Is it too late to change tranny fluid?

[Tdale]

2010 Corolla Automatic. 33,000 miles on it.

The car went into service the end of October 2010 so that's 3 years & 8 months.

Someone mentioned if it hasn't been changed every two years or 24,000 kilometres or around 15,000 miles, transmission fluid shouldn't be changed because it could cause problems with the tranny later on in its life, is this true?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

No. That's uninformed people passing on poor decision making to everyone else.

If you have an automatic transmission with 150,000 miles and you change the fluid ... and it fails at 151,000 miles - it was going to fail anyway.

It's never too late to change the fluid. Change early and often!

However, there are millions of those corollas on the road pushing 200K on original transmission fluid ...

 

[Bryankkkk]

No definitely not, change away.

 

[supton]

If there was truth to the old wife's tale, you are far far from it. At 33k I'd just change it and not think twice. I wouldn't even be in a rush to do the job. I wouldn't do a powerflush, just a fluid exchange.

Heck, at this milage, a pan drop is probably sufficent. Just change the 3qt or so (? what does a Corolla pan hold?) every 30k.

 

[SatinSilver]

Yep, too late.

 

[bubbatime]

Originally Posted By: Tdale
Someone mentioned if it hasn't been changed every two years or 24,000 kilometres or around 15,000 miles, transmission fluid shouldn't be changed because it could cause problems with the tranny later on in its life, is this true?


Don't take ANY advice from that person any more. They have no clue what they are talking about. Some people like to spout nonsense and make themselves sound knowledgeable.

 

[Tanama]

If the ATF is not burnt, you should not have any problems by changing the ATF. I believe your ATF is still within the maintenance schedule. Look in your service manual and follow it. It has the best advice you can get.

 

[99Saturn]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
If you have an automatic transmission with 150,000 miles and you change the fluid ... and it fails at 151,000 miles - it was going to fail anyway.

Serious question - don't mean hijack but...in this example, if the trans failed at 151K, would it still have failed at 151K if the fluid wasn't changed?

 

[CharBaby]

Now is the perfect mileage to do the first ATF Change

 

[raffy]

Go ahead and change it. It's almost a certainty that you're well within the maintenance interval anyway.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: 99Saturn
Originally Posted By: Miller88
If you have an automatic transmission with 150,000 miles and you change the fluid ... and it fails at 151,000 miles - it was going to fail anyway.

Serious question - don't mean hijack but...in this example, if the trans failed at 151K, would it still have failed at 151K if the fluid wasn't changed?


I've always read that it was the garbage floating around in the oil, as compared to the now more slippery new fluid, that would cause the trans to slip. But in order for that to be true, the friction material had to be shot in the first place.

But there are a few different kinds of trans failures. Leaks, slippage and outright mechanical breakage. I'm not sure how new fluid could induce a gear to shatter, and as I pointed out, I don't see how it could cause slippage.

 

[901Memphis]

Change the fluid, old dirty fluid isn't doing you any favors!

 

[eljefino]

Do it. I brought a slipping trans back from the dead with a fluid/ filter change. The filter was so clogged the pump couldn't apply proper pressure to the clutches.

The wive's tale relies on there being "friction in the fluid that you'll lose with the too-slippery new fluid." Not so.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: supton
If there was truth to the old wife's tale, you are far far from it. At 33k I'd just change it and not think twice. I wouldn't even be in a rush to do the job. I wouldn't do a powerflush, just a fluid exchange.

Heck, at this milage, a pan drop is probably sufficent. Just change the 3qt or so (? what does a Corolla pan hold?) every 30k.


+1

 

[fdcg27]

If the car had 133K miles on the original fluid, you might have some cause for concern, although even then a pan drop, filter replacement and replacement of the fluid lost would not cause failure.
If a failure were to happen after an ATF change, it was going to happen anyway.
At 33K miles, you have no reason to be concerned.

 

[jrustles]

It's never too late, ever.

Imagine if a lube place said "nope, can't change your oil, it's already too late. just keep driving it. btw here's a card for our 24 hr emergency tow line"

a bit harder sell

 

[mongo161]

IMO...If you do decide to perform a transmission fluid exchange, and you vehicle "shudders" or seems to slip with the new fluid, there is a simple solution to a minor problem.

IMO...LubeGuard Red, or the appropriate Lubeguard for your application, based on your type of vehicle, should condition the new transmission fluid, while bringing back smoothness to your transmission's operation.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Now is the perfect mileage to do the first ATF Change

+1.....AGREE

Be sure to use the correct ATF....and add Lubegard Red at 1 oz. per quart. Should be good for another 30 to 40k.

 

[Tdale]

Thanks to everyone, I'll set up an appointment to change the fluid & filter. Much appreciate the help folks.

 

[Subdued]

At 33K that Toyota transmission is still breaking in.