Transmission flush vs drain and fill

[JakeLand]

The transmission fluid on my Tacoma is dirty with 240,000 miles on it I’m hearing don’t flush it as it’s not good for it and to drain and fill and some are saying the exact opposite of hats some of your thoughts and why
Thanks Jake

[Crunchy]

IF it were me I would flush it.  Fairly easy to do.  By only dropping the pan and replacing the filter you are only getting half or less of the dirty fluid out.

[JakeLand]

IF it were me I would flush it.  Fairly easy to do.  By only dropping the pan and replacing the filter you are only getting half or less of the dirty fluid out.

ya but from what I’m understanding is with this many miles you want to keep some of the “dirty “ fluid as it will aid in it not slipping 

[Zuus]

I had the tranny flushed on my 2000 4runner at 170k. I was told the same thing, that problems may occur after. Well, about a month later I had to have the tranny rebuilt. It was inevitable, but the fluid change sped up the process.
Many rigs do not have a drain for the torque converter, so if you do it yourself, you only get a small portion of the fluid drained.
Having the tranny flushed BEFORE it gets dirty is a good idea. Extends the life of the tranny by keeping clean fluid running through it
It's about $200 with tax. Just had Jiffy Lube do my Jeep yesterday.

[HntnFsh]

Several years ago Toyota did not recommend tranny flushes. That may have changed, but I would see what Toyota says before I did it.

[luckyman]

You can do both. Drop the pan and clean it and replace the filter then do a flush. If your trans end up failing it was probably five minute away from the end of life already. I had one fail right after doing a fluid change and thought dang. I should have never did the fluid change but then I remembered the reason for the cleaning was it had been not shifting right and  acting up previously.

[Stein]

I've had three rigs now in the 250-300k range.  One one, I had Jiffy flush the tranny at about 100k (no filter change).  The second rig, I dropped the pan, drained the fluid and replaced the filter at about 175k.  The third rig, I did nothing at all.  They all ran the same, no change in slipping, shifting or transmission life between the three.

I'm at the point now that if it is working well to just leave it alone.

[jackelope]

If the transmission is slipping already, it won’t matter what you do to it. The damage is already done.

People used to say a flush is too aggressive on higher miles transmissions that have never been flushed. We only flush transmissions. I can only think of one problem we’ve had and it was my technicians fault. Customer got a new transmission out of it. I don’t know if any manufacturers actually say to flush transmissions. Specifically Ford says to “change” transmission fluid.

[JakeLand]

It’s not slipping or anything weird it’s just the dealership tech when I got the oil changed said the transmission fluid was dirty and I’m no mechanic for sure but just trying to get some good inputs from the crew here

[jackelope]

I’d do it.

[Zardoz]

With that many miles, I'd say no. Just a fluid and filter change.   

[Jpmiller]

I don't know the right answer to your question but I'd say don't have jiffy lube do it whatever route you go. I've had nothing but serious problems with those guys.

[Alchase]

If the transmission is slipping already, it won’t matter what you do to it. The damage is already done.

People used to say a flush is too aggressive on higher miles transmissions that have never been flushed. We only flush transmissions. I can only think of one problem we’ve had and it was my technicians fault. Customer got a new transmission out of it. I don’t know if any manufacturers actually say to flush transmissions. Specifically Ford says to “change” transmission fluid.

Jackalope, why do a flush, if no manufacturers say to flush transmissions?
Is there a reason they do not say to flush transmissions?

[jackelope]

If the transmission is slipping already, it won’t matter what you do to it. The damage is already done.

People used to say a flush is too aggressive on higher miles transmissions that have never been flushed. We only flush transmissions. I can only think of one problem we’ve had and it was my technicians fault. Customer got a new transmission out of it. I don’t know if any manufacturers actually say to flush transmissions. Specifically Ford says to “change” transmission fluid.

Jackalope, why do a flush, if no manufacturers say to flush transmissions?
Is there a reason they do not say to flush transmissions?

Really I meant specifically the word “flush”. You can change the fluid by dropping the pan but you’re only going to get half of it if that, and it’s going to be way more expensive.

[Magnum_Willys]

Yea crazy they made autos for last half century with internal filter and no drain plug.   

[jackelope]

Yea crazy they made autos for last half century with internal filter and no drain plug.   

Dumb, isn’t it? Especially the mess it can make removing a pan full of fluid if you’re not careful

[Alchase]

Yea crazy they made autos for last half century with internal filter and no drain plug.   

Dumb, isn’t it? Especially the mess it can make removing a pan full of fluid if you’re not careful

Been there got that face full.

Also when pulling the tranny on a 68 Barracuda, thinking I could save money not renting a tranny jack, I was under it and bench pressed it up and back,  forgot about the torque converter until it slipped forward and fell right on my face. I climbed out from under the car, and my wife and neighbor heard me cussing, came out and screamed thinking my head was covered in blood.
Took a minute to tell them it was tranny fluid.
 

[3cityhuntr]

Personal experience with my previous truck (2007 Silverado) was a tranny flush right at 50k/5 years (light towing only).  Chevy dealer recommended flushing.  Immediately following the flush the torque converter kept locking/unlocking and required repair.  Service writer said that he was very surprised and had never seen it happen.  For what it’s worth though I’ll never flush again, but I also drive a tundra now because that same POS Chevy started burning a quart of oil every thousand miles at 60k (stupid AFM).  But that’s another story altogether....

