I purchased a 2015 RAV4 at 30,000 miles and now have just over a hundred thousand miles. I've driven the car myself and I'm a 60 year old guy who just drives normal . I've never changed the transmission fluid because it was considered a lifelong fluid in the manual. Even when the ambient temperature is warm I've noticed on the first drive of the day the transmission will shift through the first three gears and when it shifts from 3 to 4 it will flare, but I don't know if it's because the throttle pressure is light or if it's because the transmission is truly slipping. I was hoping to get some advice from somebody who's dealt with the same problem. I've seen the Car Care nuts videos claiming if you got over a hundred thousand miles on a Toyota transmission not to even change the oil so I'm not sure what to do. I was thinking maybe I need to drop the pan and take a look at how much debris there is and change the filter then add for quarts of world standard. I don't know if it would be worthwhile to change the oil and filter and try to flush the system with some seafoam additive. Any advice is appreciated.
2015 RAV4 Trans-RPM Flares 1st Drive
- Thread starter RAV4GUY
- Start date
If you can undo a cooler line easily, I would suggest changing a quart of fluid every week or so. Leaving old fluid in will enbd badly, but changing it all out in one go might end badly even sooner. Keep doing this until the fluid coming out looks new, or you notice transmission behaviour that prompts you to stop.
IMO, Toyota's "lifetime fluid" is silly.
A spill and fill will replace about 2.5 quarts of fluid; that is probably a good start. I bet you see an improvement.
Perhaps do another next oil change... Good luck.
A spill and fill will replace about 2.5 quarts of fluid; that is probably a good start. I bet you see an improvement.
Perhaps do another next oil change... Good luck.
Replace filter and clean pan. Always change trans fluid regularly or this happens. All manufactures care about is getting past the warranty.
Silly yes. I have worked in the automotive field and should have known better but I tend to follow the the manufacturers recommendations. I'm hoping I can get some advice from a Toyota technician or somebody who's familiar with this situation. Thanks for your comment
I talked to my mechinac of 30 years that I trust. He says change the filter clean the pan. It won't hurt and if it does not help get someone to change the valve body. If no go after that it done.
manufacturers recommendations today are only to help their bottom line not yours
manufacturers recommendations today are only to help their bottom line not yours
Also on a toyota DONT follow the 10000 mile oil change either..
We have a 2017 Rav I would recommend what JeffKeryk said drain the 2 1/2 quarts fill and see if it improves you have nothing to loose. I do ours every 25,000 thousand easy . Make sure you have a funnel with a hose to refill from the top.
Change the filter. If its clogged it will cause problems
Thanks for the advice guys. When I was doing research earlier in the week for this I read somewhere on a form it may not have been this for him that somebody had added a little bit of seafoam transmission cleaner and ran it that way for a while and it cleared their problem up. It makes me nervous adding anything it's not approved but just wonder if anybody has feedback regarding that?
DONT do that! Toyota trans are sensitive. Have the FILTER and fluid change. You can't short cut this. Fluid is dirty. Filter too.
If that does not work go to a shop that knows what they are doing and get the valve body cleaned or replaced. Ive dealt with this before
There is no such thing as a "lifetime" fluid, this is nonsense that car manufacturers spew to just get your vehicle out of warranty and then have a failure so you buy another vehicle.
No matter which vehicle you go for always service the transmission at most every 60,000 miles, preferably every 35-45,000 miles.
Best bet is to drain the fluid, change the filter and top it back off and pray, do not use a multi-vehicle ATF such as Maxlife.
No matter which vehicle you go for always service the transmission at most every 60,000 miles, preferably every 35-45,000 miles.
Best bet is to drain the fluid, change the filter and top it back off and pray, do not use a multi-vehicle ATF such as Maxlife.
Spill N Fill multiple times like posted earlier!!!
Never add anything to your transmission fluid to "fix" something. Use the right fluid or repair / rebuild / replace the transmission.
Seafoam, MMO and WD40 are good general purpose cleaners but never add them (or anything else) to you engine/transmission fluids.
I think the 2013-2018 Rav4 use Toyota Type WS which is easily covered by Max-Life ATF, etc.
Drop the pan every year, two or three, and clean the magnets. I tend to do this during fall service to prep for winter.
Seafoam, MMO and WD40 are good general purpose cleaners but never add them (or anything else) to you engine/transmission fluids.
I think the 2013-2018 Rav4 use Toyota Type WS which is easily covered by Max-Life ATF, etc.
Drop the pan every year, two or three, and clean the magnets. I tend to do this during fall service to prep for winter.
My mothers 2010 camry, my ex girlfriends 2010 camry as well as my coworkers 2010 camry all had seemingly random flares in their 6 speeds in the initial shifting of the day. In the case of my mothers it was from 66k-200kish and stopped after a couple drain and fills. First service was at almost 200k and no transmission issues up until sale at 240kish. Used maxlife mostly
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