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2024 Tacoma sr5 with transmission on the tds . No problems just want to change the fluid at 30000 miles. Flush or drain and fill . My dealership doesn't seem to have a clue . She said flush it at 60000
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Transmission service flush or drain and fill
- Thread starter John McCoy
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The occasional drain and fill is all that's needed. I did quite a few on my previous rigs
From my previous experience involving a Ford dealer and a manual transmission, I'm not a fan of flushing any transmission that's under normal operating conditions and working correctly.
I feel flushing is worthwhile when a transmission has been damaged and being replaced. Clearing the lines and cooler in a procedure to remove any debris makes sense.
For routine maintenance, I'd treat it just like an engine oil change: drain and fill with a filter replacement. Do that at consistent intervals over its service life.
https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-p...transmission-oil-cooler-thermostat-32971ak010
https://parts.americantoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-transmission-oil-filter-3533004030
Many manufacturers use a thermostat with the transmission, to get the fluid up to temps quicker and keep them stable. If getting a flush, I'd discuss this area with the tech. The thermostat/valve can be opened so the lines and the cooler are also cleaned.
Edit,
I did some general googling on the topic of drain/fill vs. flush. At the end of that, it'd be great if Toyota North America could publish some guidance on this.
The Maintenance Schedule simply specifies "I" for inspect and "R" for replace.
Most dealer sites do mention drain and fill. Some dealer sites discuss flushing, often with vehicles in unique situations or under severe duty conditions.
Many threads and discussions at different sites. I felt most leaned to drain/fill. Some owners did several drain/fills in quick intervals, as a form of DIY flush. A few did an actual flush, either DIY or at dealer.
YMMV.
I feel flushing is worthwhile when a transmission has been damaged and being replaced. Clearing the lines and cooler in a procedure to remove any debris makes sense.
For routine maintenance, I'd treat it just like an engine oil change: drain and fill with a filter replacement. Do that at consistent intervals over its service life.
https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-p...transmission-oil-cooler-thermostat-32971ak010
https://parts.americantoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-transmission-oil-filter-3533004030
Many manufacturers use a thermostat with the transmission, to get the fluid up to temps quicker and keep them stable. If getting a flush, I'd discuss this area with the tech. The thermostat/valve can be opened so the lines and the cooler are also cleaned.
Edit,
I did some general googling on the topic of drain/fill vs. flush. At the end of that, it'd be great if Toyota North America could publish some guidance on this.
The Maintenance Schedule simply specifies "I" for inspect and "R" for replace.
Most dealer sites do mention drain and fill. Some dealer sites discuss flushing, often with vehicles in unique situations or under severe duty conditions.
Many threads and discussions at different sites. I felt most leaned to drain/fill. Some owners did several drain/fills in quick intervals, as a form of DIY flush. A few did an actual flush, either DIY or at dealer.
YMMV.
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Doesn't matter. Flushing causing damage is a myth perpetuated by people who don't service their vehicles properly. Not intentionally.
When a transmission isn't serviced properly, the material from the clutch packs will be suspended in the contaminated fluid. Meaning when the clutches wear out, (which happens sooner if not serviced), that suspended material allows the packs to maintain a little bit of grip. Flushing at that point causes a loss in function. However, that doesn't mean it damages the transmission, but rather reveals the damage thats already present.
But the myth continues because the majority of people don't service their vehicles properly. Infact the vast majority that used to walk into the various shops I used to work for wanting a transmission service, only were doing so because it had already shown signs of failure. Many even showed up with additives like stop slips. To the point at one shop, we had a policy to quote a replacement with every requested service. All of those people that went through with the flush likely experienced total failure soon after. Its not a stretch to say that some would then believe it was caused by the flush.
However, at the end of the day a flush and filter replacement is 100% required at recommend service intervals. Typically between 60k-80k miles. Sooner in vehicles that experience high transmission temps.
When a transmission isn't serviced properly, the material from the clutch packs will be suspended in the contaminated fluid. Meaning when the clutches wear out, (which happens sooner if not serviced), that suspended material allows the packs to maintain a little bit of grip. Flushing at that point causes a loss in function. However, that doesn't mean it damages the transmission, but rather reveals the damage thats already present.
But the myth continues because the majority of people don't service their vehicles properly. Infact the vast majority that used to walk into the various shops I used to work for wanting a transmission service, only were doing so because it had already shown signs of failure. Many even showed up with additives like stop slips. To the point at one shop, we had a policy to quote a replacement with every requested service. All of those people that went through with the flush likely experienced total failure soon after. Its not a stretch to say that some would then believe it was caused by the flush.
However, at the end of the day a flush and filter replacement is 100% required at recommend service intervals. Typically between 60k-80k miles. Sooner in vehicles that experience high transmission temps.
I find it comical when flushing a transmission is equated to being bad. If the context is that most people driving a vehicle don't maintain anything, then yes, it can be bad.
On my 2007, with currently 565,000 miles, I flushed the auto trans every 100,000 miles, the last time at 400,000 miles. Up until last year, all miles were highway. I did NOT use Toyota WS fluid, instead, another brand (message me if you want to know what brand). Since then, I've been doing a drain and fill twice every 30-50,000 miles. Everything is still original, and the transmission has never failed me to this day.
One thing I did not do at every flush that was later recommended was to drop the pan and clean or replace the filter (really a mesh metal screen) before the flush. I did not do that until 500,000 miles.
On my next Tacoma, I'll do a trans flush every 30-50,000 miles (depending on my driving habits), with a pan drop and filter clean or replace before every other flush.
On my 2007, with currently 565,000 miles, I flushed the auto trans every 100,000 miles, the last time at 400,000 miles. Up until last year, all miles were highway. I did NOT use Toyota WS fluid, instead, another brand (message me if you want to know what brand). Since then, I've been doing a drain and fill twice every 30-50,000 miles. Everything is still original, and the transmission has never failed me to this day.
One thing I did not do at every flush that was later recommended was to drop the pan and clean or replace the filter (really a mesh metal screen) before the flush. I did not do that until 500,000 miles.
On my next Tacoma, I'll do a trans flush every 30-50,000 miles (depending on my driving habits), with a pan drop and filter clean or replace before every other flush.
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