20K and ATF Degradation @ 65,000

I've just took possession of my father in-laws 2016 Tundra which only has 20,000 miles on it and the degradation value is over 65,000. The truck has never pulled anything and was never even worked hard. I find it odd that the value would be so high on such a low mileage truck. I do plan on changing the ATF fluid.

 

So what fluid are you putting back in?

 

Well I live in a rural area and use to work at our local Toyota dealership when I retired. Bought a brand new 2020 Tundra that had a front differential issue and then had a falling out with service manager so I can't buy WS fluid from them.

I'll probably be going with Valvoline Max Life.

 

Our Sequoia is maxed out almost 100K miles now. Haven’t changed the ATF yet but will soon. Never towed and no trans cooler.

My Tundra with 55K miles is at 4,000 on the counter. Has a cooler now. I’m curious as to the trigger mechanism for the counter.

I have the sample bottles ready for Blackstone analysis. Gonna change it this winter.

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t that truck have had a trans cooler?

 

Where are these degregation values coming from?

 

You can find the value in "data" on Techstream but it also is displayed on my OBD Fusion app.

 

I would imagine many factors would come in to play, such as the ratio that TC was in unlocked mode vs locked, etc

im sure city driving wears the fluid far faster than flat highway

 

I had no idea that data was even available. I’m assuming it is a calculated value like GM’s Oil Life Monitoring system - cold starts, warm up time, miles driven, time spend in closed loop, etc? Either way, that’s cool.

I would guess that a low mile vehicle such as that would be subject to a great many short trips with cold fluid not properly warmed up to temp. Also, the fluid is 7+ years old. If the normal drain and fill interval is 30k miles for severe duty and 60k miles for standard duty, at 12k miles a year that fluid needs to be changed every 2-5 years depending on mileage. I change mine every 16-18 months - just a drain and fill - and I was surprised how much junk was still in it via a Blackstone labs report. Still perfectly serviceable, they just recommended a couple more drain and fills with the next couple of oil changes.

 

Interesting. Didn’t know this was a thing. I’ll have to check and see what my truck is at

 

how does one reset the degradation value?

and if you do a drain & fill - only 4 qts - do you reset it?

ponderous

 

I have the same preponderousments…

 

I am informing you that I am commandeering your most-awesome word & intending on using it to explain my, otherwise known as, confusions.

 

I have the OBD Link MX. I have to check to see if there is a section for resetting it. I think it I saw something about resetting or recalibrating some things. Gives a warning about doing it. Have to check though like I said. Found this on Lexus. Looks like it can be reset through techstream

 

I dont recall seeing this setting/info on the torque app even with extended PIDs, but now ill have to double check.

 

If I recall correctly, in the owners manual, it states the degradation value should be reset anytime you replace 50% or more of the fluid. Dealership charged me a $120 diagnostics fee.

Starting at post 822 (and specifically 829) will help with the specifics within Techstream: https://www.tundras.com/threads/5-7l-transmission-cooler-kits.60550/page-28#post-2293965

 

Leave it draining overnight and there will be 6 qts. That's about half of the fluid.

 

The value can be reset in techstream in the ecm module using "utilities".

 

Where's @hagrid when you need him.

 

It's a $50 word everyday and twice on Sundays. @blenton has earned my respect and admirationalities.

 

Where at? Is there a code needed?

 

If you purchase the enhanced diagnostics, it's included.

 

"admirationalities" I knew you would come through.

 

@Ruggybuggy where do you find the ATF degradation in OBD Fusion? I have the enhanced diagnostics but don’t see it anywhere in the diagnostics menu when I run the report.

 

I found it. Had to go to the PID Values tab under diagnostics and add the ATF degradation estimate through the menu.

I’m at 950, just under 28k miles. Trans cooler installed at 500 miles.

 

I was able to get techstream on a laptop and saw my atf thermal value maxxed out. Checked my notes and I last drained and filled atf and installed magnefine filter beginning of the year (73785mi). I went ahead and reset the atf thermal value (now at ~80605mi).

 

I also just checked mine since I wasn't thinking I could (thank you for this thread!).

Last reset was~1.5 years ago, has had a drain and fill since. Approximately 15k total miles since reset, about 7k since drain and fill with 50% of the mileage being towing miles.

Relevant specs: 8k lbs travel trailer on heavy Falkens in 275/70/18 with 5.29s and a 15-row Setrab cooler. Mostly tow in S4 with some S5 on the flats (thank you, regearing gods). Temps typically between 205-218*.

Currently at 1161

 

Depending on how much quarts came out, you still have 50-66% of old ATF inside the transmission. Resetting the counter is not very accurate I leave it along and just monitor. It takes a long time for TCM to decide enough is enough and to drop into "save the transmission" mode.

 

<being contrary>

what about all those folks that NEVER change trans fluid...the truck, to my knowledge, has never went into "save' mode?

and...all those folks that drain & fill regularly - but never reset the "thing", have never went into "save" mode.

 

In my other vehicle another model of AW transmission drops into a safe mode after a few registered events of ATF temperature reaching like 300 F and staying there for 5 minutes. I can tell the internals are pretty much cooked at that point. Also this transmission almost never drops into that mode, because it is either rebuilt or replaced beforehand. Resetting oxidation counter literally does nothing. I never did it, even after I rebuilt the transmission and had 100% of ATF replaced along the way

You can reset it, no harm. But if you do drain and fills, you may only judge to how quickly it grows, not to absolute numbers, because only a part of the old fluid has been replaced. That's what I've tried to say.