Advice on Transmission Drain and fill; Valvoline fluid and service vs Dealer

I've had my used '16 with 130k miles for several months, and I am looking take proper care of the truck (against manufacturer recommendations, I know). I'd like to do a drain and fill before I leave for a long drive on Wednesday. I'm curious about people's experience using Valvoline multivehicle ATF on their trucks or having them serviced for a drain and fill at Valvoline. Today I am going to try to get the WS fluid, oem washers, and tools necessary to do the drain and fill myself; however, if I can't get all that sorted out I may just resort to valvoline. I had a drain and fill done with them a few months ago, and they seemed to do a decent job, but I dont know if they replaced washers and checked the level properly (in general, I don't know the exact level of the fluid, because previous owners could have done anything).

I'm also curious if you DIY guys always replace the crush washers and use a torque wrench to get the right torque specs (given that these are the harder things for me to get my hands on). I'd also love to hear opinions on using a laser thermometer to get the trans temp when checking the level.

For the record, my truck shifts perfectly well. I know there some threads on this subject, but none are very definitive. big thanks

 

I'm about to do the same procedure on our 2019 4Runner. just my 2 cents, Valvoline is probably fine but I got the WS fluid just to be safe. both our 2019 & 2018 4Runners still shift perfectly and I don't wanna mess with something that works by changing brands. Lots of opinions on crush washers...but I always replace them. I mean, they're cheap as hell, why not? Torque specs? yes always. and finally, I do plan to use a laser thermometer simply cos I don't have the proper scan tool to monitor temp

 

Toyota WS or Amsoil OE fuel efficient 100% synthetic atf and dont have to worry.

 

i’ve used a laser thermometer and found it to be a little bit under temp maybe 5° cooler than the actual fluid temp inside. But all good if you check levels when it hits 100° on the thermal gun

 

I just did this yesterday. I used the Toyota atf ws fluid and personally wouldn’t use anything else. Keep in mind your only replacing 3-4 of the 11 quarts of fluid. I wouldn’t want to mix fluid types. I used a laser thermometer and waited till temp reached 110. Saw a video on YouTube using laser and scan tool. Laser read 5 degrees less than the scan tool. Hope this helps

 

Also I did replace the crush washers and use a torque wrench. I did reuse the rubber washer on the fill plug tho since it was in good shape

 

Trouble is there are at least ~2.5 quarts of valvoline in the transmission. I talked with a guy who runs a local transmission shop about this and he didn't seem to worry about it. According to him, the differences between different specs of atf (like atf vs maxlife) are minuscule. That said, I’d like to use WS, and stay consistent with whatever I use going forward. Unfortunately, all my local dealers are closed today, and I don’t know of any shops that carry toyota WS.

 

If all is good, I would wait until after your trip. Either that, or do this soon enough to give you time to drive it before your trip. I had my trans fluid replaced at the dealership at 100k miles, and afterward it drove as if it had unlearned my driving habits. Didn't cause any problems, and resolved itself in a few hundred miles.

 

If it meets spec, I wouldn’t worry that much. I’d be a little apprehensive of the MaxLife in CVT applications but for this I’m not going to sweat too much.

I’ve got a jug of Idemitsu TLS-LV (“for Toyota/Lexus/Scion Automatic Transmission with WS specifications”) here and it’s going in when I decide it’s time.

 

I have used Valvoline in my FJ Cruiser and 4Runner with zero issues. I am not about to pay the $17 a quart that Toyota wants for WS.

 

If it's just a drain and fill, I'd be using Toyota WS.

If I was doing a full change out, like the 13 quarts (or whatever it is) then whatever meets spec is fine.

It's probably fine to mix WS and MaxLife but I wouldn't do it unless I had to for some reason.

 

Use OEM ATF and Engine Coolant unless it's a 20 year old vehicle. Things are a little more complicated these days.

 

Since the transmission is a high dollar risk item, I don’t see the reasoning behind using anything other than Toyota WS fluid.

If it were me, I’d wait to change it until you can get the right fluid and do it yourself. That would also avoid the risk of screwing up your trip if you or valvoline screw something up.

 

Just get WS from the dealer, 4-5 quarts and do this:

wake up one morning and crawl under truck. Take your 14mm and 24mm and 5mm hex with you.

crack open 24mm fill port first. Done

crack open 14mm drain on the pain, let it all drain out. Should be around 2.5-3 quarts. Done

refill what you drained, plus 1/2 quart.

hook up scan tool such as Scangauge 2 or 3, or any other scanner that tells you the trans pan temp. Just let it idle until trans warms up, or drive around the neighborhood if you’re up north. I’m in Florida so the check window is really close from a cold start.

between 104-113 crack open the 5mm hex CHECK plug. While it’s between those temps 104-113 let it dribble out to a break in the stream, like an oil change. Once it gets nearly done “dripping” fasten the 5mm hex back up.


*NOTE*
When opening check plug, if nothing comes out between those temps, add more WS fluid in the 24mm fill plug at top. Repeat process until you get the excess to come out the check bolt.

all done, no Valvoline guys to mess anything up. It’s seriously as easy, if not easier than an oil change.

 

Do you get the replacement crush washers from a dealership?

 

FWIW
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ws-transmission-fluid-is-garbage-get-it-out-of-your-transmission-now.331521/

 

uh oh... can MaxLifebros confirm??

WSbros... what do you have to say for yourselves...

 

Well yeah when you go to parts counter, ask for a few of each, even grab some of the felt oil drain plug washers too

 

You're going to have to enlighten me... are the felt oil drain plug washers for the engine oil pan? Do you also get the rubber fill plug ring from toyota? or just any store?

 

The built-in method of determining the trans temp by jumpering the ODB2 port works fine -- just practice it first.

I got the crush washers and used a torque wrench.

More details here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q7trJy3NU5dI0kF2gQA5qrAb55b8OG9LKXcmxeUPYQ8/edit?usp=sharing

 

Yes, they’re like blue I believe. They’re not the tradition copper crush washers. The 24mm fill plug rubber oring I believe you can reuse it at least once. Vikings garage is a popular ex Toyota tech and one of his videos he re used the rubber oring in the 24mm


Here’s his earlier video when he was a tech at Toyota doing his trans. 9:20 on the Oring
https://youtu.be/4Rhb0xB4zdY?si=cDgfpcJ9BxTlKowO