will i be doing this right?

If one were to drain the tranny (Manual) and refill with syn oil (MT90).

Would you just unscrew the fill/check plug, measure how high the oil is with your finger, unscrew the drain plug, drain the dino oil, screw the drain plug back in, refill with MT90 up to the same spot you measured with your finer?

sound about right?

 

No but yes. You fill it til it comes out the fill hole. Mind you the truck must be on level ground. It takes 2.3 qts I think.

 

great! will i notice any MPG difference by switching the engine and tranny oil over to Synth? I'll be using mobile 1 for the engine

 

http://www.carfiftyfour.com/tmp/05_Tacoma_Service_History_Guide_v1.51.pdf

But this doesn't cover a 6 speed. Not sure how much your tranny should take.

 

Just fill it up until the oil comes out the fill plug. let it settle to a slight trickle and then cap it off and torque the fill and drain plugs to spec.

Make sure you are on level ground before you attempt the service. Also, remove the FILL plug first!

 

You may notice a little improvement. I ran synthetic in my last 2 chevys. I find that you develop leaks easier. I read once its due to the fact its thinner. Not sure about that. Never did a mpg check on the engine oil. Putting it in the diffs seemed to help though. I have switched my tranny, diffs and transfer over in my Taco, but not the engine yet. Haven't made up my mind if I will.

 

anyone know what the spec torque is for the plugs? or where to find that info?

 

27 ft/lb

 

thanks...if i don't have a torque wrench, will a few medium cranks be ok?

also noticed a TON of sludge attached to the magnet in the tranny drain plug? is this normal? I'm assuming it was metal shavings?

the truck is new (2009) (10K miles)...first time changing the fluid from stock to MT 90


also, i filled untill it just kept draining out, took about 2 qrts...i should be okay right? Not sure if it was exactly 2.3 qrts? Maybe i'll run it for a few miles and re check?


ALSO: for people who don't have lifts...what is the best way to do this? (even though i don't plan on doing it again anytime soon)...i first thought I could use a funnel to fill up the tranny, that didn't work because the fill plug is on the SIDE of the tranny. Then tried some tubing that ran from the fill hole up through the engine to a funnel, that worked okay, but the tubing was too thin and it took for ever, ended up using a pump type deal (took for ever too)...thinking about getting a funnel that can be used sideways (if they make them) or wider tubing? thougths?

 

I would say it's pretty normal to have a bunch of fine shavings attached to the drain plug magnet, that's what it is for. This may be especially true for new transmissions because the initial break-in period will probably produce more shavings than a period of equal mileage after break-in.

 

You can get a hand pump from the auto parts store that screws onto the gear oil bottle. It has a tube on it so you can put the tube in the filler hole and use your other hand to activate the pump. It's a must have if the gear oil you're using doesn't come in the type of bottles that have a cone tip. I think there's a picture of one in the "how to change your differential fluid" sticky