Sealed for life Auto boxes

[Wortho]

Well the Disco is 21 years old this year and we are planning some bigger trips now retired so looking for a replacement vehicle. I have been looking at the D-Max or Hilux but both appear to have similar Aisin auto gearboxes that have no dipstick or drain plug?  I would still like to change the fluid at least every 80k so can I assume the dealers can still do a fluid change if requested?
Cheers
Wortho

[gronk]

Most dealers don't....they just farm it out to the local auto trans place, which if you go there in the 1st place, will be cheaper than the dealer anyway..

[The punter]

Had the trans place flush mine at 40000k when they added the trans cooler. Trans rarely goes over 100c now

[GBC]

I had the ranger done at 100 km. They need to drop the sump and without a drain plug it is a messy bastard of a job.

[duggie]

Don't know why you can't ask the trans service people to braze/weld a drain plug into pan before they put it back on . I know that I will be doing this when I service the auto .

[gronk]

Don't know why you can't ask the trans service people to braze/weld a drain plug into pan before they put it back on . I know that I will be doing this when I service the auto .

And how do you top it up ?  I know with mine (200 series ) you can't just drain the whole 12 ltrs at one time, it needs to be put on a machine or done in stages...unless you know the routine, best left to a specialist !!

[Mitch92]

The Dmax is not sealed for life!

Has a drain plug on the bottom, a pipe inside that is at correct level when at certain temp.

I have one, and i ptomise you they are not sealed for life.

[DrewXT]

They claim the same for the Amarok, but the trans is easy to do a fluid change on

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[Wortho]

The Dmax is not sealed for life!
Has a drain plug on the bottom, a pipe inside that is at correct level when at certain temp.

Thanks for the replies. Mitch92, thats interesting! is your a 4, 5 or 6 speed?  I was just reading on newd-max.net as many owners trying to figure out how to change auto fluid. Is there a dipstick for refilling or is this done via a side plug on the gearbox?
Cheers
Wortho

[bardenboy]

Same with my 2016 Hilux, the box is not sealed, it has a drain plug, full plug and anther plug that measures the correct amount of auto fluid, I think the measurement needs to be done at 55 degree C

Enjoy the shopping
my Hilux is almost 2 years old with 46,000km , great vehicle

Dennis

[Paddler Ed]

Also make sure it goes back to the main stealer about every 12-18 months for a software update... quite often these get released and the indpendents don't have access to them.

[kylarama]

Unless there is a leak somewhere, modern electronic autos have no need to be topped up like your old 3 speed slushboxes. Hence the deletion of the dipstick.

This 'sealed for life' crap is just a made up myth, because of this deletion.

All the dipstickless autos I've encountered have a drain plug, removable sump, removable and replaceable filter, a refill plug and a factory documented service procedure.

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[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Being sealed for life has to be a misnomer.
If you get a failure, major or partial, you still have to be able to fill them to the correct level.
As well as have clean oil passing through the device.
Filters have a service life, so they have to be accessed.
It can be a problem when owners actually check the oil level, see it as low(cold) and then put more in.
Or check it without functioning the box through the full range, to get an accurate level, and drive it underfilled.
It's an effort to remove operator error.

[GBC]

Don't know why you can't ask the trans service people to braze/weld a drain plug into pan before they put it back on . I know that I will be doing this when I service the auto .

1. There’s filters to be serviced anyway so the sump is coming off.
2. I probably won’t have the vehicle long enough to do another service. They are turned over at 6 years.

[gronk]

I know on the 200, there isn't a filter as such, just a strainer, but some change it and some don't bother.
I had mine looked at by the auto trans place and they dropped the pan, replaced the strainer and topped it back up with the 4ltrs that came out with the pan. They said the oil looked perfect, so they didn't go thru with the procedure to replace all the oil.

[Julian Kaye]

   I get my Prado's auto box serviced every 40,000 km. Cost is $330.00 at a transmission specialist. New oil, filter, full report plus more I can't remember now. Good insurance especially when you tow.

[nab]

I sure most owner's manuals state that it is sealed for life under "normal" use. Under "extreme" use the fluid needs to be changed at their specified intervals.

[jw2170]

I sure most owner's manuals state that it is sealed for life under "normal" use. Under "extreme" use the fluid needs to be changed at their specified intervals.

And. I would imagine that "extreme" use includes towing a 1ton trailer??

Can anyone recommend a good Auto Transmission Service Centre near Liverpool, NSW....

A relative uses a guy out near Penrith way and swears by him....