Goodbye to trust in Toyota—consumers claim that the Avalon’s “lifetime fluid” is a scam and could damage your car without warning

The “lifetime” fluid doesn’t exist for your car. That’s how it is, and that’s what our friends at Royalty Auto Service have shared in a video that’s gone viral on TikTok with over 394,000 views. In this video, a mechanic lifts a 2013 Toyota Avalon with over 100,000 miles, and his surprise was… not a good one. “There is no lifetime transmission fluid” he said. Although manufacturers like Toyota claim it never needs to be changed, experience says otherwise…

Is it really safe to never change the transmission fluid? Or is it just a myth to make your car die earlier?

What happens in the video?

In the video, we see Sherwood and his son next to a 2013 Toyota Avalon with 165,000 kilometres. They explain that the customer had gone to Toyota because he wanted to improve the transmission service, but they refused because it was “lifetime fluid”. However, Sherwood doesn’t trust that lifetime fluid much.

The myth of lifetime fluid: where does it come from?

The concept of lifetime fluid appeared in the late 90s, when manufacturers like BMW pushed it as a convenience feature. The idea was that modern chemistry had advanced so much that these fluids would last the entire lifetime of the transmission… and that the transmission would last as long as the car.

Buuut?

However, mechanics like Sherwood from Royalty Auto Service warn that this argument is a trap. “The reality is that the fluid lasts as long as the transmission if you don’t change it. But that means the transmission also dies sooner” he explains.

Should you change the transmission fluid?

As the experts tell us, transmission fluid lubricates and cools the internal components. Over time, this fluid becomes contaminated with metal particles and dirt that can affect performance and durability. Changing it removes these residues and keeps the transmission working optimally.

Sherwood explains that there are two ways to change it: partially draining it or doing a full flush, which also cleans the internal passages. “With the flush, we remove all the old fluid, and that really extends the life of the transmission” he points out.

When is it too late for a flush?

The experts agree that if your car has already passed a certain mileage with old fluid, a flush could be risky. “If the car is already full of deposits and you’ve never cleaned them, a flush can dislodge everything at once and damage the transmission”, Sherwood explains. That’s why they recommend starting early and doing it regularly.

What do the users say?

The virality of this debate on TikTok and forums like Reddit and Bob is the Oil Guy shows that there are thousands of people interested. Some say they never changed the fluid, and their car is still running perfectly. Others, on the other hand, say that changing it on time was key to surpassing 300,000 kilometres without problems.

According to the data, all transmission fluids (even the “lifetime” ones) degrade with heat and friction. This doesn’t mean you have to change them every year, but neither do they last forever.

So yes, it’s a myth that sounds really nice but isn’t real. Ignoring fluid changes can lead to costly repairs (or even having to replace the whole transmission much sooner than necessary).

Do regular checks, listen to experienced mechanics, and don’t be fooled by marketing promises that seem too good to be true!! Because, in the end, your car’s life depends on the care you give it… not on some supposed “eternal fluid”.