Transmission Oil Change - Suggestions

[ihsn]

During my last oil change my mechanic showed me that the viscosity of the transmission oil wasnt good and I needed to do an transmission oil change. I cant seem to locate the previous owner so I'm not really sure when was the last time he got this changed, my Vibe is currently at 183k.How do you check if my Vibe is AWD or GT or any other version? Also which oil (brand) would you suggest? Also do I need to do a flush or not?I would greatly appreciate if you can advise me in detail on this topic. Thanks.

[Whelan]

How many miles are on the car. I did mine at about 60-70k with an automatic transmission. You can follow your book as in the back of the owner's manual it gives you a service schedule. I tend to do mine every about 60k though. For the money about $100 it's worth it to just do it so you know when it was last done going forward for sure. You can trust that logic more than the guy who says "umm probably around X miles."As far as the AWD, FWD, GT. Simple. Pop the hood. If your engine cover says VVTL-i on the cover you have a GT with lift. If you drive a manual it could be a GT (not sure if they are 6 speed or were 5 speed). For the AWD, look on the back for a tab that says AWD on the hatch lid. Or look under the car for a big pipe that runs from the front to back in the middle of the undercarriage. That would be the driveshaft for the rear wheels and you have AWD.Or just punch your VIN into google and look it up.For the service type, flush or fill. I just went to my local Midas guy, said do my tranny service and they did it. FYI - I have every oil change receipt for my car, wipe blade receipt, other parts, services, tires, rotations, etc. done on my car since day 1. I keep them in envelopes in the glove box so the next owner gets a FULL history.

[Caretaker]

With that many miles, and the fact that you cannot determine when or if the tranny fluid was ever removed, PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO FLUSH THE TRANNY. Simply do a fluid replacement like they do on the BG machines at Jiffy Lube. Sure, you won't get 2 quarts sitting on the top of your housing, but who cares. Any flushing service will potentially release varnish particles attached to the components inside. Once released, they will ruin your transmission in no time. Again, if you don't know when the fluid was last replaced, get it out now; but do not allow anyone to power flush the transmission. Take it from a previous Mazda 626 owner who had that wonderful Ford Probe transmission serviced a billion times. I feel like I could go to work at AAMCO after owning that car.

[northvibe]

drain and fill for sure! thats how I do my auto trannies. go get some toyota trans fluid and drain the 3 some quarts and fill, then do it again a couple more times after driving some.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »drain and fill for sure! thats how I do my auto trannies. go get some toyota trans fluid and drain the 3 some quarts and fill, then do it again a couple more times after driving some.X2!!!Assuming it's an automatic........Use only Toyota T IV from Toyota. Don't go get the "universal" works in all trans oils, stick with what Toyota designed to put in there.If you are mechanical I'd get a new oil pan gasket and a new filter and or gasket. The filter is metal and can be cleaned or just replace it, at your option.If you drop the filter the oil change will be about 4.3 qts. Drive it for a few thousand miles and change it again via the pan drain plug, about 3.7 qts. Drive a few thousand more and drain via drain plug again. Now start changing via the drain plug about every 20,000. That way at the end of 60,000 miles virtually all of the oil will have been replaced. This is only my opinion based on years of mechanical work and a strong distrust of Automatic Transmissions (I"ve been stick shift up to this car...the wife thing) and that the manufacturers tend to drag out the oil change intervals longer than I'm comfortable with. No harm (except for $$'s) is done by more frequent oil changes. A LOT of harm (BIG $$"S) is done by too few oil changes.Dave

[ihsn]

Thank you all for the detailed replies. My Vibe is Auto. I'm not mechanically inclined so changing the trans oil multiple times after driving some time may not be possible in my case.So I will not get it flushed and the oil to get is Toyota T IV?

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by ihsn »Thank you all for the detailed replies. My Vibe is Auto. I'm not mechanically inclined so changing the trans oil multiple times after driving some time may not be possible in my case.So I will not get it flushed and the oil to get is Toyota T IV?Yes, get it from Toyota. GM will most likely charge you more. You might even want to get the oil changed at Toyota. I am sure you are aware that this is a Toyota Matrix with different skin.They will possibly offer an oil exchange. This is OK though I'm old fashioned and don't like people disconnecting trans cooling lines and such but many have done this with good results. It costs a few dollars more than just a change but it replaces all the oil in the trans at one time (9 qts) It takes more to do it because of the hoses and machine.Good Luck.I'd still change the trans oil about every 4th or 5th oil change but again, that is just me.I was just reading some Toyota training information that talks about auto transmissions and their oils.Auto trans oil will run about 212 degrees at normal operation. Temps of the oil can reach as high as 300 degrees during severe use and parts in the trans will reach up to 660 degrees.Toyota goes on to say that the oil should last up to 100,000 miles if the operating temps are 175 degrees or below. For every 20 degrees above that cut the service length in half. 195 degree oil will only go 50,000 miles, 215 degree oil will only go 25,000 miles. etc.Now do the math. They just told us a trans will run normally at 212 degrees. Using their own methodology this oil should be changed at a 25,000 mile interval UNDER NORMAL USAGE AS DETERMINED BY TOYOTA's SERVICE TRAINING LITERATURE. IF you operate severely at 300 degrees lets see... 235 degrees 12,500: 255 degrees 6,250: 275 degrees 3,125: 295 degrees not even 2000 miles before the trans oil should be changed! Scary. Why does the dipstick say 100,000 and the manual say 60,000 under heavy? Those numbers are all so wrong! No wonder my oil was black and smelled at 42,000!Dave

[lovemyraffe]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »drain and fill for sure! thats how I do my auto trannies. go get some toyota trans fluid and drain the 3 some quarts and fill, then do it again a couple more times after driving some.+1Flushing isn't necessary. Just drain and fill.