DIY: Full Flush for Automatic Transmission

They probably did a drain and fill and charged you for 12 qts of fluid and told you they did a flush to justify the cost. Ever hear the old term "stealership". Breaking news if you haven't!

 

Since I’m swapping out my stock tranny cooler for a larger one, this is most likely the method I will use to flush the fluid since I have to remove the grille already. Thanks for the information Tah-koh-mah!

 

10 ft of 1/2" clear plastic tubing cost me all of $2.69. And I only used half of it. I routed it to the fill hole and up to the engine bay attached to a funnel I already had. New quarts of ATF were graduated and an old jug for the old ATF was also graduated so I knew exactly how much was drained and how much to add. I threw the tubing away after I was finished. I literally had nothing to clean. Unless you count wiping the funnel. I mean it's your money, but man that's a lot of money just to add fluid into a fill hole. I mean we're all here to help ya out and save you a few bucks but we can't stop you from doing this to yourself. But we can give you crap for it though. lol.

 

Second Flush Complete on '06

This how-to is as valuable now as the day it was posted.
First time at approximately 100K. And now 185K.
Hardest part is not making a mess.

Fluid was a bit dark but not burnt. Smoother shift is nice. Seems the cooler really makes a difference in a hot climate.

 

I've used this same technique on a couple of other vehicles now in addition to the Tacoma.
It's perfect. I don't even care which way the fluid is going, just disconnect a hose at the radiator, extend that one and another on the radiator to a marked milk jug and whichever one spews fluid, I pump in to the other.
2012 Tacoma, 2008 Sienna, and just today, a 2000 Infiniti I30. Used the same 1 gallon pesticide sprayer on all of them.

 

I drained, flushed and refilled with Valvoline max life. All went well, dropped the pan swapped out the screen filter. I also swapped out the factory trans cooler with a larger cooler (Tru-Cool LPD LPD4589) All went well, glad I did it. By dropping the pan I was able to get 4 quarts out. I went thru 16 quarts of Max Life, overkill I know, but that’s my OCD. Out of an abundance of caution, I replaced the 20 pan bolts with brand new ones to avoid breaking any bolts during future trans service. I also recommend soaking the pan bolts with PB Blast weeks before.

the biggest pain in the balls was waiting for the transmission to get with in the fluid level check temperature. I posted some pics of the new trans cooler along with the old one for comparison. I had to move the horns to make room for the new filter. BTW my truck is shifting great after the service.

 

Do you have before and after temps with the larger cooler?

 

I have before temps, just need to record the after. I’ll post when I have them.

 

it’s generally running about 10 degrees cooler, but I haven’t driven it too much since I installed the bigger cooler just 30 minute drives around town. Here are the screen shots from my ODB Fusion, these are all after the installation of the larger Tru-Cool LPD LPD4589 cooler:

 

These photos are so confusing. I see the tiny trans cooler but my trd offroad has a trans cooler that’s huge. Is that because of the tow package? Does my big cooler mean the radiator was bypassed for tranny cooling?

 

If yours has the factory tow package it should have come with the smaller cooler. Did you buy your Tacoma used, if so it may have been swapped out for a bigger one by the original owner?

 

No, bought it new.

 

post a pic of yours

 

^^^this please. I’m curious as well.

 

Ok I will try tomorrow

 

My specific intention is to remove and replace my radiator, with new. I do also have the stock tow-package cooler. I'd prefer to be able to only empty the cooler and the radiator portion holding ATF, and not have the running engine to pump it out...
Which tube would I disconnect to do so? I need to properly measure it. So I can replace the exact amount into the trans fill, and not come up short.

 

Take a picture of what you're calling the trans cooler? It could be aftermarket, as the stock cooler is the size of 2 sandwiches side by side.

 

On the trans cooler, it'll be the passenger side hose. I would unbolt it and tip it over to let it drain completely. For the radiator, it doesn't really matter which line you pull, since you'll be removing it anyways, just unplug one side and see if it drains, if it doesn't, unplug the other side.

 

My middle age brain fog screwed with me again. I have the little cooler. I was looking through the grill which didn’t give me a clear view and was seeing the a/c condenser. Now I have to find the funds for a larger cooler and since my radiator is 10 years old, a new one of those too.

 

You should still check the fluid level. No guarantee it was right to begin with. Mine was over a quart low and shifted super hard. Correct level and smooth afterwards.