Transmission service advice
02-06-11, 01:57 PM
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Transmission service advice
First of all, hi everyone, im new(obviously [post count]) I have a 2000 toyota avalon (sorry that its not a Lexus) and the engine is basicly same as the es300. I was referred by "MCX20-XLS" on the Toyotanation forum to visit here for better transmission advice.
I currently have 128+K on it . I bought the car almost 2 years ago and it never has a transmission service. so on the same year i bought the car, i did a drain fill (unplug and let it drain then plug it and pour new ATF same amount back in). as of now, the fluid is brown.
what should i do? should i get it flushed or drain and fill?
i looked at a toyota dealership and they advertise $100 for drain & fill, $130 for flush.
I heard it was bad to flush high mileage car that doesn't service transmission often.
do they drain & fill until the fluid is red and changed/clean filter?
Thanks
I currently have 128+K on it . I bought the car almost 2 years ago and it never has a transmission service. so on the same year i bought the car, i did a drain fill (unplug and let it drain then plug it and pour new ATF same amount back in). as of now, the fluid is brown.
what should i do? should i get it flushed or drain and fill?
i looked at a toyota dealership and they advertise $100 for drain & fill, $130 for flush.
I heard it was bad to flush high mileage car that doesn't service transmission often.
do they drain & fill until the fluid is red and changed/clean filter?
Thanks
02-06-11, 02:11 PM
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I've heard that doing a flush would damage the tranny more than helping it with a high mileage car. The way I see it, the crud that is stuck internally can become unseated when a flush is done, and end up damaging the tranny. ( Sorry, not a very good explanation...
)
Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
)Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
02-06-11, 02:20 PM
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I've heard that doing a flush would damage the tranny more than helping it with a high mileage car. The way I see it, the crud that is stuck internally can become unseated when a flush is done, and end up damaging the tranny. ( Sorry, not a very good explanation...)
Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
)Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
thanks for the reply, I'll stick with drain & fill. do you change the filter or drop the pan at all?
what is your procedure for your drain and fill?
Everytime i cold start my car, i wait at least 5 mins for the car and transmission to warm up. If i drive it right away, and shift in reverse, the whole car jumps backwards
02-06-11, 02:26 PM
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My advise is NOT to do a flush. Do another drain and refil, and monitor the fluid for the next 2-4k miles. If it becomes brown again, or smells burnet, than you may have something internal going on with your transmission, but you will probably find out that you will be OK.
When you do a drain and refill you are basically draining only 40% of the ATF fluid, so doing it again should help considerably.
When you do a drain and refill you are basically draining only 40% of the ATF fluid, so doing it again should help considerably.
02-06-11, 02:39 PM
#5
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Much safer to do 2-3 flushes over 5-15k mies than 2-3 flushes over 100 miles.
But the fact that you need to warm up the car before the transmission would shift smoothly, indicates that something else is going on. Could be one of numerous things, not directly transmission related. Further diagnostics will be required.
02-06-11, 03:11 PM
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Better than a flush, but still not a good idea. You will end up with too high a % of new ATF, whose natural cleaning action could loosen some varnish, and other particles, which than could cause damage.
Much safer to do 2-3 flushes over 5-15k mies than 2-3 flushes over 100 miles.
But the fact that you need to warm up the car before the transmission would shift smoothly, indicates that something else is going on. Could be one of numerous things, not directly transmission related. Further diagnostics will be required.
Much safer to do 2-3 flushes over 5-15k mies than 2-3 flushes over 100 miles.
But the fact that you need to warm up the car before the transmission would shift smoothly, indicates that something else is going on. Could be one of numerous things, not directly transmission related. Further diagnostics will be required.
02-06-11, 03:31 PM
#7
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I would take it to the dealer, and ask him for a diagnosis, and a total repair estimate. Once you have a confirmed diagnosis, you can than optionally have the work done by an Independent that you trust.
Limit the dealer to no more than 1hour to complete his diagnosis. Get a full written report from him.
Limit the dealer to no more than 1hour to complete his diagnosis. Get a full written report from him.
Last edited by PFB; 02-06-11 at 06:52 PM.
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02-06-11, 03:34 PM
#8
start your car, put it in gear and drive gently for first min or two and stop wasting gas and building up crud in your engine by "warming it up" what does you owners manuel say about startup?
also, why not do another drain and fill yourself now, and again in 2-3 months
also, why not do another drain and fill yourself now, and again in 2-3 months
Last edited by pauloil; 02-06-11 at 03:46 PM. Reason: he has skills!
02-07-11, 02:19 AM
#10
Taking notes...
I have 50k miles on my 01', last fluid service was @ 30K miles. I want to get this done soon as well & do it right. This includes the differential fluid. Since my mileage is low still, is it recommended that I drain & refill going straight to synthetic ? I don't mind extra money for the better synthetic fluids. What brands work best for our tranny's ? Is there anything else recommended ?
I have 50k miles on my 01', last fluid service was @ 30K miles. I want to get this done soon as well & do it right. This includes the differential fluid. Since my mileage is low still, is it recommended that I drain & refill going straight to synthetic ? I don't mind extra money for the better synthetic fluids. What brands work best for our tranny's ? Is there anything else recommended ?
Last edited by VanCityLS4; 02-07-11 at 02:39 AM.
02-07-11, 05:29 AM
#11
I've heard that doing a flush would damage the tranny more than helping it with a high mileage car. The way I see it, the crud that is stuck internally can become unseated when a flush is done, and end up damaging the tranny. ( Sorry, not a very good explanation...)
Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
)Personally, I plan on just doing a drain & fill at 210K miles. (Original transmission on mine)
Disconnect connectors from transmission oil cooler side circulation pipe (just behind the bottom of the radiator) and usiung the oil change machine (Some of Toyota dealers have it / ask them). This way you can repace 100% of the fluid by running the engine and shifting gears on PRND21. It will replace all the ATF in each solenoids also.
Last edited by techsc400; 02-07-11 at 05:35 AM.
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