I find it amazing that I can get great information on just about any subject here on the forum. The one exception is on cars. Just frikin wow!
Come on now.... there's plenty of great information on cars here on the forum. It is salted and peppered with misinformation and disinformation so you do have to separate it out for yourself.
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
June 03, 2019, 06:30 PM
jimmy123x
I'm a proponent of just dropping all of the transmission fluid and changing it and the filter. If done at regular invoices, you're getting 80% of all of the fluid in one shot and it should be fine. Most wear metals should be stuck in the filter or pan, not in the torque converter and there isn't unburnt gasoline and etc from combustion gasses like the engine.
June 03, 2019, 06:35 PM
tatortodd
quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
quote:
I find it amazing that I can get great information on just about any subject here on the forum. The one exception is on cars. Just frikin wow!
Come on now.... there's plenty of great information on cars here on the forum. It is salted and peppered with misinformation and disinformation so you do have to separate it out for yourself.
I know you added an emoji so you're joking.
However, Para and Arc have called on us multiple times to stay within our lane and not post in topics of a technical, specialized nature that we're not an expert in.
In those threads its a great place to read, read, read some more, and maybe ask questions since we inevitably have experts in every subject. Arguing with the expert will likely eventually end in them skipping those threads. Posting half-assed approaches, blindly repeating internet "facts", approaches that are dangerous (e.g. not up to National Electric Code), etc. can cost members money and possibly get them hurt if they don't properly separate the "disinformation."
You're an attorney, some of the "advice" in a divorce thread obviously makes the Sigforum Bar Association's skin crawl.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
June 03, 2019, 07:17 PM
4MUL8R
Those who say transmission fluid does not go bad do not formulate transmission fluids. Those who do have data of its degradation.
------- Trying to simplify my life...
June 03, 2019, 08:25 PM
Skins2881
quote:
Originally posted by sns3guppy:
quote:
Originally posted by 21bubba:
You have no idea what you are talking about. Me and my 45 years in the transmission repair industry say so.
I haven't met many honest transmission repairmen, so this doesn't surprise me.
I haven't met a single one, now that I think about it.
Transmission shops love to sell transmission flushes. They love to sell transmissions, too. Funny, that.
Personal attacks are not cool. Try facts.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis
June 03, 2019, 10:30 PM
SgtGold
The dirty little secret the auto industry doesn't tell you is pretty much all the driving you do constitutes severe driving conditions. Subaru originally spec'd filled for life for their CVT transmission. Now they say service every 100k miles. So much for lifetime fluid life.
_____________________________ 'I'm pretty fly for a white guy'.
June 04, 2019, 07:58 AM
chellim1
quote:
Originally posted by 4MUL8R: Those who say transmission fluid does not go bad do not formulate transmission fluids. Those who do have data of its degradation.
Yep. I don't have to be a scientist to know transmission fluid does go bad and needs to periodically be changed. The question is "when" not "if".
Can Changing your Transmission Fluid Cause Damage?
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
June 04, 2019, 08:59 AM
Ryanp225
quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
quote:
Originally posted by sns3guppy:
quote:
Originally posted by 21bubba:
You have no idea what you are talking about. Me and my 45 years in the transmission repair industry say so.
I haven't met many honest transmission repairmen, so this doesn't surprise me.
I haven't met a single one, now that I think about it.
Transmission shops love to sell transmission flushes. They love to sell transmissions, too. Funny, that.
Personal attacks are not cool. Try facts.
As a former transmission tech I have to agree. We are just like any other technical industry I suppose. People who do not understand plumbing or other trade work often think they are being ripped off due to their not having the level of training or experience needed to fix the problem.
June 04, 2019, 09:13 AM
egregore
The "3x3" is perfectly OK - at least it gets most of the old fluid out - and is easiest for the DIY-er. As for whether you should or should not "flush," first off, the notion that transmission fluid never degrades is ludicrous and ignorant. No, it isn't subjected to combustion byproducts like engine oil, but it is subjected to plenty of heat. The 150-180-degree operating temperature is an average, after running back through the cooler. But before that, it was squeezed through tiny orifices or passages under high pressure. Of course it is going to degrade over time, miles and load.
I dislike the term "flush," preferring to call it a fluid exchange. Most fluid exchange machines use the transmission's own line pressure to circulate the fluid. If the transmission has a filter, internal or external, there is no reason for it to be "either-or." Drop the pan and change the filter (if applicable) and do the exchange to get the rest of it out of the torque converter and cooler.
More comments when I have more time.
