I recently purchased a 2003 Toyota 4Runner 4WD V8 (4.7L) with 327,000 miles from North Carolina for $4500. The first thing I did was replace the timing belt, engine oil, diffs and transfer case fluids. I checked the transmission fluid and it was meh, still red but not super clean. With that many miles on the transmission, I am wondering if it would be a good idea to change the fluid, not flush. I have heard so many horror stories of changing the tranny fluid and destroying the transmission. I have no record of the fluid ever being changed. I am planning on doing a lot of towing and will be spraying the frame and undercarriage with fluid film since I live in Western New York. Thank you!!
If you do decide to change it, save the old fluid in a clean container. If it starts acting up post the fluid change, drain the new fluid & refill with the old fluid.
See here - https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/atf/
Still, at this mileage, it would be a good idea to keep an eye out for a replacement tranny (reman/rebuilt with warranty).
All the best!
I would not touch it.
I would try to contact the party you bought it from and ask them if they ever changed it.
Agreed with @JLV to try and check with the former owner for any details on maintenance. You could also try the toyota dealership, or even pull records from something like scotty said, I think it was epicvin? Sometimes those can tip you off at least to who services the vehicle, like Bob's tune and lube, and you can call them and get the info. I would think at that many miles, it would be pretty nasty if they never changed it.
Good thing is, the fluid sounds like it is in fair shape. Also, as it is toyota, they don't have the issues as much as the US made ones that shed clutch material. Those seem to have more issues when changing fluid.
As you are towing, I would at least try to do a drain and fill, I know those are kind of harder to do though. I would only suggest amsoil's top of the line trans fluid, in my experience it works great.
The other way, which I would try if it were mine, and I was planning to tow, is do a full fluid change, but make sure to keep the old fluid, just in case. That is, pull the trans lines out the radiator, one in a bucket (marked with amount on a 5 gallon bucket), and you or a friend feeding the line running back to the transmission, and one on the ignition to start and stop the engine so the guy feeding it can keep up. This is a full change, but not the scary power flush that has destroyed many transmissions. That being said, as you have so many miles, can't make any promises, but if you keep the old fluid, at least you would have a backup plan if it for some reason doesn't like the fluid. Hopefully some more experienced mechanics can explain the flaws to this strategy, and any times they have seen where this has damaged a toyota transmission doing it this way. I believe Scotty has also mentioned the change it out, and save the old fluid just in case method.
I did the same fluid change on my GX470 that I believe has the exact same transmission, but it has much less mileage. Mine shifted well before I did it, now after 45k miles of towing, it would almost make you think you had a CVT it shifts so smooth.
All this is said, with the thought that your transmission is shifting smooth right now, no issues whatsoever.
Thanks all for your replies. I have no way of contacting the previous owner since all his contact information is gone. I was thinking of trying epicvin just to see if there are any records. Right now the transmission shifts flawlessly, so I may leave it for the time being. Thanks again 🙂 🙂
It is a good transmission and may last a long time. Keep in mind though, you don't wait to change the fluid until it starts having issues, by then it is too late.