I own a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 2.4 Liter engine 4 speed Auto Trans dealer maintained 84K miles. I have owned it from new and it has been dealer maintained but never had a transmission fluid change. I have never hauled a trailer with this truck and rarely put any kind of weight in it. The truck is very low miles for it's age but 21 years old. Is it too old to risk a a transmission fluid change? Thanks.
It's probably OK but the trans fluid and filter should have been changed twice by now, at 40 and 80K miles. What do you think your engine oil would look like at 21 years old? Are you sure it has only 84K miles on it? Did you buy it new or used? Dealer or private party? That mileage is highly suspicious.
He said he owned it from new.
Check the FAQ section on changing transmission fluid.
As long as it meets the manufacturers recommendation in your owner's manual, it's OK. The transmission fluid is good for the life of the car if you only want the life of the car to be 100K miles.
I bought it brand new from the Toyota dealer in Verntura CA in August 2001. Amazing $13,400 cash out the door! The millage is real. It is a one driver (me) second truck, I also have a 2006 Silverado ZR71 with 110, 000 miles on it. I don't drive very much any more and this is a lot easier to park then the Chevy.
The last time I took it to the dealer here in Boise Idaho was 4/29/19 for Oil change tire rotation and inspection. It had 80000 miles on it. the only recommendation was for power steering flush and Master cylinder brake flush. I asked them about the trans because my 89 Tacoma use to get changed every 30K. They told me that now it is good for the life of the car which is what Scotty on one of his videos said they will say. Scotty also said they mean 100k which I should ignore which is why I am asking. The maintenance schedule in the original manual says nothing about servicing the transmission which has always surprised me.
When I check the transmission oil today I still see red which should say something about it's viability. The dipstick says DII DEXRON should I stay with that or use the new DIII DEXRON and what's the difference? Thanks!