Auto service and torque converter lock-up switch

[QuadcamV6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close QuadcamV6]

I've just serviced my prado Kakadu V6 automatic transmission . I brought the car second hand from Brisbane with 52.000km on it and it had never towed ( had no tow bar ) it's just done 70,000km and I tow a 2.2 ton boat regularly up and down the highway between Mackay and Airlie beach and down to Sunshine Coast 3 times a year . I'm a mechanic and have my own little workshop and a work for myself so it's easy for me to do, but in saying that if your a bit handy with tools it's really not that had to do . I use a Ryco transmission filter kit , not genuine as toyota has not got a listing ( so they say) for a transmission filter kit .
I use Penrite Multi-Vehicle Full Synthetic Auto Fluid ATF FS. This oil far exceeds Toyota WS auto oil specs and is Penrites recommended fluid for this vehicle and it's transmission . This oil also copes better with towing and extrem condition as it's full synthetic unlike Toyotas WS fluid which is semi .

I've just realised that the pics I have are of a V8 100 series transmission service I did a few weeks ago , but it's the same transmission to service
If anyone really wants me to do a full D.I.Y transmission service from start to finish with pics I might have to find a Mackay Pradopointer to donate a auto for me to take pics as I go , so let me know if there is the demand for this .
The benefits are noticeable as soon as you drive out the driveway. Transmission is smooth and shift quality is slightly improved, but the best thing is the piece of mind that your transmission is running fresh clean oil and all the old black burnt oil is not wearing out your transmission
If you want to check the quality of you oil in your transmission it's quite simple. Clean AFT fluid that is in good condition is red in colour, when the fluid gets old it looses it's ability to cope with heat and starts to fail and goes a black burnt colour . Use a white plastic cup , get under your prado and locate the bung with check on it in the sump . It's got a hex Allan key head . Undo and carefully hold cup under bung. Let just a little fluid to just so you can see the colour . Don't forget to tighten check bung up it's only thin tin so no need to tighten it up to 500 nutenmeters
Just nip it up
I've got a Wholesale Automatic transmission torque-converter lock - up switch to fit as soon as I get time to do so , so once it's in I will report back on that , and I'm hoping to do a Nomad valve body upgrade as soon as I get some extra cash

[QuadcamV6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close QuadcamV6]

Transmission pics

[QuadcamV6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close QuadcamV6]

Pics

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

That's the go quadcam, I'm thinking about putting in a nomad valve body in the prado and an aftermarket transmission cooler next time my auto needs a service. Still need to pop in and say howdy aswel, was flat chat last week installing the new bar


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[QuadcamV6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close QuadcamV6]

Yeh pop in and say hi be good to meet you

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

Yea will make sure I pop in next week once I get home

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hi Ped, interesting thread!

My Kaka has gone in for a service today (has done 60,000K almost) and one of the items I requested was an auto transmission fluid change as we've done lots of hill climbing and river crossings on the GTG up in the Vic High Country. When I booked it in they said it would be an extra $160 or thereabouts on top of the normal service charge. When Mr Fido dropped it off this morning they said it doesn't have a requirement to change the fluid in the service manual, just to check for leaks. They also said to change the auto trans fluid they need to dismantle the engine WTF! I seem to recall reading something about it being a sealed system but surely they have a less invasive method for servicing the transmission fluid?

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

They're feeding you shit. There's a fill plug on the side and a drain + check plug on the pan of the gearbox.

Buy two or 3 tins of fluid and take it to a transmission place to do the flush if you're not comfortable doing it yourself.

If you fit an additional oil cooler your fluid will last a lot longer. I've got 50 000km since I installed a cooler and flushed the system and the fluid is still pink.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Yeah I just can't understand why they didn't want to take my money, maybe they felt bad about stinging me so much for the rest of the service LOL. I've since discovered I can get a full synthetic transmission oil conversion which includes a flush done for $300 at Wholesale Automatics in Bayswater, Vic; might just need to go there instead. I'm just not sure if that will affect my dealer backed extended warranty as I'm guessing it would be considered an aftermarket modification.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Hi Quadcam,

Are you able to provide a basic run-down on what is involved in freshening up the auto trans fluid?
What tools are required and how hard is it for the home DIY'er?

Also does this differ for the 120 D4D auto or are they all the same?
Cheers
Micheal.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

For changing the fluid in your D4D Michael have a look here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post459365

Cheers Andrew

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Still getting the same story from Mr Toyota despite challenging what I had been told previously using some of the information from this thread. Basically they assert that the auto fluid is good for the life of the car and there is no need to change it due to the use of "world standard" fluid in the original build.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I got told the same thing when I bought my oil, showed some of the old oil to the parts guy and he was a bit horrified at how black it was.

If you want your fluid changed don't ask them to do it, tell them to do it!

Cheers Andrew

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

For changing the fluid in your D4D Michael have a look here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post459365

Cheers Andrew

Thanks Boss.

for whats its worth this is what mine current looks like...


p.s yes those are little 'floaties' in the sample so im hoping a flush will be all I need

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

If you want your fluid changed don't ask them to do it, tell them to do it!

Don't know that I would trust them to actually do the work since they seem so dead set against it, would probably go to a transmission shop instead. If I can get to the plug without needing a hoist I might just check the fluid condition myself and if it's bad wave it under the service manager's nose.