Originally Posted by
Melbourne Park
From other threads, the filter retains a few litres of transmission fluid. So its possible now to drain the transmission partially, and put back the same quantity that you drained out. This doesn't replace the filter and retains I recall something like 30% of the old fluid. But that is better than doing nothing, and if its bought at the right price (the proper fluid) then its a different approach. one needs to read the appropriate threads ... but I recall, its not as complex as the engine oil change, which has issues with its oil cooler and draining the oil I think ...
I contacted A&B at 60k and they said don't bother yet. So I did it at 70k which they thought was time. A&B have ZF factory hardware that other places don't have for rebuilding ZF transmissions, they know all about ZF transmissions. And as said, I've towed about 15k with a 2.5 tonne (max) off road van. If there's something not right or a bit off with the tranny, finding out early would be better than later IMO.
Fact is that changing fluids is the cheapest insurance for a 4WD. Note that Toyota change their fluids a lot. They promise cheap services but the fluids are added onto one's cost of services, being consumables. In my experience at least (although with one Prado service they did pay for the fluids). The problem IMO with the ZF transmission is that the fluid is so costly and that the fluid needs to be the correct one. Nulon etc. won't do ... But A&B would buy it a lot better than you or I could IMO. And they don't seem to rip off their customers. Not sure now, but at times Repco used to have specials on the proper transmission fluid.