2019 SR5 Blackstone Transmission oil report at 38k miles...

So, after all the hue and cry about how missing external transmission coolers were going to cause our trucks to explode in a fiery transmissionpacolpyse the likes of which has never before been seen, I decided to see what kind of shape the fluid in mine was in.

TLDR at bottom.

My 2019 SR5 DC 4x4 FFV was bought shiny and new by us back in 2019. Completely stock (even has steelies!).

It's my daily driver and a garage queen...except when it's not.

This past June/July we took it on road trip starting in central Kentucky, going up through Indiana, across Illinois and Iowa, then over to Mount Rushmore, across Wyoming to Yellowstone, then into Montana, down into Idaho, across the Teton pass and then south to Salt lake city. From there down into Arizona, New Mexica, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and then to Memphis and straight back to central Kentucky. We went completely around Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas and were gone over a month.

This entire trip had 5 people in the cab and a camper shell on the bed that was stuffed to the gills with our crap. We were also pulling a (normally) 4,500lb dual-axle camper that was stuffed with crap as well. Any time the camper is attached to the truck it was in S4 with tow/haul mode enabled. Cruise was generally set at 70mph the entire way. Except when the 80mph speed limit in Wyoming saw us at 75mph. I averaged less than 7mpg on one tank of gas in Wyoming.

It was so hot in the desert that they wouldn't even let people hike and recommended you not spend more than 15 minutes outside during the day. We put right at 8,000 miles on the truck from start to finish on that trip.

Between the big trip and numerous other small trips the truck has probably spent around 25% of every mile it's driven pulling that camper. Another 25% with a bed full of dirt bikes.

As of now the truck has been nearly flawless no matter how hard I flog it. The only problem I've had at all is I got the front rotors so hot coming down the Teton pass that it warped them causing a slight vibration when braking. The camper not having trailer brakes is what caused it. Even with the truck in a lower gear and holding back turning 5k rpm's I was still hard on the brakes slowing it down. Turning the rotors fixed it.

The truck was at 38,830 miles when I sent a transmission oil sample to Blackstone labs.

The Blackstone report is attached.

Here is what the Blackstone summary said:

Since this was the first service for this transmission, then there's nothing that looks too out of the ordinary. Wear metals tend to read high in factory fill samples from the normal wear-in process, and that would explain the elevated copper and tin levels. Other metals like aluminum, iron, and lead are already below average for a Toyota automatic, with averages being based on ~38,200 miles. Copper and lead should get there after another oil change or two. No moisture or excess insolubles (solids from heat and use) were found, and the 1.8 TAN shows just mild acidity.

 

Good report looks like the fluid can handle the higher operating temperatures, hopefully the seals in the transmission can also.

 

Was this on the original ATF fluid? What did you fill the trans with after draining?

 

It was the original fluid. It was refilled with the same OEM fluid.

 

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

TAN and viscosity changes are what should be monitored for breakdown.

Did you happen to monitor the temps during your recent adventure?

 

Good to see. Thanks for the effort.

 

I only have the stock truck temp gauges. The transmission light never came on though. And the engine temp gauge never moved at all, even when going up the Teton pass at normal speed and the truck was definitely working hard. I don't baby it.

 

I wish I could “love” this post. Glad to see that there’s at least ONE other person out there who trusts Toyota engineering instead of getting sucked up into the mass HYSTERIA generated by keyboard cowboys with little or no actual engineering background or experience. Bravo Zulu brother, you shall now surely be shunned by the non-believers.

 

Thanks...that was my next question is if the 302F temp light was triggered.

Your experience with this is valuable thank you for sharing.

 

shots fired!

predicting 25 pages, 3 bans.

 

Bring it.

 

Thanks for sharing !

 

....converter lockup all the way may have something to do with it. Thanks for the real world data - I’ll be pulling a trailer with mine soon as well and I’m pleased to see how you ‘19 fared....

Ron

 

Thanks for sharing, I'll be sending my 135k sample to them in a few months, just got a great 130k motor oil report.

 

Actually, it would've been more accurate to say it's in S4 with tow/haul mode enabled any time the camper is attached to the truck. I think I'll edit it.

 

I don't understand. Are you saying that a good trans fluid report at only 38k miles means we should be fine at 200k miles? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

The report clearly stated that there are high wear metals, which are almost certainly all over the magnets now and in the filter. I personally would feel better about regular service, but Toyota doesn't want to service these.

 

One can also drive a Tundra without an air filter upstream from the throttle body for a limited time. Whoopie!

 

thanks for sharing

 

I would still put a cooler on mine if it didn't come with one if towing. lower temps never hurt a transmission

 

Would that cause problems with warranty? Maybe install after the warranty period?

 

You changed your oil too frequently-no warranty for you!

 

Sorry, more context - I was asking about installing the oil cooler - if that would raise issues with warranty

 

Maybe, but what is better a warranty or a good tranny for the long haul? Depends on each individual case. I chose to say to hell with the warranty and some knuckleheads wrenching on my truck. Bought a service manual, have exp., tools, etc., and I will make the time if needed.

 

Thanks for posting, but is one data point out of thousands more needed to track transmission health and stamina.

 

Bro... do you even Magnussen-Moss?

 

In short, adding a cooler is very unlikely to cause any warranty issues. That's mostly irrelevant though, if you think about it.

Let's play out the scenario if you are concerned about the potential damage that could be done to your transmission by running it hot with no cooler, in which case you want your warranty intact. But you would also want a cooler installed if you are worried about the damage. The only time being concerned with the warranty would matter would be if you believe that your driving/use of the truck will cause enough damage that it will require repairs under warranty. Factory warranty is up at 60K-70K miles, right? You are worried your transmission may fail that early because of no cooler. Let's say you are correct and it is causing that level of stress, but what if it holds out until after the warranty period? Adding a cooler then would avail you very little. The damage is done. In this scenario you are definitely better off putting a cooler in as soon as possible.

Now for another scenario. Let's say you're in the opposite camp. You don't think you're going to crater your transmission with your level of use. These transmissions are proven, and even without a cooler they should easily make it beyond the warranty period, so why not add the cooler? Besides, if you are in the USA, there are protections to keep manufacturers from denying a warranty claim unless they can reasonably show that your modification caused the failure.

Basically, if you are concerned enough that you feel a cooler would be of benefit, you're silly not to add it. If you aren't worried and don't plan to work the truck hard, you can trust the Tundra as it was built. Either way, don't fret about the warranty.

 

Didn't someone add a transmission cooler then have to remove it because of cold shifts? I thought there was a thread about it.

 

@ColoradoCub

 

Well said sir.