I have 2017 Camry se. It was bought by my Mister new. It has 183000 miles on it, and he never changed the transmission fluid. He got regular oil changes. He died recently. I called Toyota dealer and said, "Do you drain and fill the transmission fluid? It has never been changed. It has 183000 miles on it." They advised NOT to have the transmission fluid drained and filled because it could damage the transmission. They told me the transmission could slip if they change the fluid. I told them Mister was told by the dealership he bought it from never change the transmission fluid. My question is: Due to the milage do I change the transmission fluid or not?
thank you for your time in this matter.
Sincerely,
Ruth
It has 183000 miles on it." They advised NOT to have the transmission fluid drained and filled because it could damage the transmission.
It won't "damage" the transmission in the way you're probably thinking. The fluid has never been changed, so the friction material that allows the transmission to shift gears may now be in the fluid itself (it's supposed to remain attached to the various clutches, where it belongs). It probably still shifts good because the friction material is still in solution, giving it "bite". If you drain that transmission fluid now, the built-up grit may come out with it. When you refill it with new, slippery tranny fluid, the transmission could slip. Slipping is where your engine revs high, but the car doesn't react to the throttle input like it should.
I told them Mister was told by the dealership he bought it from never change the transmission fluid.
Unfortunately, your husband fell for the "lifetime" fluid gambit. Transmission fluid gets just as dirty as it did in the olden days. The bean counters have made it almost impossible to check or change your transmission fluid. Almost all newer cars don't have transmission dipsticks anymore, and you either need to go to a dealership to have it changed, or an independent mechanic. Most people don't do that, believing "lifetime fluid" is that. It isn't. At all.
