Southaven

I bought my 93 SC400 last june with 210,000 miles on the odometer which I suspect are mostly Texas highway miles ( car purchased new in Houston TX) based on these clues: no scuffs on the aluminum wheels, the automatic steering wheel positioner works perfectly indicating little use over the 23 year period, worn spot at the 12:30 position on the steering wheel indicating driver rested his hand here while making long road trips (that's what I do), and almost no wear on the left edge of the driver's seat backrest indicating infrequent ingress.
I need some advice regarding the servicing the Auto transmission in this car. The transmission shifts perfectly but whines in cold weather. the fluid doesn't have a burnt smell but is a little dingy. Should I have the transmission flushed or just change the filter and fluid 3 times over the next 12 months?

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

That has to be one of the best detective posts I've seen here. Well done.

It's generally recommended to do frequent fluid drains instead of a full flush on a higher mileage car, but I have no first hand experience with how much that really matters.

MMCtuner

Are you sure the whinning is from the transmission? Most common whine comes from the steering.
If it´s your first SC forget about dexron as this trans only works with Toyota Type IV transmission oil. Filter can be cleaned and it is safer to do various small changes instead a full flush at once. Toretto recommends "a quarter at a time"

Returd

I just picked up a high mileage but very clean 92. I plan on changing all fluids, starting with engine/trans. What's the process for trans filter/fluid change. I'm on board with small changes over a full flush.

Southaven

I took the 93 to my long time mechanic who really doesn't do any mechanic work anymore, he's a pick up and delivery boy. He just picks the money up and delivers it to the bank I told him I wanted the tranny pan dropped, the filter changed and the fluid in the pan replaced and that over the next few months since the pan had a drain plug I planned to drain the pan 3 or 4 times replacing about 2 qts of fluid each time. He asked if the transmission was giving me any trouble I said "no it shifts perfectly". He took it for a test drive. When he returned he said "Bill if it were my car I wouldn't do anything you might create a problem". "If we knew the service history I might feel differently."