Filter Replacement and Fluid Exchange

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Hello all! Hope you are doing well. I drive a 2004 Toyota Highlander 4cyl with ~183k miles on her now. I have done 2 transmission drain and refills in the past, relatively close to each other in order to get all the old fluid out when I got the car. They were done with Valvoline Maxlife ATF + Lucas Stop Slip and Castrol High Mileage ATF + Lucas Stop Slip respectively. The transmission is still having some delay going into gears, and I think the transmission filter may be a problem as it has NEVER been changed. Am I on track with this? I was thinking about doing a service soon, draining the pan, dropping the pan entirely and cleaning it, tightening any bolts on the transmission valve body, replacing the filter, reinstalling the pan w/ new gasket, then adding appropriate amounts of Castrol High Mileage ATF + Lucas Stop Slip. Would this help do y'all think? Any fluid and filter recommendations? Also, new drain plug gasket (size?)? Thanks! Have a good day.
 
Not sure about Lucas Stop Slip, but guessing some folks might be able to recommend a better product to use. Usually they dont drop pans on some Toyota's, not sure if yours is one (my corolla is one) they usually just do drain and fills. If I were you, I would drop the pan, clean the magnet and replace the filter and fill with fresh fill of Synthetic ATF. I prefer Mobil 1 syn ATF, but Maxlife ATF might also be a great fit for you.
 
To all you automotive engineer types. Why can't the manufacturers make it a little easier to service a transmission??? I am sure that even the techs would be grateful. We could have a filter that is efficient and easy to change and please a .50 drain plug.
 
Echo DoubleWasp sentiment! Drop the pan and clean. When your next service is due, consider a valvoline flush. I wouldn't do a flush unless you clean and/or replace the screen. You don't want it to get clogged. Good luck sir~!




Respectfully,

Pajero!
 
Originally Posted By: gotnogunk
To all you automotive engineer types. Why can't the manufacturers make it a little easier to service a transmission??? I am sure that even the techs would be grateful. We could have a filter that is efficient and easy to change and please a .50 drain plug.


Most cars owners never utilize that feature....

we are the III%, really...

Also - the manufacturer only really cares about getting the car past warranty.
99.999% of cars make it past warranty without any transmission issues.
 
I just dropped the pan on my 110k mile F150 6R80 for the first time a couple of days ago. Over the years it’s had 3-4 qts pulled and replaced probably 4 or 5 times. I was pleasantly surprised when I inspected the pan to find it clean and free of debris. I cleaned the magnet and even it was relatively clean - I’ve had other jobs where the pan magnet was buried under a lump of metallic mud. I’m trying to figure out why things looked so good: was it a superior fluid (Mercon LV ought to be superior as much as it costs) or a excellent transmission design, or perhaps the filter is so good it catches it all.
The gist is that my experience was a clean pan at change time with minimal fuss over the years.
 
Originally Posted By: gotnogunk
To all you automotive engineer types. Why can't the manufacturers make it a little easier to service a transmission??? I am sure that even the techs would be grateful. We could have a filter that is efficient and easy to change and please a .50 drain plug.


I think the plan is for us to drive the car untill it quits & then sell you a new car ?

Wyr
God bless
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
The ZF designed 6R80 is a really really good transmission is why.


What is ZF ?

Thanks , :)
 
Originally Posted By: WyrTwister
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
The ZF designed 6R80 is a really really good transmission is why.


What is ZF ?

Thanks , :)


ZF Friedrichschafen AG, is a German based company specialising in the manufacture of drivetrain products, and more recently active and passive automobile safety technology.
They supplied automatic transmissions for many German and French car manufacturers, and much more besides.

Claud.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: double vanos
I just dropped the pan on my 110k mile F150 6R80 for the first time a couple of days ago. Over the years it’s had 3-4 qts pulled and replaced probably 4 or 5 times. I was pleasantly surprised when I inspected the pan to find it clean and free of debris. I cleaned the magnet and even it was relatively clean - I’ve had other jobs where the pan magnet was buried under a lump of metallic mud. I’m trying to figure out why things looked so good: was it a superior fluid (Mercon LV ought to be superior as much as it costs) or a excellent transmission design, or perhaps the filter is so good it catches it all.
The gist is that my experience was a clean pan at change time with minimal fuss over the years.


My guess would be the units where you find the pan magnet under a lump of goo never had the fluid refreshed. Every drain and refill removes some solids from the system.
 
Originally Posted By: double vanos
I just dropped the pan on my 110k mile F150 6R80 for the first time a couple of days ago. Over the years it’s had 3-4 qts pulled and replaced probably 4 or 5 times. I was pleasantly surprised when I inspected the pan to find it clean and free of debris. I cleaned the magnet and even it was relatively clean - I’ve had other jobs where the pan magnet was buried under a lump of metallic mud. I’m trying to figure out why things looked so good: was it a superior fluid (Mercon LV ought to be superior as much as it costs) or a excellent transmission design, or perhaps the filter is so good it catches it all.
The gist is that my experience was a clean pan at change time with minimal fuss over the years.


What was your procedure for pulling and replacing the fluid without dropping the pan? I have this transmission in my Mustang and want to do drains and refills without dropping the pan.

I assume yours has the short dipstick that you have to access from under the vehicle like mine does. Did you just replace the same amount of fluid that you took out? I've heard that these transmissions have an internal thermostat that makes checking the fluid level kind of difficult. Thanks.
 
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