2014-2019 Highlander Transmission Flush

[@charlesupham2023]

Excellent video! Clear, easy to follow and super helpful. Local shop wanted $97 to do this!

[@ericp.9497]

I've been searching for a proper how-to-flush for this vehicle (wife's '18 Lexus) and finally found it! Thanks so much for this.

[@jg-tf1rt]

As always..great video..thanks for the details and your ”Insight” is always appreciated!

[@wk7060]

Exceptional video. Thanks.

[@condor5635]

You don’t need a pump to do this gravity feed the funnel/ tube from the engine compartment right down into the fill hole. I bought an extra fill bolt and cut a hole in it just for the tube. Works fantastic. Four of my vehicles and I’ve never needed to buy one of those pumps - gravity does the work all the time much better

[@john21031]

Kudos for using the correct fluid. You didn't change the drain plug washer/gasket, hopefully it will not leak, otherwise the transmission can be ruined.

[@condor5635]

Get serious. I’ve removed mine like eight times and not changed it. If you can’t identify a leak before it ruins your transmission you shouldn’t be doing this procedure.

[@CornellSmith-c1n]

Very informative. Thanks

[@Sheboy19]

Where are you located I've watched several videos & you definitely know what your doing. Plus you take time to do it right & clean up when finished. A sign of an excellent mechanic.

[@automotiveinsight]

Thank you so much! We’re in South Carolina.

[@jonathanrasay]

Where in SC?

[@iluxionxz]

What is the name of your shop to bring my car? Thank you

[@condor5635]

With all due respect, you left 2 quarts that are dirty in the pan that could’ve been easily drained before doing this procedure. Why would you wanna leave 2 quarts of dirty fluid and then fill it with 4 quarts of new fluid? I would never overfill my fluid by 4 quarts. Other than not draining the pan initially what you did was a good process. I would’ve turn the car on drain 2 quarts. Turn the car off. Fill with 2 quarts and repeat until the fluid looks good. I have no idea what overfilling by 4 quarts does but I wouldn’t want to risk it furthermore, you should choose the return path into the transmission so it does matter which tube you choose. That’s the last part of the line before your new fluid is introduced so it makes sense to use that line. Other than that great procedure. I have that identical car.

[@blairpickerill19]

Good stuff

[@Zeek800]

There’s actually a strange process to use the vehicle’s own system to put it in maintenance mode which will tell you when the vehicle’s transmission is at the right temp. You also can use that bottom drain hole to drain the ATF but the way you did it probably gets out pretty much all the old fluid better. Yes “ lifetime transmission fluid means about 70,000 - 100,000 miles but I would suggest 70,000. At a point after 100,000 the transmissions clutches etc may need that old original fluid to work properly and a late flush may result in transmission issues. Opening up that area inside the wheel well is brilliant as I’ve seen Highlander videos where they did all that from under the vehicle and had difficult access to the fill hole. My local Toyota dealership told me that my transfer case and rear differential didn’t need the fluids changed “ according to Toyota”. These aren’t 4x4s but I believe the transfer case and rear diff fluids should be changed out every 50,000-70,000 miles as well. The rear diff fluid especially will show fine metal??? powdery stuff by those mileages and whether that’s a concern or not I’m not sure. The rear differential fluid is pretty easy to change yourself just use the right fluid. Same fluid goes into the transfer case which is a little harder to change. In all cases, ( transmission, diff and transfer case ) make should the filler hole plug will loosen up before draining the fluids. Great video and some good tips.

[@clockradioseller]

Any idea what the procedure is to get the trans temp?

[@froggey5689]

I just stick with the good ole drain and refill. Normally it’s around 3 quarts. I do this every 50k miles and I’m good to go. Much easier and I don’t think a full flush is necessary.

[@condor5635]

I tend to agree I’ve done this about four times on my 16 Highlander and it has 110,000 miles on it. It’s very easy to do the drain and fill.

[@Jason-au-vip]

Do you need to change the transmission filter?

[@HugDeeznueces]

Is this the same for a 2020?? Temperature the same range???

[@sarahmoua5870]

How much is a cost for transmission flush?

[@alexhoang7286]

can you just drain out some fluid from the hose(s) without overfilling the transmission initially? or will it go dry and hurt the transmission?

[@shaolinman]

Question: does that Highlander have a dip stick? I have seen one KZbinr pouring the transmission fluid on a 2013 Highlander from the top via dipstick opening.

[@automotiveinsight]

Not in this year range with this transmission. Some of the older ones do and some of the 4 cylinder ones do.

[@MilitiousJ]

I'm curious as to why it will start sputtering air from the lines even if it has more than enough fluid.