[spin05]

Dont flush it unless you can flush it your self. On my dodge ram there is a line i can pull off and do my own flush. On toyota i have no idea

[Halo]

I don't know the right answer to your question but I'd say don't have jiffy lube do it whatever route you go. I've had nothing but serious problems with those guys.

Exactly, my daughter took her car to them and they rifled through her glove box, got her insurance papers and filled a phony glass chip repair claim. They even forged her signature. I had just been through that process and when I swung by the insurance office to drop a payment off they asked me about it knowing I knew the process to file the claim it seemed weird to them. An investigation was started and they got busted. They were doing it all the time. It's a small enough claim most insurance companies just pay it. The only way people were finding out was when they changed insurance companies and the new quotes were higher because of previous claims.

[bod]

Drain and refill = 90% of flushing, I had my old 4 cylinder Toyota pickup flushed a month later the head gasket went.

[Bofire]

LOL
Carl

[jackelope]

Drain and refill = 90% of flushing, I had my old 4 cylinder Toyota pickup flushed a month later the head gasket went.

Flushing your transmission has literally nothing to do with a head gasket issue.  That’s probably just a Toyota head gasket thing.

[jackelope]

Dont flush it unless you can flush it your self. On my dodge ram there is a line i can pull off and do my own flush. On toyota i have no idea

It’s your transmission cooler lines that you disconnect to flush automatic transmissions.  Anything automatic should have cooler lines.

[follow maggie]

I have mine flushed every 50k at the Chevy shop and the external filter replaced.

[Alchase]

Drain and refill = 90% of flushing, I had my old 4 cylinder Toyota pickup flushed a month later the head gasket went.

Flushing your transmission has literally nothing to do with a head gasket issue.  That’s probably just a Toyota head gasket thing.

Probably washed out all the "relative Bearing grease" 

[blackpowderhunter]

what year tacoma?
I know with my 06 when i did trans fluid, you have to have the trans at a certain operating temp as you fill it to get the right level.
my buddy had the right scan tool to monitor the trans temp..kind of a pita...then you pull the overflow drain plug, and fill it until it overflows out of that.
i did this on mine around 140k and sold it at close to 200k and towed a bunch with it and it seemed good still   

[Bofire]

I got a flu shot when my tranny was serviced and got Small Pox the next day, I am pretty sure I died but don't know it.
Carl

[Alchase]

I got a flu shot when my tranny was serviced and got Small Pox the next day, I am pretty sure I died but don't know it.
Careful

See should have got flushed by a tranny, err I mean tranny flushed ......... 

[jackelope]

I got a flu shot when my tranny was serviced and got Small Pox the next day, I am pretty sure I died but don't know it.
Carl

That’s what you get for going to Jiffy Lube for a flu shot, Carl.

[spin05]

Dont flush it unless you can flush it your self. On my dodge ram there is a line i can pull off and do my own flush. On toyota i have no idea

It’s your transmission cooler lines that you disconnect to flush automatic transmissions.  Anything automatic should have cooler lines.

Correct   it works well too

[dog]

Maybe a coincidence but we had our Toyota Camrys trans flushed and the trans went out the next week.

[Gobble Doc]

My Tacoma is at 450K. I did maybe a couple fluid changes. I certainly wasn’t careful with it.  Not sure there is a clear answer here.


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[kramman]

I just put suburban in the shop to have services asked about a tranny flush the mechanic told me to NEVER flush a tranny after 100k. This was the chevy dealership in downtown tacoma

[Sandberm]

My Tacoma is at 450K. I did maybe a couple fluid changes. I certainly wasn’t careful with it.  Not sure there is a clear answer here.


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You have a stock automatic transmission with 450,000 miles on it?

[Gobble Doc]

My Tacoma is at 450K. I did maybe a couple fluid changes. I certainly wasn’t careful with it.  Not sure there is a clear answer here.


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You have a stock automatic transmission with 450,000 miles on it?

Yea stock. 2003. Believe it or not I just heard a clunk so maybe the tranny finally bit it. The engine runs great.


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[spin05]

yes do not flush if possible. My dodge ram has a hose i can do it myself. See if you can find something like that. Just dont do the power flush like the transmission shop or dealer does

[jackelope]

yes do not flush if possible. My dodge ram has a hose i can do it myself. See if you can find something like that. Just dont do the power flush like the transmission shop or dealer does

Why not?

You know the flush is done through the cooler lines, presumably the same "hose" you're using?

[bearpaw]

I just put suburban in the shop to have services asked about a tranny flush the mechanic told me to NEVER flush a tranny after 100k. This was the chevy dealership in downtown tacoma

Did he say why?

[kramman]

I just took him at his word!

[jackelope]

I just put suburban in the shop to have services asked about a tranny flush the mechanic told me to NEVER flush a tranny after 100k. This was the chevy dealership in downtown tacoma

Did he say why?

Most of the time when people say don't flush a transmission, it's because they think it's too aggressive. We do hundreds of them year to year, maybe a thousand, and the only time I have ever seen a problem is when one of my apprentice techs left a pair of hose pinch pliers on a hose. No cooling, therefore the transmission grenaded. That wasn't the fault of the flush though, that was my tech's fault.