tranny flush

I have a 2005 DC 4x4 with 150,XXX I have had it a year and doubt the previous owner has done anything with regards to transmission/fluid. Is it a good idea flush the system and put new fluid in at this mileage?

 

Drain and fill only, no flush.

 

Flush is fine as long as it's not a pressurized flush where a shop is aggressively pumping fluid through. A handless person could count on their fingers how many times a person has come here saying, "I flushed my transmission at XYZ miles and then it died!" The tranny flushing urban legend/old wives tale exists for two reasons: People with serious transmission problems use flushing as a "fix", and people flushing transmissions use tools that push fluid too forceful/aggressive and break something.

Toyota originally said the '05-'06 Tundra sealed transmission had "lifelong" fluid. Now they're saying change fluid every 80k or something? (it's either 60k/80k/100k, I forget). You'll be fine. Either have a dealer do the process, or do it yourself after watching the ample videos on the topic, some I linked below. Or drain and flush if you want to be simple. Don't bother changing the filter, it's not a traditional filter.

Sealed drain/fill (no dipstick, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2005-2007 Sequoia, IIRC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_6BZpK3gg

Sealed flush (no dipstick, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2005-2007 Sequoia, IIRC):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5dU3UVcRs

Non-sealed flush (w/dipstick, 2000-2004):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RumPXivBlk8​

 

I’ve flushed my 05 Sequoia tranny regularly. 270k and going strong.

Just gave my Tundra a flush last month. Will do so again in 30k.

 

To add to what Shifty said:

I suggest querying your local dealer with open ended questions as to how they would do it.

One of my local dealers will only drain and refill.
The other has a proper process to let the transmission pump do the cycling to pump out the old stuff while new stuff comes in.

I paid that dealer to do it. Not worth the mess or smell or risk IMHO.

 

I would do a an ATF filter change and pan cleanup. If the pan is free of clutch material and metal flakes, you can proceed with flush or drain/refill as you see fit. Otherwise, don’t do a flush. I do a flush every 60-70K and replace the ATF filter every other flush.

 

Please inform us why you say to change the filter in the '05-'06 Tundra. I'm curious to understand the logic when it's a piece of metal, with no cloth or similar disposable element.

 

I see conflicting opinions about the transmission filter. But it’s not like an oil filter so why change it??

 

I changed the tranny filter on a '98 4runner with 230k original miles. Responsiveness got better after that.

 

I question your sincerity …. The OP is the second owner of a truck with 150K miles with no noted history of previous tran maintenance. If this were my truck, I would not hesitate to replace the filter, cleaning out the pan and taking a good look for metallic contamination and clutch material in the process. The filter is a fine wire mesh and it can clog with clutch material and other crud if the vehicle was not previously taken care of properly. And I didn’t say to change it, I said this is what I would do.

 

I agree with that perspective @Chuy! it makes sense. You don’t know what’s been done so you want to start fresh with proper maintenance.

 

I would agree, but metal filters, fine mesh or otherwise, don't load up or clog the way a cloth or similar non-metallic filter does.

The fact that Toyota doesn't - at least not that I could find for my later model 1st gen - have a maintenance indication for checking/changing the transmission filter, that tells me all I need to know, and with no internet speculation. If it had 300k+ hard towing miles, I'd say hell yes.

Likewise, if this were any other truck, like any of myriad of GM trucks I've had with a 4lx0e transmission using paper/cloth based filters, I'd say "hell yeah, change it". But it's not. Some here on the 1st gen forum are 500k-600k miles on the original transmission w/no filter change. What you're saying doesn't jibe with that and I think flies in the face of Toyota's maintenance schedule.

Of course, if someone can find something showing Toyota indicates this is a thing 1st Gen owners should be doing, I'll apologize and eat my words.

I think if most commenting on this actually saw what the filter looks like, and how fluid passes through it, it may be a bit more clear why I'm saying what I'm saying.

 

got a dealer doing my tomorrow (Flush)

 

Not a tundra and not even a toyota, but what’s specified for a 2008 honda odyssey is a “3x3 drain”...
-Drive around and get the tranny fluid hot.
-Drain the oil pan (which holds about 3 quarts).
-Add three new quarts of oil.
-drive around for about 5 minutes.
-Drain the oil in the pan again.
-Repeat for a total of 3 times, or 4 if you’re OCD.

By doing that it gets most of the oil out of the torque converter. It’s pretty darn quick and easy. Especially with two people. One person to drain and refill, and a second person to take the vehicle for a short spin. While one person is working, it frees up the other person to waste time on their phone scrolling around on their favorite forum.

 

We need to return to transmissions with dipsticks and torque converters with drain plugs.

 

Yeah I've heard of Ford recommending this as well. Seems like a good option to me over a flush if you're concerned that the fluid is very bad. Then from there you can start doing one drain and fill on regular intervals.

 

I’ve been doing that exact procedure on my mom’s 2008 odyssey about every 30k (she bought the van brand new).

 

Been a long time since I've seen a torque converter with a drain plug