ooops i drained the tranny oil !

[phantom]

ok i see it happened again on another site
so do you think this should be made a sticky somewhere for all the new folks? if so where? ( no it won't fit there)

note that the transmission oil plug is beyond the bell housing ( ok 1 1/2 feet back of the oil drain
the oil drain is almost in the middle of the front axle




UPDATE: 10/05/08

IF YOU DID MAKE A BOBO , DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK !

GET MORE OF THE atf ( FROM TOYOTA AS I DO NOT CARE WHAT THE PARTS STORE SAYS IT IS DIFFERENT)
AND FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS

http://phantomphixer.iquebec.com/fill.pdf

[06tacoma]

I think its pretty obvious where its at but i guess for a person that not use to looking underneath cars i could understand the mistake but you have to think about it you will never see a oil drain plug so far to the rear of the truck

[rhoppas]

Excellent...and useful picture. This should be useful to many people.

[06tacoma]

I clearly said i could understand the mistake of a new owner and never sayed i was a perfect mechanic but after being under a few cars you come to understand stuff and take your time but i do agree it should be stickied

[Janster]

Originally Posted by rhoppas

Excellent...and useful picture. This should be useful to many people.

It's a double edged sword I guess. I'll be one of the first people to point out how EASY it is to do your own maintenance - however, I forget to realize that people obviously don't spend enough time researching and looking for pictures first before diving under there and unscrewing the first bolt they see.

I guess maintenance really ISN'T as easy as we think it could be. It involves some research.....

But then again - Why the hell did Toyota put a drain plug on the transmission in the first place? The transmission doesn't have a dipstick and it's not supposed to need service for 100,000 miles anyway... How hard would it be to drop the entire pan?

[rhoppas]

Janster - I couldn't agree with you more, on all points. For those people who aren't quite sure what they are doing, and they are smart enough to do a bit of research before diving in, Phantom's picture makes it pretty clear. The 'ol adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" applies here.

[08TurboTaco]

"But then again - Why the hell did Toyota put a drain plug on the transmission in the first place? The transmission doesn't have a dipstick and it's not supposed to need service for 100,000 miles anyway... How hard would it be to drop the entire pan?"

Its actually not the drain plug, its the overflow plug used for refilling the transmission.

[Janster]

Originally Posted by 08TurboTaco

"But then again - Why the hell did Toyota put a drain plug on the transmission in the first place? The transmission doesn't have a dipstick and it's not supposed to need service for 100,000 miles anyway... How hard would it be to drop the entire pan?"

Its actually not the drain plug, its the overflow plug used for refilling the transmission.

You'll have to explain what you mean by the 'overflow plug'.

Not doubting you - but how do they refill the transmission with a bolt at the bottom of the pan? It's baffling my thinking....

[08TurboTaco]

because there is no dip stick, the transmission cannot be filled the traditional way. The way to fill the new transmissions with the new WS fluid is to connect the toyoto scan tool to set the vehicle in maintenance mode and to monitor the temperature of the ATF. there is a fill plug on the side of the transmission that a toyota special tool will all allow you to pump fluid into the trans. when the temp is at the proper level you take out the overflow plug on the bottom and continue pumping in fluid until you get a slight trickle out of the overflow. The trans pan has a tube on the inside where the overflow plug is, this tube is a predetermined length so that when the ATF is at the proper temperature and level it will expand to the exact height of this tube and barely trickle out. i.e. no flow then there is not enough fluid....heavy flow then it is overfilled..... Believe me, we dealership technicians hate this new design also....its a huge pain in the ass

[08TurboTaco]

I am an idiot and I mis-spelled Toyota (and I work for them ha!)

