ATF change in 92 toyota corolla

A couple of months back when I went to get my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, they strongly recommended that I change the automatic transmission fluid on my 92 Toyota Corolla. The car has 134 K miles on it. They estimated that it would cost me $100. Some people I've talked to tell me that changing the ATF at this point might lead to transmission problems and it would be best not to change it. I also don't use the car that extensively - just about 6K or so every year, but its been a good little reliable car and if changing the ATF is what I need to do, I would do it just that I need to know whats best for the car. If anyone has any advice on this matter, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks!

Reply to
pchris
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$100? Heh. Do you have "sucker" written on your forehead?

If you're going to have your tranny _FLUSHED_ (100.00), don't let jiffy lube do it.

Best to leave it alone or at best, replace just the filter and the fluid required to replace the filter (about 3 quarts).

Reply to
Gary L. Burnore

Here's my experience you can take from it what you will. It wasn't Jiffy Lube but a 10 minute quick lube place where the techs seemed more knowledgeable. Shortly after I purchased the car with 85,000 miles on it, and was in for an oil change, they pointed out a transmission pan leak so I let him change the gasket and clean the screen in their solvent tank while I watched. When I saw the fluid come out, it looked dark to me so I went ahead with their transmission fluid exchange. There really is no "flush" - just a machine with two reservoirs. One holds old fluid, one new. Two hoses are connected to the transmission cooler lines as and the engine idles, the internal transmission pump slowly pumps out the old fluid and in with the new. Perhaps because I'm a purist, I asked how much fluid would be required and purchased the genuine Toyota ATF at the dealer which was OK with the quick lube place. I think it took something like 10 quarts and he suggested I buy 12 just to be safe. Turns out the exchange has some overlap. The total capacity is not 10 quarts but that was needed for the process. Then I discovered Mobil 1 synthetic ATF and began draining the transmission pan at oil change intervals to do the change over. I also changed the differential fluid to synthetic and noticed an immediate improvement in acceleration. Later when I began doing my own mechanical work and changed the timing belt, oil pan and transmission pan gaskets, I found two stripped transmission pan bolts - that was the real reason for the leak. The one caution I would add, is that Toyota requires you drive at least ten miles before performing the final fluid level check on the transmission to get it up to the "hot" range of 158 - 172*F. When the quick lube place did the final level check, they just told me to drive around the block.

Reply to
nospampls2002

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