How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

Well. I Am kind of mad and confused.
I ended up here because I got a new 2016 TRD OR DBCB LB Tow Package and I came accross gearcruncher posts about the Tacoma's being delivered low of ATF and also his post about Toyota's ATF WS being sub par.
So I did the ATF level check with the thermostat open and it was about .6 qt. low. I figured since I am doing this I might as well now drain it and fill it with Valvoline Max Life ATF, compatible with WS and which many recommend here at Tacoma Wolrd.
Then I come to find out that this draning method only gets about 1/4 of the ATF out, about 3 qts and capacity is about 12qts. So now I have a mix of ATF, Toyota and Valvoline in my truck.
Now I will have to figure out if this is really bad and if so I will have to take it somewhere where they can flush the whole thing out and replace with new. The fluid is new and clean so it should be just a take out and fill with one-kind anew.

Now regarding the hoopla about Toyota delivering and giving customers vehicles low in ATF.... Well some people report that it was found to be low but it is usually less than 1qt so much less than 10%. And if this is standard practice for Toyota, how many millions of vehicles they sell ea. year? And how many end up with bad transmissions? I think this, as many thing on the web, is blown out of proportion and many of us, overzealous, end up making things worse. After crawling under my brand spaking new vehicle I really had the feeling that it was not put together by a bunch of clowns, even if they are saving money by introducing more and more plastic parts.

 

First of all - you're fine. You can mix MaxLife and WS. Don't waste brand new fluid. As long as the level is cool, you're OK to keep driving since frankly your transmission doesn't know you are running 25% MaxLife/75% WS.

That being said, from a WARRANTY perspective, consider that the WS now has a shortened life span. I'm not saying the fluid is compromised or won't perform, but that you should find a convenient time in the future to go back to WS. You can do a 100% exchange via the trans cooler lines. There is a writeup on this site on how to do that so you'll have to find it.

Why should you go back to WS? You have a 50k mile powertrain warranty. While the Magnusson Moss act protects you, life tends to be easier when you don't give the dealership a reason to deny a claim in the event that something breaks. I'd rather spend $100 on new fluid than have to spend 8 months and $4k in court fighting Toyota corporate.

Finally - you are correct that half a quart in a 12 quart system is nothing. On principle, it seems bad that they underfill from the factory, but I would be hard pressed to say it has a detrimental effect on the transmission.

 

Been thinking about doing the same thing! Good job!

 

Thanks!
I thought it would be OK like this 75/25.

Now I could not tell much difference in color or consistency between ATF WS and Valvoline MaxLife.
Do you think the dealer service dept would if it came to needing warranty repair, and especially after the fluid has gone through several thousand miles of service life?
I was thinking on the line of removing All the ATF WS and replacing it with Valvoline per the write up on this site, I know which one it is, using the cooler outlet line. Yep it would cost another close to $60 in additional fluid but then I would have better quality fluid. I am 66 and it sure looks like the last vehicle I purchase.

The truck is warrantied 8yrs/100,000 miles.

 

For the most part, trans oil is trans oil. The variations are in the additive package to protect against heat and wear, and maybe some friction modifiers.

Ultimately do what makes you feel comfortable inside. It's probably better to be 100% Maxlife or 100% WS, but a blend is really not going to be discernible to anyone but a chemist.

 

Does this procedure work with a 2016 4Runner?

 

If you can find us the model of trans used, we can tell you.

 

Nor sure of the trans model number I will look at it when I get home. It's a 2016 SR5 premium with 5 speed trans.

 

Subd

 

Is there any kind of gasket/seal on the check plug? I'm thinking I may have devolved a slow leak after messing with the tranny, but it could just be some excess that was splattered collecting there and slowly dripping. I can't remember if there was one or not when I took it out. It's an 07 auto 5spd BTW! Thanks in advance!

 

There should be an aluminum hollow crush washer on the check plug.

Theoretically, you should be able to unscrew the check plug while the truck is cold and nothing would drip out.

 

Not true. I inadvertently allowed my crush washer to fall off, so had to pull the plug while not running. Fluid will run out if not running. I just pulled the plug and covered it with my thumb while putting the washer back on and then reinstalled it.

 

Sorry I meant cold, but running. (as in you just started it up and it's not fully warmed up)

 

Drain plug and overfill plug gaskets are same part number -

$11 35178-30010

35178-30010

Refill plug gasket - 90301-15004

Transmission pan gasket - 35168-60010

 

Be careful when putting the drain plug back in -- I ended up in a situation where the drain plug wouldn't tighten, looks like I stripped or crossthreaded it. I already put in 3 qts of WS fluid, so that's going to be fun when I drop the pan to replace it.

 

Is everyone using WS fluid from Toyota specifically?

Walmart sells Super Tech DEXRON VI Automatic Transmission Fluid which meets Toyota WS specifications and it is only $4.27/qt.

"Suitable for use where DEXRON II, DEXRON III, JASO M315 (1A), Toyota WS and Toyota T-IV fluids are recommended"

 

Had the same thing happen. Spilled about 2 quarts on the driveway when I replaced the pan.
I found a new pan at Lakeland Toyota overstock parts for $87. Everyone else wanted $150 to 180. I'm now tightening the drain bolt to 12 ft lbs and no leaks.

 

just got done doing this. i bought a hand pump from harbor freight that goes onto the top of the bottle. well it also makes the bottle topheavy and you guessed it i spilled a bunch in the driveway. also, all said and done i think i was shy of 3 quarts, more like 2.7 ish. for what its worth i learned that when shifting from n->d->n do it pretty quickly. i was doing the shift with 3-4 seconds between them and it wasnt lighting up the at temp light.

 

Of course not. Many use Valvoline MaxLife; die hards use Amsoil; the cheapos use SuperTech. I don't have a problem using SuperTech coolant, but ATF fluid is a bit more complex; so, I avoid the cheapest stuff when it comes to ATF for my vehicles.

I read back a few thread pages and read how many are confused with the ODB jump wire method. The IR method has been proven to be just as accurate. It's what I have been using in four ATF flushes with my Taco and the wife's Lexus with no apparent ill results.

See post #146: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...o-transmission-flush-pics-10.html#post9686129

 

My truck has about 120k on it and the transmission has never been serviced. I noticed it hasn't been as smooth at it used to be so I replaced my worn carrier bearing and that helped some. So I've decided to do the transmission fluid change. I've done the drain and fill twice now and it feels so much smoother. I will probably do it one more time just to get it cleaned out.

Anyway I just wanted to share this graduated pitcher I bought off Amazon, works great. Drain it, measured it,dumped and poured fresh fluid up to the line, and hand pumped it straight out of the pitcher.