Transmission Fluid 1st Gen Tundra 2 Wheel Drive

I am interested in hearing from owners who have never serviced the transmission in their Tundras. I recently bought my 2006 double cab 4.7. The transmission has never been serviced and now has 161k miles on it. It is working smoothly with no known problems. I had the local Toyota dealer service dept go over the truck and they did not recommend any service to the transmission. The owners manual does not recommend service. The Tundra has never been driven in the way it would meet the special conditions requiring service. I will put only 3 or 4k on the Tundra yearly mostly in town miles. I had tranny failure in a 2003 Park Avenue within days of changing the fluid, so I am hesitant to service the Tundra tranny. i have read all the past posts and understand lots support the drain and fill. My next oil change at Toyota I will ask to have the fluid level checked and let me see the color/smell of the fluid. If the fluid is black/smells burned, the do a drain and fill. The miles I drive I will have around 200k miles on it 10 years from now. I was told by the long time transmission shop owner who replaced the transmission in my Park Avenue to " never change the fluid in a high mileage vehicle because the new clean fluid can dissolve sludge and failing seals/gaskets."

 

Your manual does not suggest transmission fluid service/change? Are you sure?

 

I made the mistake of changing the fluid on my 95 land cruiser at 225k. Took 3 bottles of conditioner before it started shifting smooth again. At the same time if I had your truck at 160k I would service it.

 

yea, at this point I would leave it alone.....

most people just drain and refill every 30K or so...

but if yours is a SEALED system. (there's no drain plug or stick to check it)

let it roll

 

I'm a drain and fill proponent ( I did it on my 06 at 86K and will do it every 30K miles)...but based on your specific situation and the fact that it's a "sealed system", if it's working fine, I'd leave it alone. There are plenty of these trucks out there with 200K+ miles with the original trans. fluid.

 

Personally I'd do a drain and fill. I do not beleive it will hurt anything. Then in 3,000 miles I would do it again.

Here's my annual posting of this video.

https://youtu.be/o690DovjDAc

 

Mine's in the shop right now getting new tranny and differential fluid. I have no records of it ever being changed out, so hopefully it doesn't cause problems. Mine's also a 2nd gen with 250k miles..

 

Might I axe what your manual states about fluid changes?

 

"Change automatic transmission fluid only as necessary.

Generally, it is necessary to change automatic transmission fluid only if your vehicle is driven under one of the Special Operating Conditions listed in your “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”. When changing the automatic transmission fluid, use only “Toyota Genuine ATF WS” (ATF JWS3324 or NWS9638) to aid in assuring optimum transmission performance.

Notice: Using automatic transmission fluid other than “Toyota Genuine ATF WS” may cause deterioration in shift quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ultimate- ly damage the automatic transmission of your vehicle.

Please contact your Toyota dealer for further details."

 

What, specifically, are these ‘Special Operating Conditions’?

 

The Scheduled Maintenance Guide suggests replacing tranny fluid every 60k miles if you're towing primarily, and to replace differential fluid every 25k miles if you're also towing primarily. If you're not towing, it suggests an inspection and to replace if needed. Transfer case oil is the same as the transmission.

 

I got 4 quarts of the Toyota WS stuff on Amazon and did a drain and fill on my 2006 with 130,000. I don’t have great service records from the previous owner but the stuff I took out was almost exactly the same color as the stuff I put in. I still plan on doing the 4 quart drain and fill every 30k miles.

 

My truck was bought in 2008 with like 150 something miles, and then in 2009, there was a service record indicating the truck had over 60k miles. there's another record in 2010 showing 80k something miles, and then after that, I just see registration records every year. So I'm sure it's due for a change. I didn't notice the time intervals noted for tranny and differential fluids..

 

To state more accurately. The owners manual only gives recommendations up to 120k miles. It says to inspect the fluid. See other posts in this thread for exact language.

 

I think the important thing is NEVER do a TRANSMISSION FLUSH!!!!

drain and refill

ONLY USE TOYOYA FLUID FOR THE TRANNY... yea its $7 each... but in the long run... you will be glad

I got 218,000 miles on my 2002 sequoia before selling it.... tranny was strong and shifted just fine...

 

Why not a flush?

 

Confucius say "watch video @FirstGenVol posted in this thread."

 

lol I'll watch it later. The oddities of work... They're super particular on youtube videos, but pretty much nothing else unless blocked by the network policy.

 

Leave it. 255/265k on my 05 loaded all the time and towing. No issues. I did add a little when I developed rear seal leak due to center carrier bearing failure after 200k.

 

I've got 150k on my 2001 Access Cab V8 2WD and never replaced. Maryland State Police (first owner) did who knows what with it, previous owner towed a small lawncare trailer regularly, I've only pulled a big hay bale trailer around the barn a few times.

No transmission issues or hard shifting.