# Toyota Corolla Tranny Fluid Change **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** corolla, toyota\ **Created:** [January 25, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648 "2018-01-25T01:58:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmmcd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@cmmcd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cmmcd)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/1 "2018-01-25T01:58:12Z")
Last summer, we took our Corolla to a family friend mechanic who did a drain and fill tranny change. A few weeks ago, we took the same car to a different mechanic for a required inspection for our car registration. Our transmission fluid got flagged as burnt. We’ve put less than 5k miles in between the supposed tranny change and the inspection. Did we get taken by this guy and he didn’t change our tranny fluid, or is there something else going on with our transmission? Right sample is the fluid in our car. Left sample is brand new Toyota tranny fluid (just in case that’s not obvious). ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/1/1dab9f57196af74f1d067b9dc7589c81399d8f65.jpeg) ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/2 "2018-01-25T02:08:43Z")
From the color, it’s time to have the transmission fluid serviced. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/98181fb45c51f516e5dca95c6822015768c7a948.jpg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![cmmcd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@cmmcd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cmmcd)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/3 "2018-01-25T02:16:38Z")
Thank you. Do you think the color falls under “mechanical problem” or it just wasn’t changed when it was supposed to be? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/4 "2018-01-25T02:17:57Z")
> [@cmmcd](#): > > Did we get taken by this guy and he didn’t change our tranny fluid, or is there something else going on with our transmission? Just call and say your were told at an inspection about the fluid looking bad and see what he says. ---
**Author:** ![cmmcd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@cmmcd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cmmcd)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/5 "2018-01-25T02:19:07Z")
I texted him with the picture. Hopefully he gets back to me soon. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/6 "2018-01-25T02:26:40Z")
Doing a drain and fill on that transmission will replace about 1/3 of the fluid that the transmission holds. Once fluid is dark the best way to replace it is to do a transmission fluid exchange. You can drain and fill the transmission three times (driving it in between drains) and get the fluid looking better but even that isn’t a complete service because you’re mixing the new fluid with the old. ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/7 "2018-01-25T02:27:57Z")
The problem is a drain and fill doesn’t replace 100% of the old transmission fluid. Most of the old fluid is held in the torque converter, valve body, and cooling lines. So it’s like draining only 50% of the engine oil, and then adding oil to bring the level up to the full mark. The new oil doesn’t replenish the old oil. But the old oil contaminates the new oil. So, if you want all the old transmission fluid replaced, a transmission fluid exchange machine is used. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/a/a38b6703f1e3da7f4de8782e75f9f789752e68d6.jpg) Tester ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/8 "2018-01-25T02:33:52Z")
The reason is probably as described above, the fluid prior to the transmission service was in pretty bad shape. The service drained out 1/3 and replaced that w/ 1/3 new, leaving a mixture of 1/3 new and 2/3 old. 5 K miles later it’s all mixed together, and not looking that new, as would be expected. The fluid now doesn’t look horrible, but it does look like it needs renewing. One idea, ask the mechanic who did it the first time to do it again. Also good idea to double-check the mechanic is using the correct transmission fluid, the one that Toyota recommends for that year of Corolla. ---
**Author:** ![cmmcd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@cmmcd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cmmcd)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/9 "2018-01-25T02:42:26Z")
Thank you all so much for your help. That totally makes sense. I’m a completely a car novice so I appreciate the explanations. We bought the fluid from the dealership (Toyota ATF Type-1V I believe) so hopefully what was what he used. Going forward, what’s the best service? I’m assuming I will have to do at least a few drain and fills? A total fluid exhange? Sorry if I’m not using the correct terms 🙃 ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/10 "2018-01-25T02:44:58Z")
I prefer the several drain and fill approach myself. Who knows what’s in the fluid exchange machine? ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/11 "2018-01-25T02:49:15Z")
The transmission fluid exchange machine replaces 100% of the transmission fluid. So once you know the total capacity of the transmission, you fill the machine with the correct tranny fluid, start the engine, and let the pump within the transmission exchange the fluid. Tester ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/12 "2018-01-25T02:50:54Z")
besides, I’m not sure only 1/3 is getting drained, probably better to check on Toyota forums how much fluid Corolla or particular model year drains for example, on Nissans I was working on, more than 50% get drained with a simple drain plug bolt, so 2 drain&fill operations result in under 25% of old fluid still circulating in the system ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/13 "2018-01-25T06:32:25Z")
That fluid color is normal for an older vehicle that has only had a drain and fill, the fluid is aged and discolored, not “burned”. I believe it is inappropriate for an inspector to be able to fail a vehicle during a safety inspection because of the color of the transmission fluid. Your transmission dipstick likely states that under normal operating conditions no maintenance is needed. Why should an inspector be able to decide that the fluid should stay pink? Manufacturers state that the dye in modern transmission fluid is not permanent and darkening is normal. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/14 "2018-01-25T21:27:55Z")
Honda said to never use a machine to exchange trans fluid, but to use the three drain/fill method. That was for my old 2005 Accord with automatic. What changed to make this OK, or is the same warning in effect for some cars? ---
**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 25, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-tranny-fluid-change/111648/15 "2018-01-25T21:47:00Z")
Honda states that if the transmission is properly maintained, there’s no benefit to using a fluid exchange machine. But if the transmission hasn’t been properly maintained, and a fluid exchange machine is going to be used, do not use any solvents, cleansers, or conditioners during the fluid exchange. [http://m.owners.honda.com/faqs/general](http://m.owners.honda.com/faqs/general) Tester