Camry Transmission Service

[Nick1994]

Just recently bought a 1997 Camry 2.2L automatic with 186k miles. I've put 800-850 miles in the last 3 weeks on it and was wondering about transmission service. The previous owner had a transmission flush at Brake Masters at 176,000 miles in May of this year. When should I service it? It has a drain plug but have no idea how much will come out. Should I drain as much as I can out of the transmission pan every 5k and top off as much as what drained out? The Brake Masters sheet said he paid for a transmission flush, transmission kit, and Pennzoil Multi-Vehicle ATF. Also is it best to get the fluid from Toyota or use Maxlife ATF?

Thanks

 

[Jeffs2006EvoIX]

I believe the service is every 30k miles on that Camry. The question I would ponder is when the last service was done did they put in the correct fluid and if the filter was replaced.

When in doubt do it again in my book. It's cheaper than needinga new transmission if incorrect fluid was put in.

Jeff

 

[Klutch9]

Normally I'm a proponent of swapping most fluids when getting a new-to-me car, even if they look fresh. Even though you know your transmission was just serviced, doing a drain/fill and maybe replacing the filter might not be a bad idea. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with the fluid in there now, but this gives you a chance to swap out a few quarts of high quality fluid, get a new gasket on the pan, swap the filter, and get to know the undersides of your new ride a little bit. Nothing wrong with that

Now, if you trust the shop that the work was done at, or if you were given a work order listing the fluids/filter used, then just leave it alone until 30k passes.

 

[Donald]

The Amsoil website will tell you info about pan capacity vs total capacity.

I would do a complete fluid exchange at 30K unless you go to a synthetic ATF, then 50K.

Add a Magnefine inline filter.

But even regular ATF changes will not get the transmission to last forever. You are on the trailing end of the transmissions life.

 

[Quest]

Most Aisin-Warner A/T transmissions are fairly durable/reliable.

30k fluid change on Aisin-Warner trannie is , IMHO, an overkill. I'd do drain-n-fill around 50k intervals (1st drain and fill @ 50k, then 100k, then 150k).

I've used Castrol import MV ATF before, but have since switched to using PetroCanada Duradrive MV fluid for all the toys I've serviced so far.

Q.

 

[gregk24]

Toyota Fluid or Maxlife, do a couple drain and fills and sleep well at night. Transmissions dont last forever, but frequent changes sure do extend the life of them.

 

[KB2008X]

Pulling the drain plug on the transmission pan will drain out 2 - 3 quarts. Refill with two quarts and top off until full. Usually 2.5 qt. Pulling the pan and then pulling the filter can drain out about another 1 - 2 quarts.

Toyota's filter on those transmissions was a screen and if the fluid was changed on schedule there really wasn't a need to replace it. However if the car has seen infrequent ATF changes then the screen may have begun to get a build up on it and perhaps restrict the flow somewhat. It's easy enough to drain and pull the pan and check to see how it looks.

As far as future servicing goes, if the trans is functioning properly, and it's original, at 186,000, then it probably was taken care of and I would continue servicing it on schedule. In your case I'd plan to change it at 200,000. If you assume that it's going to go out soon and ignore proper servicing then it will go out. Those transmissions were very good and if serviced properly, and the car wasn't hot-rodded, they can last quite a long time. 250,000 isn't unusual. I knew of one that was pushing 300,000.

As far as changing out all the fluid now, I don't think I would. If you don't trust the previous owner, that it was serviced at 176,000, or don't trust the shop he used, then you need to reconsider.

I always like to use ATF that the factory recommends, but in this case there is no telling what all is in that trans, so a MaxLife may be OK. Ask Brake Masters what they used - it has 10,000 since it was serviced there and it's still going.

 

[theKman]

Do nothing until 200K, then drain and fill with Maxlife ATF. In the interim, get a repair manual, money well spent.

 

[michaelluscher]

Amazon 3309

^^^This.
You'll get all the drain and fills you need, It's Toyota T-IV, Just not in a Toyota bottle, not at a Toyota dealer, And not at a Toyota dealer price.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Amazon 3309

^^^This.
You'll get all the drain and fills you need, It's Toyota T-IV, Just not in a Toyota bottle, not at a Toyota dealer, And not at a Toyota dealer price.


Your experience may vary, of course, but my Toyota dealer sells me T-IV for that price. I save sales tax with Amazon...for now....but I've bought fluid from both sources (the Volvos and the Corolla use T-IV, so I've bought quite a few cases over the years).

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
The Brake Masters sheet said he paid for a transmission flush, transmission kit, and Pennzoil Multi-Vehicle ATF. Also is it best to get the fluid from Toyota or use Maxlife ATF?
I'm a big proponent of using factory fluid in a transmission, or if going aftermarket, at least a licensed/approved clone. Pennzoil Multi-Vehicle ATF states that it is "recommended for applications requiring...". The PDS doesn't show ANY licenses or approvals by anyone. I'm not big on one-size-fits-all fluids...

Having said all that, MaxLife is highly regarded here, although I would personally still use the factory-specified fluid.

"Transmission kit" is "quick-lube speak" for a filter. Since most wear in an automatic transmission occurs in the first 15,000 miles from new, replacing the filter once is generally all that's needed...no need to do it again so soon.