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when to have transmission fluid change?

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blackbull

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
my 2010 rav4 is 30k miles now. i went to dealer to buy transmission fluid (my fd can do it for me) but they told me that i dont need a trans fluid change at least until 80k-100k miles??

when i had an oil change last time (in a local mechanic, not dealership), he said my trans fluid was dirty and quoted me $169 to replace the fluid...:confused:
 
#2 ·
blackbull said:
my 2010 rav4 is 30k miles now. i went to dealer to buy transmission fluid (my fd can do it for me) but they told me that i dont need a trans fluid change at least until 80k-100k miles??

when i had an oil change last time (in a local mechanic, not dealership), he said my trans fluid was dirty and quoted me $169 to replace the fluid...:confused:
Click to expand...
IMO leave it alone. When I had my 05 corolla S, every time I went to the "quickie lube" they always said that my transmission fluid needed to be changed. That car had +120k miles and never changed it or the spark plugs, and it ran just like the day I drove it off the showroom floor


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#3 ·
1 drain/refill at 50K miles, another at 60K miles and you're good to go. It is a DIY project.
Each drain/refill costs about $30 in fluid.
Ideally you need 3 drain/refills to replace most of the fluid.

Or You can just do a transmission flush at 60K miles at the dealer.
Just the fluid might cost you about $100 + labour.


I already did 2 drain/refilll and I am only at 40K miles. I guess I am just over-doing it. I have not dropped the pan to change the filter and clean the sludge at the bottom of the pan as well as the magnets. I plan to do this at 60K miles.

Dealers don't like to drop the pan since flushing is easier, more profitable.
 
#4 ·
blackbull said:
my 2010 rav4 is 30k miles now. i went to dealer to buy transmission fluid (my fd can do it for me) but they told me that i dont need a trans fluid change at least until 80k-100k miles??

when i had an oil change last time (in a local mechanic, not dealership), he said my trans fluid was dirty and quoted me $169 to replace the fluid...:confused:
Click to expand...
Did you check yourself? Does it look blackened or smell burnt? If so then do it. If the fluid is still pink colored or even red colored and does not smell burnt I don't see the reason to change it.

The 80k change is according to service manual. There are a few people on here that found the trans fluid did not look very good at all at 30-50k and changed it. Again I think you should only do it if the fluid actually look dark and are in bad shape.

It is easy to check with the trans dipstick.
 
#5 ·
BTW, the ATF changes colour almost immediately once inside the transmission. it turns purplish; don't expect it to be clean red or pink. i would go more by smell.
 
#6 ·
if you don't tow, you should not even think of changing it before 50,000miles...
 
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#7 ·
Unless you tow, plough snow, or drive like an imbecile (don't laugh... a lot of people do), there's generally no NEED to change ATF sooner than recommended by the manufacturer.

HOWEVER: (you knew this was coming)

Heat is the #1 enemy of automatic transmissions. Being stuck in traffic on a 90° day can cause ATF temps to rise significantly. If this happens often enough, the additive pack in the fluid can become depleted and no longer do its job effectively. While you don't need to change the ATF anywhere near as often as the motor oil, it still doesn't hurt to change it periodically. Doing a drain & fill every 30,000 miles will help keep the fluid fresh and avoid getting to the point where you suddenly notice problems, at which point it's too late.

The RAV even has a drain plug, to make the job simple.
 
#8 ·
Pan-drop should be done at some point

Had the pan dropped @ 90K on my dad's 2006 V6. The felt-like filter element had started to deform inside the filter housing, due to being clogged. Chemical analysis showed that the fluid was past its useful life, so I had it renewed. Just draining and refilling a few times may extend the fluid life, but the filter also needs to be changed, probably somewhere between 60-70K for most people.
 
#9 ·
Old school maintenance calls for transmission fluid at 30K. You only change half to a third of the ATF because so much is in the converter, cooler and all. I got long and reliable service from a notoriously flimsy BMW auto that way.
 
#10 ·
There's so much debate on this issue. Some people just say to leave it alone. I've personally known of people who had their trans fluid flushed and their perfectly operating transmission went to crap within a week.

Just google "transmission fluid debate" and you'll see a never ending supply of forums going back and forth about this topic, and a few articles like these ----

Do You Really Need to Change the Transmission Fluid? - KickingTires
 
#11 ·
If you drain/refill your fluid every 30K miles, your transmission will not go Kaput the next week. It is an easy diy(sorry 4.4 owners, you can't do that) but more expensive if you had the dealer do it due to increased labour time.

Like any flush, there is a chance of dislodging debris, that's what would potentially wreck the transmission.
 
#12 ·
RavingRav said:
There's so much debate on this issue. Some people just say to leave it alone. I've personally known of people who had their trans fluid flushed and their perfectly operating transmission went to crap within a week.

Just google "transmission fluid debate" and you'll see a never ending supply of forums going back and forth about this topic, and a few articles like these ----

Do You Really Need to Change the Transmission Fluid? - KickingTires
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I'm solidly in the drain-and-refill at regular intervals corner. Too many bad stories regarding flushes.
 
#13 ·
Hey folks. I wanted to chime in here since I have the same question. I have a 2010 RAV4 Sport, 4cyl. The quickie oil change place told me the same thing this weekend..."it's dirty, got change it." Well the car only has 40k miles, has never been used for towing, nor off-road, so I thought that was just a pitch to spend money. I thought I would look at the owners manual. Nowhere in the manual does it call for trans fluid to be changed. Also, right on the ATF dipstick handle, it says "No need to change ATF fluid under normal driving circumstances." So, do any of you fellow RAV4 owners know if this is really the way to go, or am I missing something? Thanks.
 
#14 ·
vanib said:
If you drain/refill your fluid every 30K miles, your transmission will not go Kaput the next week. It is an easy diy(sorry 4.4 owners, you can't do that) but more expensive if you had the dealer do it due to increased labour time.

Like any flush, there is a chance of dislodging debris, that's what would potentially wreck the transmission.
Click to expand...
Does this mean that you should not take it to the dealership to be flushed because debris may be dislodged? :confused:
 
#16 ·
rhino said:
Just did mine past weeked at 70k with WS. The fluid was kind a dark and i could see some shinny metal particles at the bottom of the catch pan. I'm planning to do it again next 10K.
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So that's a drain & refill, right? If so why wait 10K to do it two more times especially with the metal particles. I'd think a filter change would be imperative.

The OP's mechanic quoting $169 sure sounds like a rip-off. Any price that ends with a "9" is an advertising gimmick, not time & materials. I'm surprised it wasn't $169.95. :shrug:
And BTW, it'll be "dirty" the next time too.
 
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#19 ·
My 06 Rav 4 4cyl is almost at 90k miles and was curious about flushing the transmission fluid. Has anyone seen noticeable differences in the way their transmission shifts?
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Flushing the fluid, no matter how sophisticated the machine, does nothing about the filter. The pan must be dropped and the filter replaced. Many dealers refuse to do it. When it comes time for me I will insist it is changed or I'll go elsewhere.
 
#20 ·
Dr. Dyno said:
So that's a drain & refill, right? If so why wait 10K to do it two more times especially with the metal particles. I'd think a filter change would be imperative.

The OP's mechanic quoting $169 sure sounds like a rip-off. Any price that ends with a "9" is an advertising gimmick, not time & materials. I'm surprised it wasn't $169.95. :shrug:
And BTW, it'll be "dirty" the next time too.
Click to expand...
Wait for the warm weather, Dyno ... we're in the East coast. You know what i meant :)
 
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