1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

No dipstick for automatic transmissions?

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by kauai_diver, Mar 7, 2009.

  1. Mar 7, 2009 at 4:19 PM
    #1
    kauai_diver

    kauai_diver [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
    Member:
    #14446
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    08 Tacoma 4x4
    Sport TRD package, LSD (the other kind)
    My uncle and I found it odd that there is no dipstick to check for automatic transmission fluid. Well after googling around I found this place and learned a lot.

    So I just wanted to say thanks and hi, I just joined this site.

    Oh btw I love this truck!!!
     
  2. Mar 7, 2009 at 4:20 PM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    Welcome to TAcoma World!!
    Tranny is "sealed", and, yes, no dipstick. :(
     
  3. Mar 7, 2009 at 4:23 PM
    #3
    kauai_diver

    kauai_diver [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
    Member:
    #14446
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    08 Tacoma 4x4
    Sport TRD package, LSD (the other kind)
    Yup sealed and maintenance free for 100,000 miles unless you tow is what I read.
     
  4. Mar 7, 2009 at 4:41 PM
    #4
    TicTacOma

    TicTacOma UnderWater Monopoly Champion

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2007
    Member:
    #3840
    Messages:
    1,522
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anastatia Beaverhausen
    Columbia,SC
    Vehicle:
    I'm Thinking...Oh Yeah...An FJ
    It's all in my head at the moment...
    Only dipsticks are here giving you advice....No Offense.
     
  5. Mar 7, 2009 at 4:45 PM
    #5
    neslerrah

    neslerrah Taco lovin'

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2008
    Member:
    #4803
    Messages:
    6,753
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harrelsen
    Tucson
    Vehicle:
    5 lug BEAST!
    Secondary air filter removed, elbow mod, BFG T/A KO (31x10.5R15), 15" American Racing Mojaves, BHLM, Dome Light MOD (Blue), Pioneer headunit, Sockmonkey 'TACOMA' Decals, Readylift 5-lug SST, Rear Shocks - Bilstein TRD, Dynomax Super Turbo #17748, DDM Slim Ballast HID Kit H4 Hi/Lo -35W 6000K in headlights, Apexcone Raptor HID Kit H3 - 35W 6000K in Hella 500s, aFe CAI #51-10762, WeatherTech Floorliner, 200W Smart AC Inverter
    Hello & welcome.
     
  6. Mar 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM
    #6
    LEEP

    LEEP Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Member:
    #10372
    Messages:
    236
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    LEE
    CONNECTICUT
    Vehicle:
    O8 TACOMA TRD
    Special tranni oil only let dealer check + change it AT 100 K
     
  7. Mar 9, 2009 at 8:28 AM
    #7
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    I was told they are "mantinance free". Everyone I speak with that is familliar with these Sealed transmissions says 100,000 miles is a good time to have them flushed. I can find anything in writeing that touches on the required maint. time line.
     
  8. Mar 9, 2009 at 10:38 AM
    #8
    BUK 0H5

    BUK 0H5 Still For Sale

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2009
    Member:
    #13391
    Messages:
    279
    Gender:
    Male
    Queen Creek, AZ
    Vehicle:
    Silver 09 2.7L Manual AccessCab SR5 PreRunner
    Removed Mud Flaps, Suspension TSB, 5100's all around, JVC KW-AVX710 Head Unit with Metra surround.
    RE: Transmission Flush

    I would highly recommend against doing any type of trans flush that isn't listed in the factory scheduled maintenance manual. And absolutely do not go to a quick lube place to have this type of work done. When I was younger and living in the barracks where I could not do my own oil changes and car maintenance I would take my Mustang to the Jippy-Lube. I was having an issue with my trany pan leaking so I figured it is probably time to get the fluid changed and a new filter. I took it in to Jippy-Lube and asked them to change my tranny fluid. Instead of dropping the pan and changing the filter and fluid that way, they hooked the cooling lines up to a flush machine and sucked out the old fluid and spit back new stuff. When I asked "Don't you need to change the filter" the said that they didn't have to with this service. Any way, long storry short by the time I got back to the barracks my trans was slipping and ended up being permenantly damaged, and took a total dump about a month later. Jippy-Lube said it wasn't their fault and would not even refund my money let alone buy a new tranny.

    If the dealership says a flush needs to be done, have them show you the paperwork from Toyota that states it needs to be done. If they can't produce the paperwork, don't do it. And no matter what make sure the filter gets changed no matter what service they perform.
     
  9. Mar 9, 2009 at 10:47 AM
    #9
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    X2!
    When I get a tranny flushed, I get the filter changed as well. Request the old filter back (I do this just to be sure they actually change the filter).
     
  10. May 2, 2009 at 7:10 AM
    #10
    hate2work

    hate2work Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Member:
    #9431
    Messages:
    182
    Washington State
    Vehicle:
    06 standard cab
    Just saw this, thought I'd comment...

    I just wanted to point out that the problems this guy had were because he took it to the Jiffy Boob place, not because he changed his fluid earlier than the factory manual said to. There are literally dozens of such stories around saying the same thing, that some lube place or mechanic screwed up an oil change or ATF change. But it wasn't due to an early fluid change, it was the incompetence of the guy doing the work. Stay away from those places and you're much better off, IMO.

    Personally, I wouldn't let ANY fluid hang around in my rig for 100k, even if the factory said it was OK. This WS fluid wears out just like any other fluid, and needs to be changed sooner than 100k. The sealed trannies are kind of a pain to work with, but changing the ATF can be done if you follow certain guidelines. Both Redline and Amsoil now have compatible fluids for this tranny. The Redline fluid is called D6 and the Amsoil fluid is called ATL.

    One of the posters over at BITOG did a good write up on changing out his WS fluid, here's the link if anyone is interested

    http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1378676&fpart=1
     
  11. May 2, 2009 at 8:59 AM
    #11
    flatlander

    flatlander Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2009
    Member:
    #14249
    Messages:
    234
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    09 DC-LB 2WD Prerunner V6 Auto
    What is WS fluid? Is it different than automatic transmission fluid(ATF)?

    Thanks
     
  12. May 2, 2009 at 10:24 AM
    #12
    hate2work

    hate2work Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Member:
    #9431
    Messages:
    182
    Washington State
    Vehicle:
    06 standard cab
    It's the ATF fluid that Toyota uses in the "sealed" transmissions, supposed to be good for 100k miles. It has a lower viscosity than the T-IV fluid, therefore they are not compatible/interchangable.

    I think the WS is around 5.5 @ 100c and the T-IV is around 7 at the same temp.
     
  13. Sep 7, 2009 at 6:55 PM
    #13
    revhappyleon

    revhappyleon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2009
    Member:
    #21839
    Messages:
    203
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Manny
    Tampa near macdill
    Vehicle:
    07 Prerunner V6 6-speed(custom dual exhaust)
    dual exhaust, foglight anytime, satoshi, chlm, aux backup lights and electric fan conversion
    ws stands for world standard fluid. I think ford also is starting to use it. It's sealed because unlike regular atf which just doesn't like water, ws actually absorbs it out of the air like brake fluid. I'd recommend having it done at a dealership since they have the equipment to exchange the fluid without exposing it to the air. However i'm a dealership tech so i'm probably a little biased.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top