My 2003 Camry SE will be reaching 100K miles this week! I would like to change the ATF fluid and filter with a compatible ATF Type T-IV automatic transmission fluid. I just don’t know if I should try to do it myself or take it to a shop? I have heard that by changing the filer and fluid doesn’t remove all the old fluid, is this true?[&:] That it must be vacuumed/suctioned out the transmission?![:'(]
Will mixing the old Toyota OE fluid with a third party (ValVoline) fluid cause any problems?

Some third party providers of ATF Type T-IV are:

ValVoline - MaxLife DEX/MERC ATF
http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ....asp?product=6


Mobil ATF 3309
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/..._ATF_3309.aspx

AMSOIL Automatic Transmission Fluid
http://www.smartsynthetics.com/artic...yota_Honda.htm

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=280006

Any compatible trans fluid would be fine.I prefer synthetic because it can withstand higher heat than conventional but it will be more expensive. No need to replacefilter/screen. I would just drain pan and flush/replace entire system, but removing pan and cleaning screen/pan would be ok, depends on your comfort level.

 

Thank you Pedro!

That post is PHENOMENAL!!!

 

I missed the maintenance schedule on the transmission fluid completely and never did a drain & fill.[&o] Will a drain & fill be sufficient? Or a Full flush (like the above post) is recommended? The car is now reaching 100k & don’t want to cause some kind of shock to the transmission system.[]

I’ll be purchasing the filter kit & fluid (ValVoline) from my local auto parts. You comments and thoughts thank you!!

 

I always do full flush, never had any trans problems. 100k is a long time on same trans fluid and as noted in link the new fluid will be contaminated mixed with old.

 

Is it not true that a large percentage of the old fluid remains in the transmission, even if one drops the pan? Click & Clack, the Car Talk brothers, advocate a simple drain-and-fill (plug only, if you like) every 10 to 15k miles. The idea is to dilute the contaminants and to replenish any needed active chemicals. The same concept works for coolant. My only concern is to make sure the new ATF is compatible with the stuff left inside, even with a flush.

 

Dry fill of entire transmission is about 6 quarts. Pan holds about 2.6, you can do the math.

That would be ok if in this particular case owner had not waited 100k to change trans fluid.

 

I plan to use Valvoline MaxLife ATF. It’s only one that I found locally that meets Toyotas ATF TYPE-IV requirements.

Recommended for use where DEXRON, DEXRON II, III and VI, Toyota T-IV and WS, MERCON®, MERCON® SP and LV, Allison TES 295 and 389, Nissan Matic-D, Matic-J and Matic-K, Honda Z-1 (except CVT), Mercedes NAG-1, Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III and many others are required.


http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ....asp?product=6

I Will post my results later.