[gsm]

Originally Posted by 08TurboTaco

because there is no dip stick, the transmission cannot be filled the traditional way. The way to fill the new transmissions with the new WS fluid is to connect the toyoto scan tool to set the vehicle in maintenance mode and to monitor the temperature of the ATF. there is a fill plug on the side of the transmission that a toyota special tool will all allow you to pump fluid into the trans. when the temp is at the proper level you take out the overflow plug on the bottom and continue pumping in fluid until you get a slight trickle out of the overflow. The trans pan has a tube on the inside where the overflow plug is, this tube is a predetermined length so that when the ATF is at the proper temperature and level it will expand to the exact height of this tube and barely trickle out. i.e. no flow then there is not enough fluid....heavy flow then it is overfilled..... Believe me, we dealership technicians hate this new design also....its a huge pain in the ass

First, I agree this should be, and is now, a sticky. I've been changing my own oil (and started with my fathers truck) for over 30 years now. And although changing oil is straight forward for me as well as most other, Some may be young and this could be their first vehicle and oil change experience. My father taught me at a young age (probably so he didn't have to do it ). But that type of hand me down knowledge is being lost, just like hunting, farming, etc., to make way for quick change stations.

08TurboTaco, without looking at the tanny overflow plug, what you say makes sense but if an oil change is performed - how do they get all the old oil out of the tranny without a "drain plug"? Syphon it out?

[WilsonTheDog]

"Special tools", gotta love it. It's more like "let's make a design that the average DIYer won't be able to handle so he has to come spend money with us".

[08TurboTaco]

"08TurboTaco, without looking at the tanny overflow plug, what you say makes sense but if an oil change is performed - how do they get all the old oil out of the tranny without a "drain plug"? Syphon it out?"

The WS ATF is not sceduled to be changed until 100K miles. If and when it does need to be changed, a full flush can be performed with a flush machine, or the trans pan will need to be dropped to drain all of the oil out of the pan, this however will only get about 4 of the 12 quarts since the remainder will still be in the coverter, so a flush is the best solution.

[gsm]

Thanks for the info

[river rat]

Indeed. A full flush is good. I wish I had a drain plug on my '94 Lincoln.
I just did the 120K tranny fluid and filter service but would have to change it multiple times to get it clean. That would pretty much suck...Wish I could rent one of those machines for a few hours.


Rob

[Mudbug]

When I was 16 I did an oil change on my vw passat.....and as I poured the new oil in....bwahahaha I had forgotten to put the drain plug back in the pan LOL

[CCRT]

Phanton....

You making the underside of my truck famous

Thought this would help explain the transmission overflow tube.

[red06toy]

Originally Posted by gsm

First, I agree this should be, and is now, a sticky. I've been changing my own oil (and started with my fathers truck) for over 30 years now. And although changing oil is straight forward for me as well as most other, Some may be young and this could be their first vehicle and oil change experience. My father taught me at a young age (probably so he didn't have to do it ). But that type of hand me down knowledge is being lost, just like hunting, farming, etc., to make way for quick change stations.

08TurboTaco, without looking at the tanny overflow plug, what you say makes sense but if an oil change is performed - how do they get all the old oil out of the tranny without a "drain plug"? Syphon it out?

Your right, I went to a high school that had an auto shop even tho it wasnt a voke school. We take this stuff for granted. I work witha kid who didnt know what a spark plug was, my girlfriends brother didnt know how to put air in his tires. No bulls**t.

[braker19]

I am a first time DIYer and accidentally drained the transmission fluid as well. Is it possible to refill the fluid with a manual pump, and if so, could I get some advice on where to find the refill plug and how much fluid this will take. Thanks, and please excuse my extreme idiocy as I didn't have anyone to teach me these types of things in my youth.

[lsocoee]

Originally Posted by braker19

I am a first time DIYer and accidentally drained the transmission fluid as well. Is it possible to refill the fluid with a manual pump, and if so, could I get some advice on where to find the refill plug and how much fluid this will take. Thanks, and please excuse my extreme idiocy as I didn't have anyone to teach me these types of things in my youth.

your forgiven. we all have those DOH moments. The fact that you tried to do it means you should be commended. Welcome to the site.