid every 30K miles instead of 60K:

https://youtu.be/NUAuGmDGntY

 

@Bucks04
What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this thread is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. Just my opinion. Sorry to upset you.

 

FWIW I have 195k on my 2008 Tundra. The transmission fluid has never been changed. I have over 30k towing a 7k camper. As weird as this may sound, I take great care of my vehicles but never ever have I changed transmission fluid. I have also never had any tranny problems.

 

I’d def not change the tranny fluid now. Too late.

 

you're not cool unless you pee your pants... uh, i mean, drain/fill your transmission.

i am in the drain/fill only club. perform every 35-40k miles.

 

I did a complete fluid exchange and 170k miles. First time it was done and it helped the shifting for sure. At 196k right now, no issues.

 

those are cool and wouldn’t hesitate to use any one that uses the vehicle’s pump. The ones ppl are referring to that will “nuke” the trans are the ones that the machine provides the pressure.

 

My 2008 Dc Lb has been run overloaded from day 1. Tires wear out on edges every year. Tranny never serviced but it lasted to just under 300k miles. Swapped it for under $2 grand and have gone to just under 450k with no trouble. It may be a fluke, but I’ll do the same with my new 2021. But I will say I like my 08 better than my 21-so far.