How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

Make sure you are at correct temperature and be sure to use quality fluid!

 

Did this for the first time today, just hit 30k. Everything went smooth... I think. When I first drained the atf, I got almost exactly 3 liters out. When I refilled it, I put the entire gallon jug in (3.78 liters) started the truck and let it idle for a minute or so then proceeded to shift through every single gear 3x, pausing for a couple seconds in each gear... wanted to make sure it was throughly mixed. Then when I put the truck in atf temp check mode, the first couple times it didn’t work. Then on I think the 3rd time, it worked. Atf temp light flashed once and then came on as soon as I hit N for the last time... but then it stayed on when I went into park. I didn’t think it could be in temp check mode already so I did it a couple more times, each time it did the same thing. Temp light stayed lit as soon as I hit N. Never started flashing so I went ahead and drained the extra out until it was just a trickle then tightened it all up and cleaned up. It’s 77 degrees out today. Prior to draining the atf, I let the truck sit for a couple hours while I ran some errands, but it was sitting in the sun. So my question is... is it possible it could have hit the correct temp that quick? Is there any other reason the atf temp check light would have come on and stayed lit? Thanks to anyone who responds... I know it’s a book lol.

 

^^ So did you do this before?

red AT TEMP light should illuminate for 2 seconds (important to note). Place the AT back into "P" (light will illuminate again for 2 seconds) and let the truck idle to warm the fluid. Itisimportant to note that the light illuminated for two seconds as that verifies that the truck entered "Temp check mode”

 

No, first time doing this... and yes the red a/t temp light illuminated for a second or two when I put it back into neutral then went out for a second then came back on and stayed on. Even after I put it back into park. I’m asking if it’s possible that the fluid got up to temp that quick (about 5 min) when everyone else had to wait 10 minutes or more.

 

I think your fine then, because like you said the temp was in the high 70,s. Mine didn’t take as long either, and my temp was in the 60’s.

Each time you were doing the temp was constant and the light came on very quickly, that would prove it to me. So when your full did it take about 3.2 qts.

 

Yea right about that. After I get we all finished, I dumped the used atf and the extra I got out while in check mode, into the the original jug and it looked like it was just slightly less than a full gallon that was originally in there if that makes sense.

 

I think your good. 3.2 is full for me.

 

Thanks

 

Here’s a little tip for the guys that just do a measure and refill..... When I was checking to see if my 2015 was filled properly I bought a quart of Toyota WS. My pump that I bought didn’t work with the new wide mouth quart size oem quart jugs. So I poured it in my graduated beaker to transfer to a bottle that would work. A quart is supposed to measure 32oz. I had 35oz. The quart jugs are not exact 32 oz.
And yes I check the beaker with the wife’s cooking measuring cup.

The people who only pump in 3.2 quarts without doing a temp. check may be over filling if they not actually counting there oz’s. It most likely won’t hurt, but why not get it right the first time with the temp. check.

 

My tranny was a quart low, so doing your way, I'd still be a quart low. Need to do the temp check to verify correct fill level.

 

Exactly

 

OP thank you for the write up. I know this is an old thread but very interesting As I aprotch that time of needing to do my train service. I have not red through all the pages do to time.

 

Did mine on Monday @ 62k miles. TRD OR with Tow Package. Had it all warmed up and drained out a little over 2.5 quarts as measured in a big measuring pitcher. Refilled with ~ 3.2quarts, shifted through the gears then opened the overflow with engine running and let the excess come out until it reached a slow steady drip then sealed it off. This topped off my pitcher of old fluid to 3.2 quarts.

I did my temp check based on Torque App OBDII reader, using Trans Pan and Torque Convertor temp sensors around 122 degrees.

 

You might want to verify those temps by starting the temp check procedure and then unplugging your jumper wire and plugging your scan tool back in. I always thought you were supposed to check the fluid at 115-130°F, then I found a FSM that showed 97-115°F.
I did the temp check procedure on my last drain and fill and then removed the jumper wire and plugged my ultragauge back in so I could monitor the temps as the light came on and went off. My truck shows the proper temp range to be 97-115°.

 

I did mine last Friday. Taco is on 75k miles. TRD off road access cab. Followed procedure from first post, but I did temperature check using ScanGauge II.
I found a lots of good information on this forum so I would like to share my experience.

Everything went easy and smooth. I drained little be over 2.5 quarts. I put back probably 3.5 quarts and when I got trans on right temperature (about 125F), I drained extra fluid thru "check" bolt. Looks like my transmission has not been low on the fluid from factory like some people claim their trans to be.
Old fluid looked very clean, and it is not surprising since truck has never been used for towing and I am always easy on all my cars. When I saw drained fluid first my thought was I am wasting time and money (even I really don't mind to do that), and I could wait a few more years for this service. I had trans fluid, washers and scangauge in my garage for months and just waited day off and good mood for do it.
So for all you people... if you are not using your truck for towing or something that will stress your trans, I don't see reason for doing any service on your transmission before you hit 100k mile. It will not hurt to do it earlier but you should be fine.

But let me tell you something ... this will be very good info for somebody ... 3 years ago I was looking all over internet for one problem I had with my truck. Almost every time when I come to full stop, and then release the brakes I get "thump". I found that people saying it is this and that, a lots of BS. Axle wrap, sticking brakes, etc. I settled with explanation it is common issue with access cab, something about driveshaft binding and lack of the lube where driveshaft connect transmission.
"The splines on the driveshaft mate with the splines on the tailshaft of the trans, there is not enough lube and binds so it needs to be greased."
I did not want to pull drive shaft out and just learned to live with this issue.

Well for this past week I don't have "thump" anymore. Since I did my transmission service. What happen? So, people say that you have to pull driveshaft and grease but this is inside transmission so I never tried to do it since I did not liked idea to mix some grease with transmission fluid. That is exactly what I was told on dealership. They also said they can do nothing about it and it is normal.
But, how to explain now that I don't have a "thump" anymore?
So ... my theory is .... after I drained trans pan, I pumped extra fluid back, I shifted thru all gears, and I shifted a lot, because if you don't shift you will not get to proper temperature any time soon. This explains what some people claimed that they did not have success to get light illumined using jump wire method even idling so long. I was looking temp on my scangauge and seems after initial shifting thru all gears, temp got at about 110F but after I placed trans in P ... temp started going down, even it was about 80 F outside and maybe even more in my garage. It might be reason I have towing package but not sure. Anyway after 5-10 mins shifting thru all gears I got trans temp at right temp and proceeded to drain extra fluid.
So somehow in this process I got something lubed and I don't have "thump" anymore. How long it will last? I don't know. It is already week after, and even I am trying to "make" some "thump", I cant.
So I am hoping it will last for a while. And if "thump" come back ever again I am thinking about pumping one quart of the trans fluid in, shifting, and draining.

Hopefully this info will be useful to someone.

 

Good post. Maybe the thump went away because you were a quart low.

 

No I was not low. I drained bit over 2.5 quarts initially. I put 3.5 quart in but after drained extra fluid during the level check I got that difference out. So if i got any extra fluid in it will be just few ounces.

 

A drain and fill should take about 3.2 quarts.

 

Not in my case, it was definitely under 3 quarts.