My Tundra has 51k miles, and I brought it to my local Toyota shop that always services it. I asked about getting the transmission serviced, but they said it’s a sealed system and doesn’t need it.
I plan to keep this truck until it hits 200k miles or more, so I’m a little concerned. I even talked to the tech, and he said the same thing. They offered to do a drain and fill, but that only changes about 4 quarts since the fluid in the torque converter stays put. They said it would cost $500 due to the time involved.
I decided not to do it, but I wanted to ask… is this normal? I’m not really up for trying this on my garage floor.
The tech is right; the service he offered is what you need. Changing the filter and doing a drain and fill is about the best you can do without causing more issues. Just make sure they use OEM fluid, and you’ll be good.
@Daphne
They basically told me it’s a waste of money and not needed. Do you think the 4-quart drain and fill is worth it? The tech said it takes a lot of time and needs a scan tool to get the fluid levels right.
Evans said: @Mason
I had my 2017 Tundra’s transmission fluid changed at 50k. They sucked it out and refilled it from the top somehow, and it was about $300.
@Mason
The process takes time mainly because they let the truck cool down before draining and filling. Then they have to use the scan tool to monitor the temperature and release any excess fluid. The actual work is about 30 minutes.
If it’s just a drain and fill, $500 is way too much. You can do that yourself for around $50. A full fluid replacement is usually a couple hundred bucks.
I’ve done two drain and fills on mine, and it’s not bad at all. You just need to take out the fill plug first, drain the pan, and refill with around 4 quarts. It’s honestly easier than an oil change if you’re comfortable doing your own maintenance.
I do the drain and fill on my driveway with jack stands. Measure what comes out and put that amount back in. You can buy the proper WS fluid from the dealer’s parts department.
Check out Car Care Nut’s videos on this. There’s a specific process to check the fluid level, and if you plan to do it yourself, make sure you know how.
Take it to a shop that has a transmission flush machine. We do these all the time for $300. There’s no harm in doing the service preventatively, especially when the transmission is still in good shape.
For your mileage, I’d say go with a drain and fill. My dad’s truck had over 90k, and the fluid was nasty when we pulled the pan. A drain and fill every 50-60k miles should keep things running smooth.
The fluid is about $11 a quart, and it doesn’t take long to drain and refill. I’ve done it twice already on my truck. I don’t trust dealers’ maintenance schedules too much.
Find a shop that does rolling flushes. I drain 4 quarts and add 4 new ones with each oil change. My Tundra has 192k miles, and the fluid looks brand new.
You did your part by bringing it to Toyota. If anything goes wrong, Toyota is responsible since you brought the issue up under warranty. Keep driving it and don’t mess with it on your garage floor.