How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

DAFs or flush?

 

Planning to just do a DAF. It seems like the consensus on the forums are a DAF is adequate even if its my first time changing it.

 

Drop the pan and clean out the magnets, easy peasy

 

You can do as many as you want. The more you do....the fresher the fluid will become. I did 4 and waited a couple days in between each one.

What fluid are you going with?

 

Have 45,000 miles on my Tacoma. Did a proper drain and fill yesterday... I think the combination of an added cooler (with thermostat) and the magnefine filter are doing a great job...

Compared to brand new fluid the original fluid was still in very good shape
old on the left (top), new from the bottle on the right (bottom)

I credit the magnefine for the lack of any visible debris in the fluid..

 

About to do another myself. Also ordered that part off Amazon, but it won't arrive before I do this run. Bummer.

I did it successfully last weekend, but my clunk started coming back so I checked under and noticed it was getting wet on the pan. I then realized I am missing something, a crush washer.. Also need to buy a torque wrench too.

 

Definitely want the gaskets....whether you reuse the old or use new. Here is the number....the same for both the drain and overflow plugs. Think I paid $1 a peice

 

Yeah, gonna pick up a set after work. I work across the street from a Toyota Dealership and my buddy works at Honda right next door to the Toyota. Reached out to our buddy at the parts desk to square me some when I get there.

I don't remember one popping off when I drained, but now I know, it's definitely whats missing.

 

Careful with the torque wrench, many have stripped the trans pan check/drain plugs even using a torque wrench and proper specs.

 

for sure! Including me. Stripped my drain bolt when “torquing to spec” I just snug it from now on.

 

Ok ..... 2006 Taco with 4L V6 ...... Transmission fluid question......I like doing my own oil changes and tune ups as most who are reading this do..... I read many posts and I know there is no dip stick to check for the correct fluid level etc... so with that being said I bought the truck brand new in 2006 .... even from new I would get a little "lurch" after coming to stop at a redlight or stop sign.... not all the time but enough to remind me something was not right..... couldnt get it to duplicate at the dealership while under warranty ......shame on me but at about 2014 and 90k miles I took the truck into the dealership in South Carolina and had them perform a AT fluid full flush.... and I confirmed it was a full flush and not a drain and fill..... After that full flush the transmission never did the "lurch" again so I was happy about that..... Now back last year in (2109) and 160k miles and now living in Florida I had a Florida dealership perform the AT fluid "full flush" .... I began to notice the 'lurch" coming back..... thats what prompted me to read all these posts and finding out how I can check the level myself because I think (from what I read on here) is AT fluid a little low has known to get that "lurch" affect..... So I thought possibly I am a little low from what they did last year during my full flush service

SO!.... I figured if I parked my truck nice and level ...not drive it....and let AT fluid cool off for a full 18 to 20 hours (its hot ass balls here in Florida) I could then crawl under neath and open that over flow plug to check the level..... Am I wrong to think that if the AT fluid has cooled off to what should be around 90 degrees .... that when I removed the over flow plug I should only get a drop or two?? because it started pouring out!... I quickly put the plug back in and thought ok I will start the truck and just cycle into drive \N \ back to park and back to drive ... back into park and then shut it off..... pulled the plug again and it poured out again (BTW the fluid felt cool).... Knowing that the AT fluid actually expands as it heats up and I checked while the fluid was at its coolest point..... could it be that the level from the last Toyota dealership "full flush" is way to high??

I did capture "most" of the AT fluid that was pouring out the overflow into a container so I have a very good idea how much I drained within an ounce or two.... it was not as I would say "clear clean red" but looked "ok"

It would be GREAT if other Tacoma owners can give me some insight on how to get this level checked? because at this point I am not real confident that the dealership that just did the full flush got it right

Thanks!

 

Sounds like you pulled the drain plug not the level plug

 

I'm sure one would think I did but I am 100% sure I pulled the over flow plug

Could it be that all the fluid settles in pan? .... but I am sure I pulled the overflow... not the drain

 

If you are sure you pulled the check plug then your are over filled. You need to learn how to put it in check mode, bring it up to correct temp and then pull the check plug and let the excess trickle out then plug it.

 

The truck must be running with the shifter in park when you check it.

 

Also no the fluid is not checked cold. The engine should be running and the tranny fluid at the pan should be between 115 and 130 if I recall correctly.

 

Muddinfun...... No the truck was NOT RUNNING when I pulled the over flow check plug.......

Crosis ..... I know about making sure the temp is between 115 and 130 ..... But why would the fluid be pouring out when its at lets say... 90deg ..... as spitdog said..... I think its way overfull from dealership.... and I am 100% sure I am NOT pulling the drain plug

 

I will get to making sure the temp is 115 to 130 and pull the "overflow check plug" .... like I said..... it has not been acting right from when I got it back from the dealerships "full flush"

 

I know. You mentioned, “I shut it off”. It MUST be running when you check it.

 

Sorry for the confusion Muddinfun...... the truck was not running

The first time I checked it was in the morning ..... I walked out to the truck ... didnt even start it when I checked it the first time.... so it had not even started for 18 hours......

since it poured out I then put the over flow plug back in and then started the truck ..... just cycled through Drive,Park,N, drive park then shut it off crawled back under and same result ... poured out so I slapped the plug back in and decided to look into WTH is going on