[Sandra]

Can any car experts help me figure out when to do a transmission flush and fluid replacement vs transmission fluid change + filter and gasket replacement?

Went to Valvoline for an oil change on 2011 corolla with 120k miles. They told me I need the transmission flush $170.

Called my local shop that usually works on my car and they want $425 for the 6 qt transmission fluid from the dealer , gasket, and filter.

Was told they take everything apart and clean it out. Will take the whole day to complete.

I’d rather pay the extra for the full thing but just want to make sure it’s worth it.

This car has been driven by 2 of my kids with the 3rd one waiting in line so trying to keep it in shape.

Thank you!

[Scott]

I own 5 Hondas/Acuras.
4 with over 200,000 miles.
2 with over 300,000 miles.
Drain and fill.

Unless your Toyota is having a transmission issue, a drain and fill is the only thing needed.

A flush is not good!
That can cause more damage.

Drain and fills will take, around 2-3 quarts of transmission fluid.
Only use Toyota OEM fluid.

[Neal]

My opinion… Drop pan, clean magnets, change filter, put it back together and refill.

A flush doesn’t replace your filter. Plus, I’ve never heard good things about an oil change doing a “flush.”

[Kevin]

Drain and fill. I learned not to do a full flush on a high mileage transmission.

It never shifted right after and ended up being the death knell for my old Altima.

[Tony]

Do it this one time with the full deal. If you want to keep it for more that 300k miles. If your going to just keep till 200k.

Your good.

[Elyse]

To do a transmission flush properly, you have to drop the pan to drain the fluid, replace the filter, clean the pan and then put a new gasket to seal it.

The ATF (transmission fluid) isn’t the cheapest thing either depending on the car.

Go with the local shop.

[Mike]

It’s a Corolla, I wouldn’t do anything but change oil and drive it! Those cars are bullet proof

[Christopher]

Is it slipping any when shifting, or otherwise shifting roughly? Are there any signs of leaking transmission fluid?

I’d probably just opt for the flush, but if there were any sounds/smells/sluggish shifting, I’d do the more intensive work just to be sure.

(I’m not a car expert by any means, but have done my own transmission flushes once or twice along with general maintenance.)

[David]

First off, I would not trust a quickie lube place to work on an automatic transmission. Second, look at your owners manual and see what Toyota specifies for maintenance.

They have an army of engineers that know their product better than any other DIY person or random person on the internet.

Go to a trusted shop to get the work done if you are not comfortable doing the work yourself.

I would also call a Toyota dealership and ask them how they do it just to compare methods.

There are a lot of small passages for the oil to flow through in auto transmissions that are susceptible to contamination so you need someone doing it that is competent and clean. That is also why the maintenance is important.

[Frank]

I would trust the local shop unless you have had problems with them in the past.

But you did not mention why you brought it in.

If the transmission was not actually malfunctioning, I would not do anything.

[Author]

Posts