Frustration with Transmission Service

My 2013 is going on 105k miles now. Its due for a trans service. I’m calling around to transmission shops trying to get a pan drop flush done.
No one is willing to do it. One shop said he won’t even drain the fluid if I’m not having problems. I tested him and said I tow 7,000lbs everyday for work. He said he still doesn’t recommend touching the fluid.

What the hell? Why is everyone still believing touching the transmission will cause problems?

Were you guys running into this issue when you were trying to get work done?

 

Why not do it yourself? It’s really not anymore difficult than changing the engine oil, it just takes a bit longer to get done.

 

Lazy idiots. Garages want easy money that’s easy money . Boggles my mind , this lifetime fluid is horse shit.
At min just drain pan and pump in that same amount. Getting it to go into trans check mode and waiting for temp to be just right is a pita but worth it. I did the bug sprayer flush method at 30,000 took like 15 quarts will do again at 60,000

 

Don't touch it.

I had transmission issues with my 09 Honda a couple of months ago at about 125,000 miles. It was throwing codes and shifting weird. I was quoted $2K to rebuild it at the best shop in town. I've known these people for 40 years. I taught the shop foreman, and the owners children when they were in high school. When I took it in for the repair they found a couple of wires that mice had chewed on that were messing up the electronics. They repaired the wires and charged me $50 instead.

When in the shop I asked their advice on changing the fluid on my 200,000 mile Tacoma and was told that they no longer recommend changing the fluid in ANY vehicle regardless of miles unless it is causing problems. They see more issues come up after changing perfectly good fluid than they do when it is left alone.

They told me that most cars on the road today had transmissions with a life of 120,000-150,000 miles regardless of whether or not the fluid was ever changed. Most trucks and full size SUV's were good for 350,000-400,000 miles and changing the fluid made no difference in life expectancy. The shop owner and foreman both have trucks approaching 400,000 miles on the factory fluid. If they don't believe it is worth changing the fluid in their personal vehicles I'm not going to either.

If they want easy money there is a much higher profit margin on servicing transmissions than rebuilding/replacing them. But a reputable shop knows you are throwing good money at a non-existent problem. Save your money. The money spent on a service every 30,000 miles won't make the transmission last a day longer. But once you get to 400,000 miles the money saved on not doing the service will just about pay for a rebuild.

 

That makes no sense so why is that rational not used on the whole car?
You tell customer the risk and put it on them.

 

Sorry totally disagree!
Fluid breaks down from heat,friction ,contamination etc will it make it last twice as long who knows will it cost you more money yeah maintenance cost money but I’m happy knowing I’m giving my trans the best shot at living a good long time possibly much longer than no maintenance.
Yes many transmission last 200,000 plus with no service . but I guarantee you same tranny same service life with maintenance will perform better and live longer.

 

Don't touch it. I'm fairly sure transmission shops know transmissions better than anyone. I'm also fairly sure transmission shops know transmission fluid better than anyone. I have a friend in the transmission business and he told me don't touch it on my last truck. I'm glad this came up because I was preparing to do it on my "new to me" truck as I had forgotten.

 

What does the maintenance manual say? I'd stick with Toyota's recommendation.

 

Toyota recommends a 100k service for WS fluid and revised that down to 60k for severe service which includes towing and driving off-road/dusty roads.

So, now do we believe do-hickey’s tranny shop or Toyota engineers?

Those same engineers that have revised the service interval DOWN.

Tacomaworld - “herp derp Toyota says 5,000 miles so I do 5000 miles with Mobil 1 seeeenthetic and a Toyota filter.”

Also tacomaworld - “herp derp just leave that WS fluid in there for 200k who cares what Toyota says!”

Many transmission shops do not want the liability of being “last” to service a transmission with an unknown history. They have plenty of work fixing the transmissions that they recommended NOT be serviced.

 

I've heard you should never do a flush on a transmission. My uncle has a shop and they will do drain/fills from the pan or whatever- replacing like 3 or 4 quarts at a time if the customer really wants it, but they say flushing it completely is a bad idea.

 

Tacoma world is a vast resource with 14 years years of collective 2nd gen experience with millions of miles driven.

“Nah, lets go with bubba’s transmission.”

Do you guys not change your gear oil either? Power steering fluid? Brake fluid, coolant? Serpentine belt?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/

Merry Christmas. A non-forced “flush” of your transmission fluid. Easily done in an hour.

Grab some beers, brag to your wife how manly you are, and enjoy your smooth shifting truck.

Ignore manufacturer recommended service intervals at your own peril.

 

Dang, this is kind'f like our current politics, 1/2 on one side & 1/2 on the other. That being said, the private shops do have the privilege of doing the work or not doing the work. If it's that important to you, go to your dealer, I'm sure they'll be glad to see you. It's all good, either way.

 

The risk you run with a flush is knocking some gunk loose and getting it stuck in the valve body, causing the transmission to misbehave. Happened to me once on another vehicle. $100 and a cleaned valve body later and that transmission is still going 100,000 mi later. It had 124,000 at the time of the flush.

If you get it flushed and it fails, it was on its way out anyway.

I'd self flush, or find another shop.

 

My Taco’s transmission received its first service in the lower 170s. Did the pan drop routine. Now in the 180s, no issues. Can’t tell you for certain it’s not my imagination, but think it’s shifting better.

 

I work in a Chevy service department and we flush transmissions everyday whether they need it or not (customer’s decision). However, one of our mechanics has a 2007 4Runner with 200k on it and he refuses to flush his transmission. My point is you should do what you feel is right. Your truck. Your money. JMO.

 

I've done 4 DAFs on my rig. The sky did not fall, the sun came up the next day. And it's not really anymore more difficult than an oil change.

I made an OBDII jumper to make putting it in "temp check mode" easy.

I'll continue to do one about once a year or about 15k miles. I don't buy into the "cover my eyes and saying heck with it, it's a lifetime fluid". My truck...my money.

 

Do it yo self. Kinda cool to see the inside of your trans.

 

As I get closer to a 100k miles, one of my DAFs will include a pan drop and filter change.

 

Nothing to it, just remember the torque specs are in INCH/lbs. Not Foot/lbs!!

 

It's lifetime fluid as long as it doesn't reach over 175f, i've seen 220f while wheelin/towing & highway hill climbs (i've also been 100% throttle at the dunes and rolled to a stop while WFO up sand dunes pre scangage temp reading)

around 175k i did the 3qt drain and added

$15 Lubegard 63010 Platinum Automatic Transmission Fluid Protectant, 10 oz.

lubeguard with

$10 Valvoline Multi-Vehicle ATF Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid 1 QT

Valvoline Max Life ATF

Transmission has been great.