3rd Gen Transmission Fluid level Check

Exactly. I used the jumper method because it got hot way too fast using Torque IMO. Someone posted a new loop to load into the program which now uses the correct sensor.

 

Mine is from Mexico, built October 2017 and I did not experience described issues yet. Past 2K on odometer.
....but I went and had Service to check ATF level so I can sleep better and level is good. They checked software version as well and it is current.

 

Fake news bub. Texas plant has just as many issues.

 

I had the dealer tell me they don't, or can't check the transmission fluid a week ago, of course I didn't have time to read this whole thread, but WTH, Its all I asked to have done, I can manage the other fluids just fine, and what brain surgeon decided that a dipstick wasn't needed anymore. I realize that they make plenty on service, but there's plenty of that to go around for the greedy bastards. I just assumed that it was being checked during the free Toyota service sessions, till the service manager informed me different. Sounds like I'll have to spring for the items to do it myself, I suppose thats all laid out in this forum somewhere.

 

The dealer can and knows how to check the fluid. It takes time and they don’t want to do it.

 

At the same time any place that tells you they don't know how to check the fluid is probably not the kind of place you want to leave your truck.

 

State of the art brand new facility, just opened, and the guy tells me, they can do it at Jiffy Lube, and I'm thinking, your proud of that statement !! I'm an old f-er and It's hard for me to think that corporate America believes were ignorant enough to accept these excuses.

 

Unfortunately cooperate america is right. Most people do accept these excuses and want nothing to do with vehicle maintenance. Just want to jump in and drive.

 

Since Toyota specifies a 'range' for the ATF temp when doing this check, couldn't a guy just shoot the transmission pan with an infrared thermometer to see whether the fluid is within proper temperature range before checking the level?

 

For your entertainment. No need to run wires to a canopy brake light. This is just a repeat of what others have already done if you need to check your transmission level.

Yes. I used an infrared thermometer. It may not match having an instrumented temp, but it’s close enough. My transmission fluid cooler inlet at front of vehicle was at about 109 degrees and the outlet was at about 99 degrees, so I figured 105 to 107 at the pan was close enough.

I’d say checking the transmission fluid level is much easier than changing a flat tire. Anyone can do it.

At the least, remove the fill plug when cold. You could just put 1/2 or 1 quart at a time when your vehicle is cold. Run it around the block a few times. Check the pan temp with the thermometer. If it’s in the temperature range, remove the overflow plug and drain the excess.

If no fluid comes out, then it’s still low. Wait for vehicle to cool to add additional fluid and repeat.

That’s it.

Or, if you don’t want to have to repeat the procedure, just add 2 quarts. Your transmission isn’t going to blow up driving it around the block while bringing it up to just over 100 degrees or so with the extra 2 quarts.

From what I’ve read some people reported that their Tacomas were almost 2 quarts low.
Mine was almost 1 quart low. I added 1 quart and then drained about 4 ounces.

The reason I chose to add 1 quart is because I had read in forums that owners were reporting that their Tacomas were 1/2, 1, 1.5 or more quarts low. My transmission had been clunking into gear from Park to Reverse. It shifted into gear smoothly after adding the 1 quart.

I know adding 2 quarts sounds weird, wrong, crazy etc., but how does one know how low the transmission fluid is without a dipstick? The answer is that no one knows how low it is before adding and then draining fluid, not even the dealer.

I think that’s why dealers don’t like checking the fluid. If you add just a little fluid at a time, then check the level and it’s still low, you have to either fill it when the exhaust is still hot, or wait for the vehicle to cool down, then bring it back up to temp and check it again. That costs the dealer time and money.

For the do-it-youselfer at home, you can do it as you have time and at your leisure.
Add some fluid on a day off. If still low, wait to add some more on another day if you like.

This is easy stuff! You can do it!

And, you’ll know it’s been checked properly.

I’m writing all this figuring than some new owners perhaps haven’t seen the procedure yet in searching Tacoma World.

 

Any word on if 2018's are coming in low? Just picked up a 2018 last week and am wondering if I should just check to be safe...