"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke
June 04, 2019, 01:09 PM
egregore
quote:
2007 4Runner
This does have a removable pan and a filter. The pan is a pain to separate from the dipstick tube, the filter is more of a very fine mesh screen.
"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke
June 04, 2019, 02:18 PM
chellim1
quote:
The pan is a pain to separate from the dipstick tube
No dipstick tube.
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
June 04, 2019, 05:45 PM
kramden
quote:
Originally posted by K0ZZZ: I think for those year Toyota truck transmissions, they're "lifetime" fluid and shouldn't be changed, according to the people who designed and engineered the transmission. That's the official answer for my 2005 Tacoma. But what do they know?
Lifetime fluid...……..ummmmm, NO!! I have built many automatic transmissions. Lifetime fluid is a myth. I change all of my cars TF every 25-30,000 miles.
June 04, 2019, 07:17 PM
apf383
Tagged, Ive got to do mine soon!!!
Foster's, Australian for Bud
June 20, 2026, 10:34 AM
chellim1
OLD THREAD ALERT
I changed the tranny fluid in the wife's Acura TLX yesterday. 1x3.5 quarts.
The local Honda store charges $30/quart for the Honda 3.1 ATF
I'd like to give a shout-out to Black92LX for recommending FCP Euro.
I'm already using FCP Euro for the Liqui Moly motor oil so I decided to try the Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1800 ($11/quart). I find it to be a very good substitute. The shifts are much smoother.
I have a question for you guys: The recommendation is 3 changes to change out almost all of the fluid, every 30,000 miles. Can I get the same/similar results doing a single change, (1x3 quarts rather than 3x3 quarts) but increase the frequency to every 10,000 miles?
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
June 20, 2026, 01:32 PM
Speedbird
I've been rocking manuals for a long time and still do a drain and fill every 50k or so. The family cars got semi-regular 1x drain and fills every ~24k. Exception: my kids LITTLE Honda Fit (2013 ish?) with a CVT. Only ~1.5 qts comes out, but SUPER easy. I just did a drain and fill every oil change. My parents get VW dealer flush every 50k, but they are ~$600. No problems and they have been doing it for 10 years+
June 20, 2026, 07:41 PM
cas
This past November my '01 Xterra decided it wanted to shift VERY hard into 2nd gear, and then often didn't want to shift more than that. Mostly on real cold mornings, but not always. A week before I was supposed to go on a trip. Ended up renting a truck because I didn't trust it.
Knowing it might help, or kill it outright, I bought a gallon jug of fluid. With nothing to lose, I said a prayer, crossed my fingers and drained it. Got a gallon out, so I added the full gallon. And the problem seemed to go away. I bought another gallon with the plan of doing it again a couple weeks later. After that I had ONE hard shift, once. Knock on wood none since.
A couple weeks ago I did the timing belt, since I'd lost a little fluid pulling the radiator, it reminded me I'd never done the second change. Almost a gallon out (accounting for the loss), gallon in. So far so good.
The irony is I have a brand new filter for it in my basement that I bought for it almost 15 years ago, when I first got it. But I never changed it. I chickened out, reading horror stories about people killing them. And "Change the fluid regularly, but if you've never changed it, don't!"This message has been edited. Last edited by: cas,
June 22, 2026, 10:20 AM
4MUL8R
Yes, you can reduce the drain interval.
------- Trying to simplify my life...
June 22, 2026, 10:40 AM
chellim1
Thanks, 4MUL8R. I was hoping you would pop back into this thread. Any comments on the Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1800 vs. the Honda 3.1 ATF?
Product Information
Top Tec ATF 1800 is one of the new generation of low viscosity high-performance oil for automatic transmissions. It is based on fully synthetic technology with modern, high-performance additives. Aside from excellent aging and oxidation stability, optimal shifting is guaranteed under all operating conditions thanks to the extremely high viscosity index. It enables long oil change intervals.
Areas of application
Top Tec ATF 1800 has been developed for ZF 6HP19/26/32 and ZF 8HP 45/55/70/90 type automatic transmissions that are installed in various Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, etc. vehicles. In addition, Top Tec ATF 1800 also meets further specifications, allowing it to cover an even wider range of vehicles. Usage according to the prescribed specifications from the unit or vehicle manufacturer.
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
June 22, 2026, 11:10 AM
rizzle
That is a complicated 9 speed transmission, using dog and friction clutches, made by ZF. That being said, shifting smoother with friction clutches could be a bad thing. If the transmission fails with the oil that you are using, and it can be proved, the oil company should pay for it. If you need to save money, changing it with a cheaper alternative is better than not changing. So, go for it and use the cheap stuff.
