2012 Yaris hatchback, 5MT: when to change transmission oil? - Toyota Yaris Forums

matti · 10-26-2016, 12:03 PM

Hello. I've got about 48k on my Yaris and it occurred to me that, as far as I can tell, the "recommended maintenance" schedule of the car doesn't say when I should change the manual transmission oil (I believe the schedule lists recommended maintenance items out to 120k miles). Any suggestions on when I should change the oil?

Thanks.

bronsin · 10-26-2016, 01:56 PM

Depends on how you drive it. Trailer towing...below zero operation...drag racing...dusty roads etc.

Me I would follow the owners manual...

matti · 10-26-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronsin

Depends on how you drive it. Trailer towing...below zero operation...drag racing...dusty roads etc.

Me I would follow the owners manual...

Thanks. I do, more-or-less, regular driving without too much start-stop. In winter, I do drive often when the temp is below O degrees F, however.

In regard to the owners manual, I cannot find any text giving recommended intervals for changing the transmission oil. So, I don't even know where to start.

WeeYari · 10-26-2016, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matti

So, I don't even know where to start.

Go to your Toyota Service Department and ask them to print out the service schedule for your car.

bronsin · 10-26-2016, 03:54 PM

Would this be DIY or would a shop do it?

matti · 10-26-2016, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronsin

Would this be DIY or would a shop do it?

I would have a shop do it. I got this response from my local Toyota dealer today:

"Toyota doesn't have a recommended mileage for transmission fluid. They recommend it gets inspected every 30K. Toyota now uses a lifetime fluid and may never need to be changed until the clutch needs replacing or maintenance. in general, many vehicles recommend a 90-100K."

Thanks again for your help everyone.

WeeYari · 10-26-2016, 05:34 PM

It's surprising how many 'lifetime' fluids we are seeing touted nowadays.

bronsin · 10-26-2016, 07:14 PM

If you go the no change route definitely check the level every 30000 miles and inspect the trans for leaks every oil change.

SirDigby · 10-28-2016, 12:44 AM

change it every 50,000 miles. it only costs $20 for fluid. ($40 if you go fancy) why risk it pushing it to 100k when it's so cheap?
don't be cheap. just maintain that bitch...

bentjazz · 11-15-2016, 08:12 PM

There are two service centers where I bought my Yaris. One says to change transmission fluid no sooner than 90,000 miles. The other service center says you never have to change it. My Yaris has around 63,000 miles, and the transmission fluid is still cherry red. Plus, I have a lifetime warranty on my engine and transmission. So, I'm leaning towards never changing it, so long as the color maintains itself and there are no leaks.....

Bluevitz-rs · 11-15-2016, 09:48 PM

There isn't much in a manual transmission that can create contamination. If you drive it normally and don't abuse the synchronizers the fluid could technically last as long as the clutch.

Thirty-Nine · 11-16-2016, 12:03 PM

FYI, I changed mine at like 75,000 miles. Should I have done it sooner? Perhaps. However, it seems good. Replaced it with Redline fluid.

SirDigby · 11-17-2016, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentjazz

... I have a lifetime warranty on my engine and transmission. So, I'm leaning towards never changing it, so long as the color maintains itself and there are no leaks.....

what kind of a moron would offer a "lifetime warranty?" sounds fishy to me.

bentjazz · 11-17-2016, 04:35 PM

SirDigby,

Kerry Toyota, where I bought my Yaris in Dec. of 2010. One of the largest Toyota dealerships in this area. Lifetime warranty on both the engine and transmission....

CoryM · 11-18-2016, 12:23 AM

I believe Toyota's official answer is the M/T fluid is not required to be serviced. Gear oil does last a long time before losing it's performance: Especially in modern gearboxes/diffs. Typically water intrusion is what ruins the fluid rather than wear.

All that being said, the fluid is cheap enough that if you change it 2 or 3 times over the life of the car it's no big expense.

10-26-2016, 12:03 PM	#1
matti Drives: 2017 Yaris L (5sp manual) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: upper midwest Posts: 345	2012 Yaris hatchback, 5MT: when to change transmission oil? Hello. I've got about 48k on my Yaris and it occurred to me that, as far as I can tell, the "recommended maintenance" schedule of the car doesn't say when I should change the manual transmission oil (I believe the schedule lists recommended maintenance items out to 120k miles). Any suggestions on when I should change the oil? Thanks.

10-26-2016, 01:56 PM	#2
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,790	Depends on how you drive it. Trailer towing...below zero operation...drag racing...dusty roads etc. Me I would follow the owners manual... __________________ Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head

10-26-2016, 03:54 PM	#5
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,790	Would this be DIY or would a shop do it? __________________ Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head

10-26-2016, 05:34 PM	#7
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,740	It's surprising how many 'lifetime' fluids we are seeing touted nowadays. __________________

10-26-2016, 07:14 PM	#8
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,790	If you go the no change route definitely check the level every 30000 miles and inspect the trans for leaks every oil change. __________________ Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head

10-28-2016, 12:44 AM	#9
SirDigby View User's Garage Drives: 2007 yaris 3 door Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,000	change it every 50,000 miles. it only costs $20 for fluid. ($40 if you go fancy) why risk it pushing it to 100k when it's so cheap? don't be cheap. just maintain that bitch...

11-15-2016, 08:12 PM	#10
bentjazz Drives: 2009 Yaris--3dr MT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 541	There are two service centers where I bought my Yaris. One says to change transmission fluid no sooner than 90,000 miles. The other service center says you never have to change it. My Yaris has around 63,000 miles, and the transmission fluid is still cherry red. Plus, I have a lifetime warranty on my engine and transmission. So, I'm leaning towards never changing it, so long as the color maintains itself and there are no leaks.....

11-15-2016, 09:48 PM	#11
Bluevitz-rs 1NZ-6spd View User's Garage Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,967	There isn't much in a manual transmission that can create contamination. If you drive it normally and don't abuse the synchronizers the fluid could technically last as long as the clutch.

11-16-2016, 12:03 PM	#12
Thirty-Nine Small cars are a big deal View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,144	FYI, I changed mine at like 75,000 miles. Should I have done it sooner? Perhaps. However, it seems good. Replaced it with Redline fluid. __________________ Subcompact Culture: The Small car blog

11-17-2016, 04:35 PM	#14
bentjazz Drives: 2009 Yaris--3dr MT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 541	SirDigby, Kerry Toyota, where I bought my Yaris in Dec. of 2010. One of the largest Toyota dealerships in this area. Lifetime warranty on both the engine and transmission....

11-18-2016, 12:23 AM	#15
CoryM Drives: 2009 5-door, 5-speed Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: White Rock BC Posts: 687	I believe Toyota's official answer is the M/T fluid is not required to be serviced. Gear oil does last a long time before losing it's performance: Especially in modern gearboxes/diffs. Typically water intrusion is what ruins the fluid rather than wear. All that being said, the fluid is cheap enough that if you change it 2 or 3 times over the life of the car it's no big expense.

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