 

I didn’t notice mine clunking too bad until it had about 200 miles on it, and it was almost a quart low.

If yours is shifting ok and isn’t clunking when placed into gear then it might be ok at full or close to filled properly from the factory.

But, if you have the time, it only costs a few bucks for some fluid to check it yourself, and then you’ll know for sure.

After all, yours was built on one of the same two assembly lines that produced the last 2017 models, of which mine and others were low on fluid.

I really noticed a positive change in transmission shifting at around 1000 miles and it seems to be exhibiting less clunks and shifting smoother now while approaching 2000 miles.

 

You might want to revise your temp location and temp range when using an infrared thermometer.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...atic-transmission.63851/page-32#post-12163819

 

Any 2018 models having this problem yet?

 

I read some of the posts at the link. I had researched it at length on TW several months ago prior to checking the temp and even researched it prior to purchasing my Tacoma. I installed an aftermarket transmission cooler when the truck was 2 weeks old.

The recommended temperature for checking your fluid is over a several degree wide span if you are connected to the vehicle with a diagnostic tool. The temperature doesn’t need to be at exactly one point.

The infrared thermometer is accurate to around +- 2 degrees, and at least mine matches up to two separate indoor digital thermometers and our digital HVAC thermostat.

Perhaps the pan is not the most accurate location for a temp check, but probably close enough.

You could measure the inlet and outlet tubes at the transmission. The internal temperature of the transmission could be warmer than the outlet temp, but probably not by a lot.

I measured an approximate span of 10 degrees before checking the overflow, but that was up front at the inlet and outlet (99 and 109 degrees) of an oversized aftermarket transmission fluid cooler and then immediately checked the pan which was at 105 to 107 degrees. I was thinking that was plenty close enough for the check. What would the internal temp of the transmission be? I don’t know.

Something for me to check up on tomorrow. More research is always fun.

As I’ve been curious about it, perhaps my own check using a diagnostic tool hooked up to the Tacoma versus a transmission pan temp is in order.

 

Appreciate the info, OregonBajaCA.

 

My pleasure. Determining volume of fluid in the small stock transmission cooler back in October.

I’m far from an expert.

The people at Toyota came up with a reason for checking the fluid temp at a particular range.
Only they know what the reason is.
Perhaps it’s because at that temperature, the transmission is just warming up, and the fluid won’t burn your skin as you remove the drain plug.
That would make sense and would seem to be very considerate of them also! Especially since they decided to delete the dipstick on the Tacoma.

Who wants to check and drain 190 degree transmission fluid? Nobody!

On a vehicle with a dipstick for the transmission, the level of course goes up when the fluid heats up, and you typically check it when it’s hot, but at least it has a range to see where it’s at when cold!

I think we need to remember that, as your transmission will operate properly with the fluid at temperatures far below freezing, and also at temps far above its normal operating temperature and into the 200 degree range (at least for a long while!), the chosen fluid level check range of several degrees might just be a temperature that was chosen by Toyota for its middle ground position in the whole operating range of the transmission.
And perhaps also, that is the temperature range where you can be assured that you have the proper fill using an overflow tube of their designed height. The level is still going to be going up and down as it heats up and cools down, just like any automatic transmission.

Maybe nothing more, maybe nothing less. I don’t know.

Sorry for rambling on. It’s a fun discussion and I’m just trying to look at the big picture!


Protect your transmission from really high temps!

Determining fluid volume of aftermarket cooler.

 

Forgive me if this has been answered, but is there a way to determine just by transmission temperature whether the fluid level is correct? I have Torque Pro and an OBD device. If so, which tranny method would be used...the app shows two methods?

 

I thought about this as well. I’m monitoring the pan temp and the conversion temps with Torque Pro. I do believe the conversion temp is measured after the fluid leaves the cooler and before it goes to the pan. Ive noticed these two temps are pretty close. I dont see any reason why you cant use both these temps as your basis instead of having to purchase a temp gun and shooting the pan and the return line. Seems to me to be measuring the same spots.

 

It's because the volume of the fluid changes by a lot when hot. Like a quart or more