# Does 1998 Toyota Camry need trans oil at 120k miles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [January 14, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168 "2021-01-14T15:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Davis29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@Davis29](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Davis29)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/1 "2021-01-14T15:06:31Z")
Should a 1998 with 120,000 miles have the transmission oil changed. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/2 "2021-01-14T16:04:03Z")
Yes, for the **fourth** time. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/3 "2021-01-15T15:43:27Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Yes, for the **fourth** time. +1 However, if the OP didn’t have it done at 30k, 60k, and 90k, then it may be too late if the transmission is already showing signs of slippage. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/4 "2021-01-15T16:27:20Z")
OP: can you confirm whether you have an automatic or a stick. ---
**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 15, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/5 "2021-01-15T16:39:11Z")
> [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > can you confirm whether you have an automatic or a stick. It doesn’t matter. I should be changed. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/6 "2021-01-15T16:44:07Z")
Tester: at what frequency do you recommend for a manual? ---
**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 15, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/7 "2021-01-15T16:53:54Z")
It depends on manufacturer and use. > **[How to change manual transmission fluid?](https://www.elf.com/en/lubricants-faq/how-change/how-change-manual-transmission-fluid)** > > Most manufacturers recommend that manual transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. When should I change transmission fluid under heavy-duty use? Some manufacturers suggest changing transmission fluid every 15,000 miles. Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/8 "2021-01-15T16:55:50Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > Most manufacturers recommend that manual transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Pretty sure that’s not true, at least the 30,000 number for ‘most manufacturers’ ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/9 "2021-01-15T17:30:23Z")
ATF should be changed about every 30 to 40k miles (more often depending) even if the car maker says differently; including that “lifetime fluid” recommendation. Agreed; in the OP’s case it’s due for the 4th fluid change. The way I look at it is that if a car maker says the fluid is “lifetime” then the warranty on the transmission should also be lifetime. Put their money, not the car owner’s, where their mouth is. As I’ve mentioned previously, a long time friend of mine runs a trans shop which he took over from his dad decades ago. He sorts out trans problems and rebuilds them 5 and sometimes 6 days a week. He has stated more than once that almost every transmission failure he runs across is caused by not changing the fluid regularly or by running the fluid low due to a leak. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/10 "2021-01-15T17:33:20Z")
I’d say change it, even if it’s past due, could be a case where it helps the tranny live for another 120k. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/11 "2021-01-15T17:46:45Z")
> [@ok4450](#): > > He has stated more than once that almost every transmission failure he runs across is caused by not changing the fluid regularly or by running the fluid low due to a leak. I believe it. I have never had to overhaul the trans on any of the cars that I have owned over the past 50 years. On the other hand, I have known a few people who have had to do it at somewhere between 80k and 120k. The difference between my cars and theirs is that mine had the trans fluid changed every 30k or so, and theirs were never serviced. ---
**Author:** ![BikeGuy88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@BikeGuy88](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BikeGuy88)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/12 "2021-01-15T18:16:14Z")
A drain and refill should still be fine, just not a flush. If it’s slipping, yes, it won’t cure the matter, but it may buy some time. And I’m not saying that you’re suggesting this here, but OP don’t listen to anyone who says you shouldn’t drain/refill at this mileage because it will cause more damage. If that were to happen, it just means that your transmission was basically running on very borrowed time, and could’ve conked out any day just driving down the street; better to have it happen under circumstances which you can control. ---
**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 15, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/13 "2021-01-15T18:26:08Z")
> [@BikeGuy88](#): > > A drain and refill should still be fine, just not a flush. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6eb2d4535753bd1b07a71616166b539686824e19.jpeg "Pat Goss talks about Transmission Flushes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfrWzwic2Sg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/14 "2021-01-15T18:43:00Z")
> [@BikeGuy88](#): > > don’t listen to anyone who says you shouldn’t drain/refill at this mileage because it will cause more damage. If that were to happen, it just means that your transmission was basically running on very borrowed time On that, we can agree. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/15 "2021-01-16T17:33:40Z")
I note that my Mazda3 manual says change the manual tranny at 112,500 miles and the auto tranny at 125,000. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/16 "2021-01-16T18:15:50Z")
> [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > my Mazda3 manual says change the manual tranny at 112,500 miles and the auto tranny at 125,000. … and the manual probably also states that your Powertrain Warranty expires at 90k miles, after which the mfr has no responsibility for paying for trans replacement. The trans is unlikely to fail before 90k miles even if it isn’t serviced, but once the warranty is over, it all comes out of your wallet. Do you see where I’m going with this? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/17 "2021-01-16T22:00:42Z")
Here is the conflict I feel about normal maintenance: my 2007 Mazda3s with 167000 miles has a trade-in value of $1100, even though I think it is a car that could go to 300,000 miles (my wife won’t let that happen). A number of things in the recommended maintenance are not safety related, but would help get to the 300,000 mile mark. How much should I spend? As far as a manual tranny, I don’t expect it to have a sudden failure, but I would expect that as soon as I detect a problem, it is already too late. So, I am gambling $1100. ---
**Author:** ![BikeGuy88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@BikeGuy88](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BikeGuy88)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-1998-toyota-camry-need-trans-oil-at-120k-miles/174168/18 "2021-02-12T18:56:35Z")
I stopped watching at the 0:58 minute mark, when Pat says that a drain/refill + replacing the filter + cleaning the pan “didn’t really do anything”. Next he’ll be saying that I need to steam clean my intake manifold, because replacing the air filter “didn’t really do anything” 🙄