Automatic Servicing.

[Maverick Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maverick]

While getting my Prado service the other day, I spent some time looking through the Service Manual and Operating Handbook trying to find when I should get the auto transmission serviced.

The service book only says to inspect the auto's fluid every 40,000. It does indicate to replace the fluid at 80,000, but only if driven under extreme driving conditions. ie; if towing trailers a lot.

The operating handbook says not to replace the fluid unless necessary.

When should we get the auto serviced?
Going by Toyota's handbooks, they seem to think the auto pretty much looks after it's self.

Regardless, I am getting the fluid replaced before we head to WA at Christmas.

[lawrance Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrance]

Just be sure to use the correct ATF!

I am almost 100% sure that these new generation gearboxes use better than the standard mineral based ATF that you can buy at Supacheap or Repco.

Almost all car manufacturers now have specialised ATF requirements. BMW, Audi, Land Rover, etc all specify ATF with long life properties. The fluid is rather expensive though! ops:

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Mark,

Not sure which service book you were referring to - maybe the Toyota Australia warranty and service logbook - if so it might be referring to the older gearbox which does require routine fluid changes.

The new 750 'box doesn't require routine fluid changes - you may have noticed there is no dipstick or filler. The fluid can be changed but from what I've read it only needed in exceptional circumstances and it's a pig of a job to do.

Drew.

[lawrance Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrance]

I did some more investigation into this, specifically for the 5 speed auto as employed in the D4D and the updated V6 - Toyota use a very low viscosity fluid, which is quite different to the typical Dexron III or IV. Do NOT use Dexron III or IV with the auto gearbox in the updated models, as this will cause damage to the clutch packs.

I don't know what fluid specification is required by the old 4 speed auto.

Regardless of 4 or 5 speed auto, I firmly believe that if you tow or drive in a lot of ardous conditions, it will be necessary to replace the fluid every 2 or 3 years.

If burnt fluid is left in the gearbox, the clutch packs will very rapidly deterioriate and destroy themselves.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Also, I know this on the 90series at least, you willnot be able to drain most of the oil out anyway....you may get only 2L or so & from memory it takes about 4L. The only way to get all the oil out is to take the gearbox out of the car.

Cheers
Richard

[lawrance Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrance]

Ah, that would be the case with pretty much *every* auto gearbox.

You don't have to replace all the fluid if it's in reasonable condition - just drain and refill the trans sump.

The new fluid will mix with the old fluid.

If the old fluid is very burnt, then do the change again in a month's time, then again until the fluid that comes out looks reasonable.

There's always going to be fluid in the oil cooler lines and the torque converter that won't drain out even if you leave the sump drain plug off overnight.

[HJ60 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close HJ60]

the oil used in the 120 series prado autos is a lifetime oil. it wont need replacing until the box gets rebuilt.

the oil needed to top it up if you need it can almost only be bought from toyota and is a would standard oil.

[lawrance Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrance]

Yes, that's right, it's "WS" ATF. WS = world standard, whatever that means.

Much much lower viscosity compared to conventional Dexron III or IV which will NOT work with the 5 speed auto gearboxes.

Does anyone know what type of ATF the older generation 4 speed gearboxes use?

[matty Member Find all posts View Profile Close matty]

when i was an apprentice elec i used to work in a mates mech workskop specialising in power steering and auto trans on my days off and saturday for a bit extra $$$, when we serviced a auto trans we would drop all the trans fluid, drop the sump and let it drip for say half hour, replace the gasket and also a filter if my memory is correct. then fill er back up and take for a test drive to check it is shifting fine/smooth. They were mostly commodores/ fords.

how do the auto boxes go if your doing heaps of water xings, is there an entry point like a breather? If your worried bout the auto heating up maybe you can install a auto trans cooler, something to pull the heat out of the fluid, to prevent burning the oil when heavy towing or heavy soft sand work.

when we did power steering we could flush out any of the old fluid by disconnecting the low pressure return to the pump, and when the car is running pump the old fluid out, while you were pouring new fluid into the reservior to wash out the system.

Myself i prefer not to have an auto, as they are expensive to replace, least with a manual, you only need to worry bout the oil condition, any other damage would probably be from bad driving i would think, ie damaged sychro's and gears.

but all said i'm a elec not a mechanic so be good to hear from one of these guys on this.

[bitdist Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bitdist]

Yes the auto does have a breather and no it doen not like getting water in (speaking from experience :cry: :cry: )
It stuffs it very quickly

I will extend the breather now ops: