I have two questions, and have already searched the forum.

1) 98 F150 auto V8, 173,000. I have always flushed and maintained my tranny per manufacture intervals. I had the fluid flushed at 140k... 33k later its due again but with 173k my dealer said not to flush it... so do I?

2) Other car, 97 Camry (and YES I know this is a ford forum) 150k on it, bought it with 135k so I really don't know the history but Toyota dealer recommended I flush it, said it was very dirty... first time I was advised to flush tranny on a high mileage car. It shifts fine now but is very sloppy compared to my sister's Camry with 1/2 the miles (same year and car). Again, I know its a Toyota but this is more of a general question, not a brand question.

Is the whole high mile = don't flush thing just a personal opinion because I have been told both (do it or don't do it) and have read both on here.

 

Yes to both. On you truck just consider it preventative maintenance. Fresh fluid and filter in the Toyota may actually improve the shift quality. I've changed transmission fluid on high mileage vehicles with dirty or burnt fluid and never had one go out just because the fluid was changed.

 

Make sure the service is a fluid exchange not a flush with chemicals. A fluid exchange machine uses your trucks own transmission pump to circulate old fluid out and new fluid in. Can take 45 minutes or more. No junk gets stirred up and your tranny gets a complete fluid exchange.

That said, there is nothing wrong with a simple pan drop/filter swap/refill. That may be what your dealer wants to do. That's a traditional transmission service. If preformed every 30-50K it will keep the fluid fresh and the filter clean.

 

Does the Camry have a transmission drain pug? If so, you don't have to flush it. Do 3 drain/fills with a little driving in between to replace most of the fluid if you're worried about the negative consequences of a flush.

 

i had 120k on my truck. i dropped the pan and filled the torque converter and sure enought two days ago my trans went out. only a month and a half after changing it. sorry man just my opinion

 

At 120k you are in the window for a tranny failure at any time.

 

I agree totally with this, A flush will stir up junk and contaminate the valve body on a high mileage car. The Toyota tranny should be drain and refilled and make sure to use the correct fluid. Some use Toyota Type IV, look at your owners manual. Then next oil change do a drain and fill again. this will start to clean the fluid up and make the tranny happy.

 

One more thing that you mite want to do. Install a drain plug to your pan. I did the oil exchanged for 140 miles on my truck. When I dropped the pan I was surprised how big my magnet was and how dirty my filter was. It ran alot better after I added new syntic oil. I will drop the pan again in 10,000 miles to add more freah oil. Goodluck Ben