[@automotiveinsight]

You pump in the 8 qts, then run it out so that it’s empty when it’s spurting air. Then hook your lines back up and add the remaining 4 qts.

[@ReconRokon]

@@automotiveinsightThanks for this video. My wife has a 2019 Highlander AWD and I'm going to be servicing it soon. Your comment above has me concerned. You say "pump in 8 qts then run it out so that its empty when its spurting air, then hook lines back up and add the 4 remaining qts. If its empty when spurting air, then you add the final 4 qts, you are 4 qts low because the system holds 8 qts total. Please clarify and thanks again.

[@automotiveinsight]

@@ReconRokonwhen it runs out and “spurts” that just means the pan is empty. There is still fluid in the converter. You’ll find it’s only about 3 quarts low, I just put in the remaining 4 because it’s easier to remove it than add it.

[@condor5635]

@@ReconRokon- if I were you, I wouldn’t do it this way. Be safe drain 2 quarts by his method turn off the car put 2 quarts in turn on the car drain 2 quarts. Turn off. Continue this until it’s clean. that way you don’t ever overfill or run it till it’s sputters

[@johnysky6066]

So you decided not to clean magnets on the bottom of the pan ???

[@BigDipper79]

It’s called a flush. You know nothing about Toyotas. They don’t have magnets in there transmissions. 😂🤡 in fact they have screens instead of filters.

[@johnysky6066]

Oh really I flushed them fof15 years, sure there are magnets on the bottom pan . You have no idea about transmissions@@BigDipper79

[@polarbear2469]

Hope that guys was actually joking about no magnets because I dropped my pan and they were there!

[@ronyalefaio]

6mm hex to removed the drain plug..then same 6mm hex put back into drain plug hole and removed the tube..its a green colour..when everythings drained..put back tube..you dont need to over tightened it or it breaks..put back plug..then fill the amount that came out of pan plus add half a litre from sides fill plug..its better to overfill cos you can adjust it after by removing drain plug..depend what method you use to check the fluid level..after that..remove drain plug to get rid of excess oil..when its start to drip..put back drain plug then good to go..cheers

[@deval70]

No filter replacement necessary?

[@BigDipper79]

They don’t have filters. They have screens.

[@4af]

Does this look like a metal screen? imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7581/ukG4tB.jpg

[@ScubaCat3]

The WS ones have a pleated filter. I changed mine for sure and cleaned the pan. (14 Sienna)

[@castercyrus9076]

Can i do this for highlander 2.7 fwd.? Can i use a temp scan to measure the temp??

[@automotiveinsight]

As long as it’s after 2004 then yes. As far as the temp scan, it will probably get you close, but the temperature inside is hotter than outside so you’ll have to contend with that.

[@castercyrus9076]

@@automotiveinsight mine is 2016 2.7L. Is there any other tool to measure the temp? Aside from the scan tool you were holding..

[@claudiobrown3154]

Bro I've been trying to find the same thing for a 2.7 as well please hit me back when you find out.

[@JustJigit]

My transmission is humming and I changed the filter and fluid and still humming. 2008 highlander. What can it be or how to get rid of humming? Thank you Sir!

[@toyotoolmastertech]

Need new transmission/reman . Internal bearing/ gears worn

[@TheYouTubeMechanic]

cut your intro out. check your metrics and see why. Thank you for posting. I'll be filming also.

[@ozarkliving7263]

Do you have a video on a 2019 Hybrid Avalon transmission service?

[@ozarkliving7263]

Is there value in dropping the pan and replacing that filter?

[@shorelinearmorllc477]

Toyota told me there is no filter just a metal screen they said don't bother

[@polarbear2469]

@@shorelinearmorllc477 I just did a fluid change on a 2016 Toyota Highlander 3.5. L 2WD and can promise you there is a black plastic transmission filter on the bottom of the transmission. Why you wouldn’t change the filter out is beyond me. There are 2 bolts that are a bit of a pain to get out. Actually better to drop the pan and filter, you get out a little over 3.5 quarts of fluid.

[@shorelinearmorllc477]

@polarbear2469 I guess ask the dealer that's what they said it's a metal screen I have a 2017

[@polarbear2469]

@@shorelinearmorllc477 The 2017 might have a metal screen, but I know for a fact the 2016 has a transmission filter. You have to go to Toyota to get it, hard to find aftermarket replacements.

[@stevenjackson7067]

​, I checked I don't know how many sites for my 2018 Highlander and I couldn't find a filter. When I pick up a part tomorrow I'll have to ask the dealer if it has one. If it does, it will get changed.