Should I drain & refill my ATF, even though it was flushed previously?
Hi Scotty, this question is for my 2010 Toyota Sienna van.
I went to Valvoline, and they offered to change my ATF. They used some kind of thin tube that would turn black, then red, then black, and so forth. When I looked it up today, I came to find that this may have been a “flush” that they performed.
About a day later, I’m 40 miles into having the new Valvoline MaxLife ATF, and I notice that when I’m driving between 5 - 35 mph, the RPMs go up to about 3 or 4, then the RPM needle drops back down quickly and I feel a jerk or jolt. It didn’t do this again once I’d stopped by the grocery and was driving home after, but I’m wondering if draining out the MaxLife fluid, and refilling with Toyota’s own “ATF WS” will stop this issue.
Possibly, assuming that no damage has been done. (I don't know how close the MaxLife is to the OEM fluid.) Bear in mind that a drain and fill will only replace about 1/3 of the fluid. It takes 3 or 4 of those, driving a while between times, to replace about 90% of the fluid. Another way to do it would be a fluid exchange which taps into the cooler lines and uses the transmission's own pump to move the fluid. That would do 100% changeover without the risk of a power flush. (See the FAQ for details on trans fluid changes.)
Scotty and most of us here have always advised against transmission flushes to avoid damage. We also tell people to avoid quik lube joints since their people are poorly paid, poorly trained, and they screw up all too often.
I went to Valvoline,
Never , ever , ever go to quick lube chains. They are not mechanics. They are the mcdonalds drive-through of the auto world, and sooner or later they'll ruin your car.
I came to find that this may have been a “flush” that they performed.
did they change the filter and clean out the pan? Because that's an important part of transmission service. It's like leaving an old oil filter on your engine.
Please see the transmission topic in our FAQ
I feel a jerk or jolt.
Hopefully, it's just be voids in the transmission refilling with fluid.
It could also be your transmission is just worn out.
stop this issue.
I thought you said " It didn’t do this again "
refilling with Toyota’s own “ATF WS”
It's safer to use the Toyota fluid.
