gs4play

I plan on getting the tranny flushed this spring at the dealership. Just wondering what kind of tranny fluid is the best. Who likes what etc etc etc and will the dealership hassle me if I purchase the tranny fluid.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Toyota Type T-IV

Or Amsoil if you have the money. But if you do regular driving, stick with the Toyota.

TRD911

How many miles on your trans? There are a few different schools of thoughts about flushing high mileage transmissions.

1.) If you flush it then you will break loose all the crud in the trans and cause problems.
2.) Flush a young trans. I would say less then 30K
3. ) Drain and refill drain and refill. Takes a while but will not let loose all the build up quicky.


I am a fan of the drain and refill.

I would use only Toyota fluid.

BP

JesLet

iTrader: (19)

Toyota Type T-IV. Nothing else

labrealiv

OK - for someone who does not have an enlightened mechanic who would patiently fill, drain, re-fill a few times in one stretch: how many miles should I go between the drain/refill sessions?

And how many times? (as in, when will all or most of accumulated gunk b removed?)

SC approaching 70k.

Thanks

dpayne

I think the GS-430 drains two (2) quarts. I'd also suggest Toyota Type T-IV

dpayne

All the gunk may never be removed, but if it's shifting alright, just do the drain and re-fill about every 15,000 miles. It's quick and easy to do, and the fluid will run you about $5 bucks a quart.

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Don't do any power flushes. Again, the warning in the 3rd post is correct. I hear this happening many times. One of my friends just got an engine + tranny flush vis dealership and has had the CEL on for several months with poor shifts and increased gas use. The dealership won't cover anything, but they will gladly charge you to figure out what the problem is...

The safest way to replace all the trans fluid is via a t-tech machine. No external pressure, just uses the transmission to pump out old fluid and introduce new. If you want to clean it, I would recommend something like Auto-Rx which cleans it gently over 1000-2000 miles.

If the manual calls for Type-IV, only use Type-IV. Toyota has pretty strict requirements for their transmission oils and no other brand is a direct replacement. People have used Amsoil successfully, but I would stick with Type-IV. I have a new FJ Cruiser which calls for Toyota WS trans fluid and there really is no replacement for it...

Lexusfreak

Amsoil synthetic ATF hands down. Do just a drain & fill & replace the tranny plug gasket. You will notice a very big difference.

Brian231

I can atest to using ONLY T-IV and Amsoil as well. Use the drain and fill method as described above. Most Lexus cars relase about 2.5-3 quarts on a drain due to a bunch of fluid still in the torque converter of an Auto tranny.

gs4play

I have 125,xxx Im not sure If the car has had a tranny flush before. THe owner before me had all the service done at the dealership so I could find out. I do have a little jerkiness in the shifting, usually after I come to a stop then accelerate. So i should just have it drained and refilled. Other people on the board say doing a tranny flush actually helped with the rough shifting. Also where is the best place to buy Toyota Type T-IV. I just read the tranny fluid flush/change thread more people have actually had increased peformace after having a flush. If flushing the trans is bad then why are so many people with high miles that have had it done praise it?