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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "Transmission Fluid Change", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
I have a 2 Wheel Drive, 4 Cylinder 2002 Highlander. How often should the transmission fluid be changed. How does one determine if the transmission fluid needs to be changed? Is based on the fluid color? Appreciate your feedback. Thanks
How long do you plan on keeping your Highlander? Many years? Do a drain and refill every 15k. Or, do a complete flush every 45k. If you're towing or otherwise working this transmission hard & hot, change the intervals to 10k or 30k.
Just going to have it a couple of years? Forget about the transmission. I'll be somebody else's problem.
By the time the color of the ATF has changed, it is already do good and is not protecting the parts in the transmission the way it should.
Ken
__________________
You get what you inspect
Not what you expect.
S&S Long Tube Hi-Torque Headers
TRD/Eaton Limited Slip Differential
Gibson exhaust system
Hellwig Rear Antisway Bar
Sylvania Xenarc H.I.D. X1010 Auxiliary Low Beam Driving Lights
Schaeffer Engine Oil, ATF, Differential Oil
Racor LFS22825 full-flow transmission filter
Towing a 21' Bigfoot trailer using a Hensley Arrow hitch, Jordan brake controller, McKesh mirrors
Anyone know the frequency (milage) under NORMAL driving conditions for changing the automatic transmission fluid in a Highlander (2001 - V6 - 4WD)?Can't find it in the schedule maintenance guide.
Second, the MG references re-torgue of the drive shaft bolt every 5,000 miles. Does anyone have that done - at that frequency? My dealer has never mentioned it when I have brought the truck in for service, and I have about 42,000 miles on it.
How long do you plan on owning the Highlander?...less than 100,000 miles? Don't bother changing the ATF. The problems will be the next guy's. A lot of miles?...I'd either drain & refill the pan every 10,000 miles or a complete flush at maybe every 30k~45k. Synthetic ATF will give longer ATF life, maybe double or better. If Toyota's T-IV is specified, you can use the dealer's stuff, or synthetics from Amsoil, or synthetic Dexron-III plus Lubegard black. Of course, the Amsoil and Dexron+Lubegard aren't Toyota licensed, but seem to give good service. If you have a warranty claim with these fluids, the dealership won't know you're not using the Toyota stuff unless you tell them.
Ken
__________________
You get what you inspect
Not what you expect.
S&S Long Tube Hi-Torque Headers
TRD/Eaton Limited Slip Differential
Gibson exhaust system
Hellwig Rear Antisway Bar
Sylvania Xenarc H.I.D. X1010 Auxiliary Low Beam Driving Lights
Schaeffer Engine Oil, ATF, Differential Oil
Racor LFS22825 full-flow transmission filter
Towing a 21' Bigfoot trailer using a Hensley Arrow hitch, Jordan brake controller, McKesh mirrors
All the 4wd owner's manuals say to retorque the propeller shaft (drive shaft) bolts. Many of us have tried, and never found a loose bolt as far as I know.
Ken
__________________
You get what you inspect
Not what you expect.
S&S Long Tube Hi-Torque Headers
TRD/Eaton Limited Slip Differential
Gibson exhaust system
Hellwig Rear Antisway Bar
Sylvania Xenarc H.I.D. X1010 Auxiliary Low Beam Driving Lights
Schaeffer Engine Oil, ATF, Differential Oil
Racor LFS22825 full-flow transmission filter
Towing a 21' Bigfoot trailer using a Hensley Arrow hitch, Jordan brake controller, McKesh mirrors
Very late response , for reference to those viewing this post, the '06 H/L 3.3L says ATF good till 100, 000 miles.
Change every 15k there after. Using Toy ATF-IV. A sticker is labled in the engine compartment.
100,000 is stretching it abit far, even for factory standard in my opinion. At 30,000 the fluid is full of small particle that even the stock transmission filter doesn't catch those. Besides, at 5 bucks a pop, even 4 quarts, that's just $20 per drain and fill. I intend to keep ours. Its an 02 limited V6 awd model.
I certainly agree 100,000k is way too far. Had mine flushed by the dealer at 34k for a whole $185. Considering my nieghbor had a Toyo van w/ 87k and did nothing and spent $900+ for transmission repair...I wil always go with preventive vice corrective maintenance.
Owners manual and decal on trans fluid dip stick tube say 'do not change ATF under normal driving conditions' I am at 127,000 and fluid is nearly clear and has normal smell. I am changing now due to comments from automotive expert who said that anyone driving south of the Red River in Texas is driving in severe conditions. If you read the definition of severe conditions in Toyota book, it does not agree with that opinion.
Dealer service mgr once tried to get me to change every 30,000 miles, but when I told him what was on dip stick tube and in manual, he did not argue with me.
3 quarts of fluid is $15 if you do it yourself.
Is there a tranny filter anywhere to replace on Toyota Highlander?
There is a ss mesh screen insider the tranny pan. Yu drop the pan and remove and rinse clean with solvent. It is permanant. Some prefer to get a new one and swap out the old mesh screen. It does not filter much of the finer stuff. I imagine the three magnets attached to the pan would get the heavy stuff.
Toyotas got away from the old style fiber filters that would need to be replaced.
Transmission Fluid Change - 2 Wheel Drive Highlander
