# 2002 Toyota RAV4 transmission flush and fill **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** rav4, toyota\ **Created:** [January 12, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496 "2019-01-12T14:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496/21 "2019-01-14T02:44:37Z")
It’s a good idea to replace the transmission fluid from time to time. The new fluid will be clean, and more important, contain new seal conditioning chemicals. The fluid pressures inside an automatic transmission are super high, and so the seals must remain in like-new condition to do their job. Otherwise shifting problems will eventually ensue. Something you and your wallet definitely don’t want. For most cars the preferred fluid replacement method is the pan drop and clean, replace the filter, and refill with new fluid. Certain transmission designs don’t allow for that, and for those the only method is the transmission flush. I’d be hesitant to go beyond 100K without replacing the fluid in an automatic trans, more like 50-60K between change-outs is preferable imo. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496/22 "2019-01-14T03:00:27Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > For most cars the preferred fluid replacement method is the pan drop and clean, replace the filter, and refill with new fluid. [http://www.straighttalkautomotive.com/articles/transmission-flush.html](http://www.straighttalkautomotive.com/articles/transmission-flush.html) Tester ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496/23 "2019-01-14T03:13:19Z")
Still have to do the pan drop to change the filter at some point, I assume? It’s also nice to be able to clean the pan and magnet. Well, it’s not nice as in fun, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496/24 "2019-01-14T04:19:34Z")
As far as I’m concerned, 30K fluid and filter service interval is the way to go [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-rav4-transmission-flush-and-fill/132496.md?page=1)