'06 SC with 200K miles Shifts like new
09-30-23, 04:18 PM
#16
The fluid degrades. Most owners change out their vehicle before 100k so the fluid is okay for the entirety of the typical owner. However we are likely to be well beyond that point and will be at the age the fluid is becoming less protective.
I echo the advice against doing a power flush. Drain and exchange is safer for these old transmissions. On the original ones with dip sticks, simple to do. All I needed was to suck ATF out with a harbor freight fluid transfer pump. Its thin tubing fits right down the dipstick tube. Get the transmission up to temp and check initial fluid level. Repeated pump out ATF , put in new ATF and drive a couple miles letting the transmission cycle through gears. After 12 bottles of ATF, you have made a good difference but avoided shocking the system. Just be sure you match the levels with your original reading.
On the newer models without dipstick it is a bit more involved because you have to drain via a plug.
At any rate, the advice that you never need to change only applies to the original owners who are under 100k
Mine is over 250k and I will do its third ATF exchange next week.
I echo the advice against doing a power flush. Drain and exchange is safer for these old transmissions. On the original ones with dip sticks, simple to do. All I needed was to suck ATF out with a harbor freight fluid transfer pump. Its thin tubing fits right down the dipstick tube. Get the transmission up to temp and check initial fluid level. Repeated pump out ATF , put in new ATF and drive a couple miles letting the transmission cycle through gears. After 12 bottles of ATF, you have made a good difference but avoided shocking the system. Just be sure you match the levels with your original reading.
On the newer models without dipstick it is a bit more involved because you have to drain via a plug.
At any rate, the advice that you never need to change only applies to the original owners who are under 100k
Mine is over 250k and I will do its third ATF exchange next week.
09-30-23, 04:52 PM
#18
Lexus Champion
Transmission fluid is not pink. Checking fluid via dipstick does not give a legitimate indication of condition since there is so little of it. I would like to thank all the people that never change their transmission fluid it gives me more choices at my local salvage yards to grab other parts.
10-01-23, 05:24 AM
#19
Transmission fluid is not pink. Checking fluid via dipstick does not give a legitimate indication of condition since there is so little of it. I would like to thank all the people that never change their transmission fluid it gives me more choices at my local salvage yards to grab other parts.
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