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manual transmission fluid change?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by neglected tacoma, Jan 13, 2015.

  1. Jan 13, 2015 at 10:34 AM
    #1
    neglected tacoma

    neglected tacoma [OP] Member

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    How hard is it to do on the V6 3.4? I've had the clutch replaced at the dealer ship would they have changed it then?
     
  2. Jan 13, 2015 at 11:06 AM
    #2
    mwrohde

    mwrohde Well-Known Member

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    There would have been no need to do it then. Clutch change doesn't require cracking open the transmission.

    Changing it is pretty easy. There's a fill plug and a drain plug, Open the fill plug to make sure you can (don't want to find out you can't after the oil is gone), open the drain plug, wait for oil to drain, replace drain plug, add oil, replace fill plug, clean up the inevitable mess, throw your shirt in the trash because your wife won't let it back in the house.
     
  3. Jan 13, 2015 at 11:26 AM
    #3
    Kerry56

    Kerry56 Active Member

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    I just got through doing this. Not difficult to do. Removing the fill plug will let the oil drain out faster from the drain plug hole, and as noted, its best to be sure the fill plug can be unscrewed without issues.

    I used a from Harbor Freight, and Redline MT-90 oil that I had to order online from Amazon, since I couldn't find it locally. This change in oil has really helped solve the "notchy" feeling and it has made shifting into 2nd and 3rd a good deal more smooth when its cold.

    Only problem I had was keeping the hose in the fill hole while pumping. It will tend to jump out it you aren't careful.
     
  4. Jan 13, 2015 at 12:59 PM
    #4
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    You can also pop the shifter off and dump it in that way.

    Another fluid option is penzoil synchromesh. Its the same spec that jeep recommends for the ax-15 which is the same trans internally as the Toyota r series.
     
  5. Jan 13, 2015 at 4:55 PM
    #5
    neglected tacoma

    neglected tacoma [OP] Member

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    Is there a filter? I've got 130k miles and it's never been changed. It shifts gears fine though the manuel says it holds 2.2 qt and to use gl-4 or 5 at 75w-90.

    Are there any "how to" the ones listed have no pics.

    I plan to change out the differential oils to along with the transfer case as I'm sure they have never been done.

    I can use the same oil for all right?

    Also since none of it has been changed should I do anything special?

    Thanks
     
  6. Jan 13, 2015 at 5:56 PM
    #6
    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    Is there a filter?
    No.

    Are there any "how to" the ones listed have no pics.
    I never found one, but this is an EASY process, that's done as described above.

    I plan to change out the differential oils to along with the transfer case as I'm sure they have never been done.
    Good plan. Process is the same for all of them.

    I can use the same oil for all right?
    Yes. (FWIW, I recommend Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90.)

    Also since none of it has been changed should I do anything special?
    No, but it is best to drain the oil when it's hot/warm.
     
  7. Jan 14, 2015 at 3:40 AM
    #7
    neglected tacoma

    neglected tacoma [OP] Member

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    I just want to make sure I remove the right two bolts.

    Does no one use valvoline synpower gear oil? Amsoil is not sold locally.
     
  8. Jan 14, 2015 at 4:39 AM
    #8
    mwrohde

    mwrohde Well-Known Member

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    Is is a 4x4?
     
  9. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:27 AM
    #9
    jkulysses

    jkulysses Well-Known Member

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    I used Valvoline full synthetic gear oil 75-90 in the rear end. In the front Delo full synthetic 75-90 & Redline MT90 75-90 in the transmission & transfer case.
     
  10. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:46 AM
    #10
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    This is what I had to do because the POS pump I bought from AutoZone exploded after two pumps (which sounds eerily similar to my first sexual escapades, now that I put it in writing :( )
     
  11. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:47 AM
    #11
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    I used the Valvoline Synpower in my diffs.

    Redline MT90 in my tranny and transfer case.
     
  12. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:53 AM
    #12
    mwrohde

    mwrohde Well-Known Member

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    I had the same problem with the same AutoZone pump. I will neither confirm nor deny any difference or similarity with my first sexual experience.
     
  13. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:54 AM
    #13
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    Such a stupid setup they have going on under there. Everything involving gear-lube is a mess to service it seems!!!

    Fluid wise: i use penzoil synchromesh in the trans (i used to use redline mt-90 but synchromesh can be found at any parts store), mobil or castrol full synthetic 75-140 in the t-case/crawler and 80/90 synthetic in the diffs.
     
  14. Jan 14, 2015 at 9:01 AM
    #14
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    When I did it on my friend's lift, it was super easy. Just stick the bottle neck into the fill hole and squeeze/roll (from the bottom up) the bottle until empty.

    A lot different though when you're laying on your back in the driveway though.
     
  15. Jan 14, 2015 at 9:19 AM
    #15
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    Thats the way i do it occasionally, and i still make a mess lol!! My crawler and lefty i HAVE to fill via the shifters since the fill hole for the lefty is in an even worse spot and sits below the level of the crawler... DOH! Im trying to engineer a solution to that with no such luck.
     
  16. Jan 14, 2015 at 10:54 AM
    #16
    neglected tacoma

    neglected tacoma [OP] Member

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    Yes it's a 4x4
     
  17. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:04 AM
    #17
    jkulysses

    jkulysses Well-Known Member

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    Redline MT90 can be bought on Amazon but I was able to find it at my local parts store for the same price. If you go to redlines website you can find who carries their product in your area. It took almost exactly 4 quarts to fill my tranny and transfer case. I used this pump here to get it into my transfer case and tranny, , worked very good and didn't take long at all. The rear end is the easiest to do as you don't need a pump just make sure you clean the drain plug magnet off real good before you re-install it. I can try to take a couple pictures of the drain and fill plug for you later on when i get home. What year is your truck or have you said that already? You should really put the basic info of your truck in your signature or so it shows up on the left of the screen like mine. Just makes it easier for people to help with issues.
     
  18. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:31 AM
    #18
    mwrohde

    mwrohde Well-Known Member

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    Ok, it won't be hard for you to figure out which bolts, then. They both look like a drain plug. I don't remember the size, but relatively big - 17mm maybe? 24mm? I think the same size as the drain and fill plugs on the rear differential.

    The transmission bolts to the back of the engine. The transfer case bolts to the back of the transmission. The drive shafts come out of the transfer case, one going back and one going forward.

    If you start at the transmission and gaze back you'll find a seam that goes all the way around where it bolts to the transfer case. You can find the same seam by starting at where driveshafts attach to the transfer case and gaze forward.

    Once you've identified the extreme front and extreme rear of just the transmission, look between those two points. You'll find a bolt low on one side, and if I recall correctly, one high on the other side. There aren't any other bolts that size on there.
     
  19. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:36 AM
    #19
    jkulysses

    jkulysses Well-Known Member

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    On mine the differentials use a 22mm plug and the tranny and transfer case I didn't have a big enough metric socket on me but my 15/16 socket fit them perfect which if memory serves me correctly would be 24mm.
     
  20. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:37 AM
    #20
    Manwithoutaplan

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