Tranny fluid

Just bought a 2018 Tundra with 55k miles…how often does the tranny fluid get replaced? I don’t think the previous owner did it yet. Thanks

 

Now

 

I do a drain and fill every year. I do a lot of towing so it gives me piece of mind.

Valvoline Max Life has treated me good so far (225k miles).

 

Drain and fill only every 30k. Don't flush a functioning transmission ever.

 

Same here, but I use Toyota WS fluid.

 

Toyota don’t make their oils

 

Says “Toyota WS” on the bottle. Perhaps I should say, Toyota Spec’d WS fluid sold by Toyota in Toyota dealerships for my Toyota vehicle…

 

Toyota love to slap their name on everything, read the back ExxonMobil made all the oil for Toyota

 

Toyota/Lexus manual says you do not need to change the ATF except under special operating conditions, defined as towing, using car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading. In which case, replace ATF every 60K. ATF mechanics say a drain/refill every 30K is an acceptable alternative. Note, my Tacoma manual adds off-roading as a special operating condition, don't know why Tundra has it out. Our RX350 adds commercial-use.

 

I don't recall disputing that fact. Mobil also makes TGMO and the factory fill break in oil, but you won't find either of those formulations on the shelf at Walmart.

If you are in some way supposing that I am touting Toyota spec'd WS as superior to an inferior generic off the shelf transmission fluid design to be used in a plethora of vehicles - well, that would be your own supposition. I'm simply proffering my experience using the fluids I've chosen to use. Obviously, non-WS fluid has worked well for Koditten and others; WS has worked well for me and happens to be what Toyota spec'd. Simple as that.

 

Baller alert, I bet you got a pair of adidas gucci sneakers too…lol

 

Danners. Don't wear sneakers. They fall apart when you try to do real work. Funny you think WS is baller fluid

 

I used Valvoline in my first transmission. Did a drain and fill at 50k and it ran good until about 70k. I did run it hard but at 70k it was burnt and toasted and needed a rebuild. I've only used Toyota WS since then and my 2nd transmission seems happy and I am not nice to it.

 

1. Drain and fills are easier than an oil change.
2. Valvoline MaxLife or Toyota WS, generally speaking, matters not. They are the same-ish WS=WS
3. get something like this & it will be exponentially easier

4. I have used Valvoline MaxLife for 60k miles now. the Transmission still transmits.
5. do the drain & fill, usual 4qts, every 30k miles.

6. Get a Supercharger.

 

https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/q-a-time-with-john-ipt-performance-transmissions.774628/


Are there preventative upgrades or things you would do to the transmission if you owned one personally? And is there such thing as a real shift kit for this transmission? Or does it even need one…?
Yes, maintenance- a drain and fill with real Toyota WS atf every 24,000 miles is what I recommend.

From John at IPT transmission.
I don't know 100% what caused my transmission to fail but the only recent thing that stood out was the brand of WS fluid. If your not hard on it then it probably doesn't matter as nobodyintexas stated.

 

agreed. the "hard on it" caveat stands...I think. maybe.

see Valvoline is fully synthetic, Toyota is not. maybe that's the dealio.

I also think...if you are hard on a transmission, it will not matter WHAT fluid you use, change it often.

which is why IPT says change it @ 24k...to assuage the burn. both oils burn. IPT videos do a fabulous job of showing the burn.

I always thought synthetic was better than dyno. maybe in certain circumstances. who knows.

long story short...if you are "normal" either fluid will suffice.


if you have a big ole supercharger & rip it at every on-ramp...and you better change often. (I don't rip it on EVERY on-ramp)

 

Thanks for all the input! I’m gonna do a drain and fill now and every 30k most likely. Thanks again