Suggested Maintenance on sealed transmission?

Hi folks,

I've got a 2005 Tacoma and need some advice on transmission maintenance.
It's a double cab 4x4 with TRD off road package and tow package (Transmission Cooler)
It just turned over 160,000 miles.

On the sticker, mech specs listed "5 speed ECT-i Automatic Transmission"
and electronically controlled 2 speed transfer case

Every time I've talked to the dealer they've told me I have a world spec transmission and that it's sealed and needs no maintenance. I have a hard time believing that any transmission is maintenance free. I got the same story from different toyota people at 75,000 miles, 100,000 miles, even 125,000 miles, every time... "it's sealed, leave it alone."

Is my dealer full of it? What maintenance should I be doing on my transmission. I just turned 160,000 miles on this truck and I want it to last another 160,000. I've always kept up on other fluid changes, oil, differentials, transfer case, etc.

Even though I'm new to getting under my truck, I'm generally a pretty handy guy and I've been reading tutorials on here about DIY fluid changes and flushes, and I think I could handle it, or at least learn something. Please let me know if you've experienced anything similar, or if I'm making a mistake in trying to maintain a "sealed" transmission.

Thanks!

 

This gets asked almost daily.

It has a fill plug, a drain plug and a check plug. It doesn't have a traditional dipstick so I guess that's what makes it "sealed", but just like any other transmission I've ever had, I'll change the oil when I think it needs it regardless of what anybody says. The price for piece of mind is cheaper than a new transmission.

 

Got updated by Toyota around 2009... if you tow it's recommended to get changed every 60,000 miles.

 

Thanks for the info, and sorry about adding to the noise. I did try to search in transmissions a few times hoping to avoid that.

I'll go pick up some ATF fluid and tools and give it a shot.

 

Just make sure you get the right fluid and read up about the proper way to drain/fill/check it. You can't drain all of the fluid at once.

 

I'd leave it alone unless you tow a lot and get the AT fluid hot. With the factory fluid you'll get at least 200,000-250,000 miles out of your transmission. Change every 50,000 miles and you might get one more year out of it.