I have a '99 Limited with 215,000 miles on it.

I've always changed the trans fluid at 30,000 miles, but my mechanic recommended a trans flush. He is very conservative and I trust his recommendations.

He used Toyota ATF, not Dexron III. He flushed 16 quarts through it and then refilled.

The tansmission shifts MUCH more smoothly, even though it worked well to begin with. Shifts are almost undetectable and it shifts more quickly. Also, when the trans is cold, it no longer shifts at a higher RPM in second gear the way it used to.

 

isnt yours specd for dexIII i know my 02 tacoma is.. which toyota atf did he put in?

 

btw i noticed mine shifts later when its cold, i just thought it was the nature of the beast bc when it warms its fine

 

My mechanic uses ATF from Toyota, it's marked Toyota on the container. I've always used Dexron III myself, but he uses the factory stuff, which for all I know, is the same thing.

 

i know they say toyota atf but some are T-IV's , dexIII's etc etc i am assuming he put T-IV in, and i hope he didnt bc your truck is spec'ed for dexIII correct or do you know??

 

His wife also owns a 4Runner, and he's been a Toyota mechanic for decades, so I assume he used the correct fluid.

 

There was a guy, forgot his name, who was talking about the difference between T-IV and Dexron III. He really seemed to know his stuff, I think his job was to analyze ATF fluid. Anyway, he was saying that T-IV is very close to the same as Dexron III but it shifts a little bit crisper because it has a bit more friction.

Dexron III and T-IV are formulations. Your mechanic very well could have used Toyota Dexron III or T-IV.

BTW, I think your transmission is supposed to shift at higher RPMs when the truck is cold. This is to get the engine up to running temp as soon as possible since that is when it is most efficient. Maybe that part is in your head?

 

Hey, sorry to hijack this thread, but I thought it better than starting a new one. Anyway, I am in the process of changing my ATF and the trans filter. I have a 1998 Taco, which calls for Dextron II ATF. However, the closest I have found is Dextron III. Is this going to be okay to use? What is the difference between Dextron II and III? Any advice into the matter would be appreciated. P.S. My Taco is supercharged, so the extra power might have an effect?

 

Dex 3 will be fine. It supercedes dex 2 so using it will be no problem

 

As long as its Dextron your good to go. Mine requires D3 so i used D4 from Redline and now Amsoil Universal ATF.

 

Yep. Toyota doesn't sell Dex 2 anymore. Dex 3 is compatible, though, and it is what you should be getting.

 

I don't have the problem with it shifting at higher RPMs. It shifts whenever I put my left foor down and move my right arm. :-)

 

i had my 98 auto flushed last week at the dealer, they only charged me for 12qts! Am i four qts short? i swear it's not shifting as smoothly as it was before and i was expecting a big change.