Gen 1 Automatic Transmission drain/fill 3.4L V6 - Help

OK, been awhile but I still have the old girl since day 1 and I hope to keep her for awhile yet. 196 000 Km's on her now. I'm an Amsoil fan and pretty much have it everywhere in her (that sounds funny)

Background: I switched over to Amsoil ATF 20,000 Km's ago and would like to just drain/fill the auto transmission once a year, basically cleaning 40% of the fluid, rather than taking it to the dealership.

1. Following the shop manual I took the level while the vehicle was idling and warm, looked good, in the 'hot' zone of dipstick.

2. Drained the ATF, got just over 4 US quarts out? Here's the thing, the manual says it should only be 2.5 US Quarts for the A43D, 1.7 US Quarts for the A340RE, or 2.1 US Q for the A340F?

3. I measure out how much came out 4.1 US Quarts, I put back in 4.1 US Quarts go for a drive, heat things up, and take the level while it's idling, looks to be on the edge of the hot knotch, pretty good.

Comment: I could of sworn I saw a post from someone who seemed to know what they were doing and said he drains 4 US Quarts from his auto trans on the gen 1, can't find that post now.

She's running fine, went to Montana this weekend, seems to be running smooth.

Question: Should I drain it and put 2 US Quarts in and go from there, or am I fine?

Driving me a little crazy.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers!

Kind of a mechanical hack, just get by doing the easy stuff like fluids, grease and plugs.
Service Manual References: Volume 1 page DI-290 and Volume 2 page AT-3

 

I just did the drain and refill last week and drained out 4 qts. I also seen in the manual that it would be 2.5 qts. I think you're fine.
Randy

 

Thanks Randy, I also found a site where they mention 4 quarts and say its an error in the manual?

Quote: The book states the capacity as 2.1 quarts, but both of my automatics take 4, which may be due to a typograpical error in the book.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/tacoma_4runner_30k/maintenancep4.htm#driveshaft

 

It's definitely over 4. I just did this a couple weeks ago when I added a Hayden tranny cooler.

 

subd.

 

Replace what you take out, that's how I went about it last time doing a drain and refill. I think i got about 3.75 qts. I drained the fluid, not removing the pan, and then measured what I had taken out. Then replaced one quart at a time, shifting from park through all the gears, and filled a bit shy to what I took out and checked the level; then slowly added until I reached the appropriate fill level.

 

So you added a quart, turned the truck on, shifted through the gears (while moving or standing still?), repeat till you had added back all the quarts? Is that a normal procedure?

 

Thats only if you are doing a flush or filling for the first time. When you drain the pan, you are only draining the pan fluid not the fluid in the tranny/torque converter (iirc).

Couldnt hurt but it might be more work than needed.

 

Sub'd

I just order some Amsoil ATF and a trans cooler today. I'm working on plumbing up a trans temp gauge. Once everything's in line I'm going to have it flushed and swapped the Amsoil.

OP : How have you liked the Amsoil ATF? I've had great luck with their gear oil and engine oil, so figured why not give the ATf a shot.

 

My local places have Mobil 1 synthetic or valvoline synthetic. I wonder which one i should go with.

 

just have two quart mason jars or the like with you and measure what comes out, then put that much back in. I usually find it is just a bit more than 4qts.

 

I'm a big Amsoil fan, use it almost everywhere I can. I use the Amsoil ATF for my power steering too, it's all good.

I figure now once a year I'll replace the 4 quarts from the transmission and pass on the expensive flushing, use way better stuff and still be well under change intervals.

I use the Series 2000 grease on all the propeller shaft zerk fittings. I know we're supposed to use Moly on the Slide and double-cardam, but I contacted Amsoil tech help and they said the Series 2000 was excellent, moly was only there in case it wasn't lubed regularly as a back-up.

Thanks for all the help guys, appreciate it.

 

Was hoping to order amsoil of Amazon but they dont even have it

 

Yes one quart at a time. Kept the parking brake on, shifted through the gears down from park and then up again. Read it in the Haynes manual, although it may have been for the full flush. Figured it wouldn't hurt, help to move the fluid through the system.

Took me all of maybe an extra 8-10 minutes to do instead of just pouring in the full amount. For me, it really wasn't much of a bother...knew that the fluid was moving through and would fill up correctly.

So unnecessary, possibly....but guess just did it for piece of mind.

 

You can't go wrong with that mentality, especially when dealing with something as crucial as your transmission