Synthetic transmission fluid question

[harkauto]

Is it ok to use synthetic transmission fluid in the transmission and differential of my 1999 4 cyl Camry?

[Brian R.]

Yes. I do. I may never change the fluid again over the life of the car. Still testing.

Don't forget the power steering pump.

[harkauto]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Yes. I do. I may never change the fluid again over the life of the car. Still testing.

Don't forget the power steering pump.

Are you saying to just change the fluid in the power steering resevoir?
Saiphon out the old and put in new?

[Brian R.]

No, flush it out by draining the system and cycling the rack by turning the steering wheel with the engine off (wheels in the air) and keeping the reservoir filled until clean fluid comes out.

[harkauto]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

No, flush it out by draining the system and cycling the rack by turning the steering wheel with the engine off (wheels in the air) and keeping the reservoir filled until clean fluid comes out.

Thanks for your help Brian R.!

[harkauto]

[quote=Brian R.;7128323]Yes. I do. I may never change the fluid again over the life of the car. Still testing.

Brian, I'm curious to learn more about your comment above. What do you mean by "Still Testing".
Since I have had this car I have changed the transmission an differential fluid and flilter faithfully every 30, 000 miles.

[jerryg2112]

I don't think that Brian is talking about the transmission fluid. He mentions the rack which is power steering.

[Brian R.]

In this car, the power steering system uses ATF as the fluid/lubricant.

[Brian R.]

[quote=harkauto;7128352]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Yes. I do. I may never change the fluid again over the life of the car. Still testing.

Brian, I'm curious to learn more about your comment above. What do you mean by "Still Testing".

I changed the transmission fluid and power steering fluid in my vehicles to synthetic ATF around 80k and 20k miles ago. They have not had any fluid added or replaced since then. I am monitoring the color as a measure of quality and they are still very red in color. If they get a brownish tinge, I will probably change them and conclude they have reached a time for a fluid change.

Also, I have been told by many reputable people that it is a waste of time and money to change the filter in your transmission. It only keeps chunks of clutch material from contaminating the valve body if the clutches burn out. Normal use does not plug the filter. It is really a screen and not a filter.

[jerryg2112]

I see what you mean now by your previous posts. Sorry, I stand corrected.

[Brian R.]

No big deal. No one can keep track of the fluids in all vehicles.

[ukrkoz]

Not to argue, but I'd have been careful with lifelong ATF assumption.
1. Has to be real good synth. Like Amsoil.
2. ENTIRE transmission system has to be flushed. Drain is normally only about a 3rd of overall ATF volume in transmission, torque converter, cooler, and lines. Suddenly, on some trannies, you are hit by cost of 12 qrts of premium cost fluid.
3. I can vouch for synth gear oil. THAT is lasting longer than your gear box will last for sure. Same goes for rear diff oil. In differentials like Camry's, dyff is doing pretty much nothing more than changing rotation 90 degrees. That's why they opted for ATF. Simple lubricant. Quite different in AWD vehicles with viscous differential, where it's pretty much a small AT, very sensitive to hydraulic fluid specs.

[harkauto]

[quote=Brian R.;7128371]

Originally Posted by harkauto

Also, I have been told by many reputable people that it is a waste of time and money to change the filter in your transmission. It only keeps chunks of clutch material from contaminating the valve body if the clutches burn out. Normal use does not plug the filter. It is really a screen and not a filter.

A Toyota owner friend of mine said the same thing. Instead of buying a new filter, he will remove it about every other fluid change and just wash it out with clean tranny fluid and put it back in the car. He also said it's more a strainer for the big chunks more than it is a filter and sees no sense in paying the money for a new one.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by harkauto

A Toyota owner friend of mine said the same thing. Instead of buying a new filter, he will remove it about every other fluid change and just wash it out with clean tranny fluid and put it back in the car. He also said it's more a strainer for the big chunks more than it is a filter and sees no sense in paying the money for a new one.

I don't even bother doing that. I just leave it alone. Never had any transmission problems.

[harkauto]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

I don't even bother doing that. I just leave it alone. Never had any transmission problems.

I tend to be a little anal with this car. I'm 62 years old and want this car to make it through at least another 10 years of my life. My goal is to hit the 300,000 mile mark and then some. Money for new cars.....or even decent used cars is pretty tight right now.