Can you guys please come to a consensus so I know what fluid to use on my next change? I just did the ATF for the first time on my 2010 4Runner at 111,000 (easy) miles using WS. 3 drain and fills. The initial fluid came out dark and ugly but in no way did it smell burnt or feel gritty. Next time I’d love to order Maxlife at Walmart instead along with my grocery order. It was a bit of a dance to get the WS at a reasonable price.
2019 Tundra ATF.... Burned?
- Thread starter Whalstib
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I am trying to figure out transmission leak in my SIenna (not gasket) and after 8,000 miles fluid is pitch black.
I'm no expert. But when I picked up my daughter's used Yaris I dropped the pan, replaced the filter and replaced the FF WS with Maxlife. After 15k miles I decided to do a DAF just for good measure. The fluid that I drained was cherry red. Actually felt kinda dumb for doing it once I saw it. But it was already in motion. Wasn't going to stop mid way through it at that point.
We’ve put about 10k miles on a 2016 4Runner with a single drain and fill with Maxlife at 22k (~32k miles currently on the car). Shift feel is the same as with 100% factory fill WS in trans. I’m planning another drain and fill with Maxlife on the 4Runner at the next oil change.Can you guys please come to a consensus so I know what fluid to use on my next change? I just did the ATF for the first time on my 2010 4Runner at 111,000 (easy) miles using WS. 3 drain and fills. The initial fluid came out dark and ugly but in no way did it smell burnt or feel gritty. Next time I’d love to order Maxlife at Walmart instead along with my grocery order. It was a bit of a dance to get the WS at a reasonable price.
I also used to have a 2007 Tacoma with the A750 trans, I did a drain and fill with Maxlife at 80k miles and traded it In at 87k miles. I’ve had no issues with mixing WS and Maxlife at all. I know the new owners and the truck is still running strong almost 2 years into their ownership. I’m not sure how many miles the Tacoma has now, but they drive it a lot. I’m certain that it is well over 100k miles now.
If its not burned then it has to be clutch material in suspension. There just isn't much that can contaminate the fluid. You can't really judge the fluid by its color.
Did you read the report? It's all below what would be expected for a similar transmission with 38K miles....
I'm starting to read Toyota branded WS good to 300° and I'm positive I had it well over the 260° I monitored. That was on a 1-2 mile 4% grade towing 7000 lb with no effort in 90°. I pulled same load up the Cajon Pass in CA in 100°. A good 20 mile grind! While I went up with no issues I could feel the difference....... I towed several similar passes during this hot summer and as the report says "no reason to think this ATF saw more heat than it could handle".
I'm gonna stick with Toyota WS based on the report for now. We'll see at maybe 30K what it looks like
We are looking to buy a New Tundra. No way I am going to go long term without an auxiliary oil cooler . I even stuck one on my ancient Sierra that already had one just because I had one laying around so on it went. leaving that cooler off is a horrible idea. Yea sure most people don't do anything but use it to go to the dump but still everyone knows tranny longevity is directly related to the temperatures it operates. My one issue is messing around with anything under warranty.
So, what special oh la la cooler is approved for the Tundra? Does someone make an exact kit specifically or "approved" for this truck. If so Im going to try to twist their arm into putting it on.
So, what special oh la la cooler is approved for the Tundra? Does someone make an exact kit specifically or "approved" for this truck. If so Im going to try to twist their arm into putting it on.
I saw that video this morning, looks like the Tundra did have an elevated trans temp(at least compared to the Chevy). I would add a cooler if I towed a lot!
I've used maxlife atf, but I prefer amsoil signature series atf. I've put ~50k miles on the amsoil SS atf and no issues so far.Can you guys please come to a consensus so I know what fluid to use on my next change? I just did the ATF for the first time on my 2010 4Runner at 111,000 (easy) miles using WS. 3 drain and fills. The initial fluid came out dark and ugly but in no way did it smell burnt or feel gritty. Next time I’d love to order Maxlife at Walmart instead along with my grocery order. It was a bit of a dance to get the WS at a reasonable price.
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I have never seen an initial fill come out looking good in a Toyota/Lexus with that WS in there. Did my LS460 at 70,000 and it looked so bad that I figured I’d need a transmission, but I was wrong, it was fine...and ran fine until I traded it in at 179,000 miles.
And my 2016 Toyota Avalon with only 50,000 miles looked even worse, pretty much black when I drained it.
Took three drain and fills and a pan drop to finally clear it up.
And my 2016 Toyota Avalon with only 50,000 miles looked even worse, pretty much black when I drained it.
Took three drain and fills and a pan drop to finally clear it up.
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Nice car doublebase. I bought our GS with 71k on it and it looked the same. I did 2 drain fills with amsoil. Mine has the 8 speed, shared with the tundra (wow). The programming, consistency, and perfection in the shifting strategy is superb. It’s actually deceiving - how well they did it. In mine at least, there’s a big ratio gap from 2-3, which isn’t noticeable at all in auto mode, but very obvious driven manually, but I rarely manual shift down there, and when I do, it does a pretty smart rev-match on its own.
being that the little v6 GS is using the tundra transmission, there’s no way it would be as stressed as it would be pushing a full-size truck around. Yet the fluid certainly looked tired. I think the WS stuff just doesn’t hold of visually, like the honda fluid.
I have that same cooler on my avalanche. Even up black mountain with my 7k travel trailer it only hit 170! ( That weight is pushing it for the avalanche, want a bigger truck next year).
I think clinebarger recommended the TRU-Cool to me some time back. Massive thick cooler!
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The Tundra does not have an 8 speed? The 4.6 Tundra has an A760E/F 6 speed and the 5.7 gets an AB60E/F 6 speed.
Look toyota doesn’t want you touching the ATF is a fill for life unit . Trust what manufacturers are telling us please 
Look toyota doesn’t want you touching the ATF is a fill for life unit . Trust what manufacturers are telling us please
I'm in trouble then.
Tacoma:
Yaris:
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The GS is a great ride...almost bought one this summer....great ride and outstanding interior. I had the 8-speed in my LS460...absolutely bullet proof. Loved that transmssion.
I have always only used the WS in my Lexus/Toyotas, however I have heard good things about the Maxlife and of course people go crazy for the Amsoil. But I've just stuck with the WS - once you get it on a schedule it remains red and clean looking - haven't had any issues with it.
Huh. Well I’ll be. I’m not sure where I got my info from, I think clublexus, but I can’t argue with that. Thanks for the clarification!
Look toyota doesn’t want you touching the ATF is a fill for life unit . Trust what manufacturers are telling us please
Most people do. And most people aren't people that care if their transmission lasts 100k or 200k. That's perfectly fine. Toyota only has a financial interest in that vehicle until it is out of warranty. The amount of care and concern they have about a vehicle going many miles past the warranty rapidly approaches 0 after it passes.
Some of us want to maintain our second biggest investment (After a house) and want to maintain ALL of the vehicle systems. not just the engine. In a system that sheds particles and has a very rudimentary filter, I want clean fluid in there on a regular basis, end of story.
'Lifetime fill' is something you advertise so you can have 'the lowest cost of ownership(*)'
*Over the life(**) of the vehicle.
**Life being defined as 'as long as we have to fix it on our dime'