Hey guys, just picked up a used 2003 taco 4x4 a month ago here is some info:
-Takes Type 4 Fluid
- 59k miles
- Auto trans shifts fine now
- ATF color looks good no flakes, etc

I'm going through the fluids and noticed the Auto Trans dipstick says "no need to chage ATF under normal conditions". I was going to flush it as dealership quoted my $129 on the phone....I show up and its $288 as it only takes type IV fluid. It is $8.75 a quart at my dealership.

So here is my question. I'm sure the fluid has never been changed by prior owner. Should I even bother with a drain/refill if I'm only going to change 4 of the 12 quarts ? Yes i know I could do a drain/refill 3 times, but if I don't plan on towing anything should I bother ?

I tried searching and this is the best thread I could find. My question was never answered though.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...light=2003+atf

 

your answer is right there on the dipstick....

Under normal conditions, no.
If you tow much, or drive like a hot dog, or spend a lot of time off road, then you may want to keep a closer eye on it...

But under normal driving conditions, Toyota sees no need to change it, so why spend the $$?

 

I'm gonna have to disagree with what was just said above. Everything I've read says to flush the fluid around at 30-45K intervals. And I went to the toyota dealer and he took me out to my truck looked at my dipstick that said the same thing as yours and said " what a joke". The tech there felt it should be changed occasionally and I have to agree.

I did my own "home flush" on my tacoma at 30,000 miles. The fluid looked pretty damn good so I think 50-60K is prabably a better interval. The fluid was only about 4$ a quart for me (from the dealer). And it takes 16 quarts and a 5 gallon bucket to do properly. Order it online if your best deal in town is 8$ a quart, you can get synthetic for that price.

Search for tranny flush and you will find my explaination of how to do the flush. I've explained it more than once on yotatech.

 

couldn't find what I told you to search for. If you want to do a home flush,
dissconnect your return line to the tranny and put open end in bucket. Turn on car and let 4 quarts empty into bucket. Turn car off and add in 4 new quarts of fluid in the ATF dipstick hole. Repeat this so you have done it 4 times and used all 16 quarts of fluid. Have a helper there to start and stop the car so you can manage the open line and have your helper add clean fluid when the car is off. Mark your bucket before hand with 4 quart intervals.
good luck

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I have the "self flush" thread bookmarked, but I thought with the change to Type 4 fluid the 2003 Taco's the flushing wouldn't apply to me. My other yota was a '94 manual tranny so this is new to me.

I guess I could play it safe and find the fluid for $4 and..
- do the self flush
- drain/refill couple times over next 30k miles to change it all out.

I didn't want this to turn into a matter of opinions, but it sounds like the message on the dipstick might not be correct.

Edit..
Here is what I found
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...smission+drain

 

if you plan on draining the pan and filling with 4 quarts, don't bother. If you have a gallon of rotten milk and you get rid of 25% of it and top off with good milk, you still have diluted rotten milk, get my drift. Do it right or don't bother.

 

also, the link you have up there says to do what I've described in 1 quart intervals. If you do this, you are going to be diluting whats in the pan. Do it in 4 quart intervals to insure the best flush (not dilution) possible. Works very well...

 

contact a private shop that has a flush machine. they will pump out all of the fluid. and add a fluid conditioner and new fluid.