Changing brake and trans fluids

Have a couple questions (again) for the brain trust of Toyota gurus! My '08 is super low miles (13K) by the way. (My body is super high miles by the way, so not doing too much difficult maintenance).

First, tips on bleeding/changing brake fluid. Been changed once a few years back I believe. Brakes still working fine. Should I do it? (I remember the old adage "If it ain't broke don't mess with it").

Second, same question with the trans fluid. It's never been changed...old but super low (mostly highway) miles.

If I need to address either of these things, any tips on the process, or is it just like the old days? I've dropped the trans pan and changed filter and fluid a few times in my youth...not sure if the newer cars are any different.

As always, thanks for any input you may have.

Bill

 

^Brake fluid replacement interval was every 4 years in 2008. Around 2011 Toyota recalled a couple million vehicles due to master cylinder seal failures, thereafter the interval was cut to 3 years.

The transmission filter/strainer doesn't need changing. But fluid breaks down with time and should be changed.

 

I recently discovered these test strips that take the guesswork out of when to change brake fluid. Bonus: the other end of the test strip works on coolant.

$16 Phoenix Systems 8006-B Double-Ended Brake Fluid + Coolant Test Strips (15 foil wrapped test strips), 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753MZT7P

There are some things to understand about the transmission fluid change process on an ‘08. There’s no dipstick for one thing so checking the fluid level is a bit involved (but easily done). Few people feel it’s worth the trouble to drop the pan. I never have. I’ve done two full fluid exchanges, one at 114K miles and the other at 218K, but now I’m doing a drain and fill every 30K to 50K miles. That’s about 3 to 4 quarts.

Now we come to the fluid. Toyota prescribes what they call World Standard fluid, commonly called WS. That’s what I have used and all I will ever use, though it is more expensive. Others will tell you they’ve used Maxlife or whatever and never had a problem. That’s fine by me, it’s their truck, but such universal fluids claim to fit the specifications for numerous different vehicles, even non-Toyotas. I’ll pass. The transmission is a very complicated (and expensive) component so I choose to use WS only.

You can get it at a discounted price through Toyota’s online parts ordering, but you will have to pick it up at a local dealer because they won’t ship it.

There are many online tutorials and videos about these processes. If you have any specific questions, LMK and I’ll do my best to answer them. Not that I’m any guru, but I have had my truck for 11 years and I’m at 277K miles.

Oh, and just to complicate the fluid situation even further, the power steering system doesn’t use power steering fluid, it uses ATF - but not WS. Sometimes I think Toyota was just messing with us with that decision.

 

At that age I would grease the brake pad pins. Also the diffs and Transfer case lube. There are a couple suitable GL-4 gear lubes approved for Toyota at 1/3 the cost of Toyota Transfer Case lube. Don't forget the propeller shaft grease zerks.

 

I did a 12 qt. replacement on my daughters 08 V8 at about 90K a few years back. I used Valvoline Max-Life fluid and still running strong at 165K.

 

Change it, better be safe than...... you know that, cheap insurance, easy to do.