Transmission fluid level question

To summarize...
Engine running, transmission fluid cold, dip stick will read somewhere between the lower notches when properly filled, but not lower than the lowest notch.
Engine running and up to normal operating temperatures, transmission fluids warmed up and everything pumping properly and the fluid level will read somewhere between the upper two notches when properly filled but should not be higher than the top notch
Adding the additional transmission cooler requires an additional amount of fluids, maybe a pint or so, plus what was lost while hooking all the hoses up, plus what was in the radiator section to begin with..
Conclusion, if you follow the advise you got here it should be easy for you to get the proper fluid levels.
As far as your fluid level prior to the addition of the auxiliary cooler, you said you hadn't checked it, so it could have been a bit low, without any consequences. It only takes a few ounces to make a significant difference on the dip stick.
I don't know what else is needed for you to complete the job, and, yes, the notches on the stick are important, just like the notches on your engine oil dipstick.

I think that pretty much covers it...

 

well you would think that but no, ever since as long as I can remember there is NEVER a level designated as full mark when its not running.

when it runs it fills areas all over in the transmission and fluid stays in some areas but drains out of other areas so if they gave you a mark they are liable if you burn up the tranny because it had air voids or something like that not yet filled up with fluid so your not running with enough fluid in it and would burn up the tranny as it ran out of fluid after filling up those air pockets and voids. you can take your dip stick and put a mark to make a engine not running full mark yourself, but for liability reasons manufacturers are limited to telling you only check it on a warmed up engine that is running so you know everything is full of fluid.

 

My dipstick has 4 marks on it. 2 for a cold range and 2 for a hot range.

 

yes, high and low marks for running engine when cold and high and low marks for running engine when hot

 

Which means, Toyota intended and provided for a way to check when the fluid is cold.

 

what does that have to do with weather the engine is running or not?

Toyota and every other manufacturer says to check it when the engine is running and hot, I NEVER said you couldn't check it when cold, but its not recommended as the most accurate way to check the level because hot fluid circulates much better then cold fluids.

your disagreement is with Toyota not me

 

FSM for the 03 says:
A340e, dry fill 7.6 qt
Drain refill, 1.7 qt

A340f, dry fill 10.7 qt
Drain refill 2.1 qt

A44d, dry fill 6.9 qt
Drain fill 2.4 qt

Not sure about checking fluid levels though. I've always checked engine off and cold. hummmm

 

Guys ..... you gotta check the fluid with the engine running period .The notches on the level indicator are for a cold or warm transmission with the pump pumping fluid through the circuits.You aré wasting your time checking the fluid level with the engine off . This question pops up every couple weeks
Here is a write up explaining the Aisn Warner 340 series transmission
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/aisn-warner-340-series-transmissions-write-up.325531/

 

I checked out the link, lots of info to sort through there…...Can you save us some time and point out exactly where it says to check the fluid level with the engine running?

 

You got to be kidding. Several people here have told you the same thing, including me...if you need further verification I suggest to wander on down to your local Toyota dealership and ask at the service desk. My advise was obtained from my Haynes manual.

I am beginning to think you need to do this because it is obvious you don't believe the advise you are getting here...makes me wonder why you even signed up...I apologize for the directness of this post. All we are doing is trying to help you. You came, you asked, you got answers, and now you still doubt, WTH?

Edit: here is the page to the actual instructions for checking your fluid level from the actual Toyota Tacoma repair manual, I did the legwork that you could have easily done yourself...very simple and to the point. Took only a couple of minutes cruising the previously provided linkage a few posts back...

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/02600210.pdf

I hope this puts your mind at ease once and for all and drive your Truck with confidence...

 

No need to apologize for the directness of your post, I'll not apologize for the directness of mine.

Excuse me, but you are the one who said the level must be checked with the engine running (period)……and provided the link to, I guess, back up your claim. Seems to me, if you are as knowledgeable about the info you posted as you seem to be, and your answer is confirmed in that data, you would be happy to point it out? Or, maybe you figured posting all those links would make you look more credible so I'd take your word for it? I don't know you or anyone else on this forum, for all I know, you are a blowhard, who knows just enough to be dangerous, and the people who agree with you got their information from reading your posts!

I learned a long time ago that it's easy for people to believe something that is wrong…….even more are happy to repeat things, as fact, that they don't know to be true. I have seen so much misinformation repeated on internet forums that I'm cautious about what I accept.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm hard headed, I'm not one to blindly accept everything I'm told as truth. Experience has taught me to verify claims.

As I posted before, you are probably correct, but, so far, I've seen no documentation to back up what you say, only your insistence that you are right (period)! Can you show me anything from Toyota that says to check the level with the engine running? Do you have anything from Toyota that says the drain and refill info in the Owner's Manual is wrong?

Remember, I never once claimed that you are wrong, I'm just looking for confirmation that you are right.

Thanks

 

Also the FSM oil levels are way off. the marks that read Hot and Cold are not for your engine being hot or cold its for the transmission being hot or cold... By cold it does not mean the temp your truck is at after it sat overnight. Essentially you could run the engine and get it to operating temp and then shut the truck off to check it. But you do not check it when the truck as been sitting and the temps are fallen again. So yes it is possible to check it with the engine off I guess but clearly as the OP stated checking it cold told him he was fine which he is not fine clearly lol. Bottom line get the truck up to running temp drive around and then check the fluid.

 

I don't need credibility, you asked for someone to point you to the information in the link provided by gearcruncher because you didn't or wouldn't take the time to find the correct information contained in the sublinks at the link he provided (it only took a couple of minutes to find the info)...and, yes, I was looking for verification for what I said because for some reason you thought to challenge what I passed along (along with others) from my Toyota Tacoma specific Haynes manual...

I just hope that this finally puts your mind at ease. Drive your truck with confidence....

 

I simply didn't know, and also did some googling. I found a service tip on a Toyota dealers site that directed customers to check fluid levels with the engine running. The logic behind it makes sense to me. I just didn't know. And I've been working on my own for years.

I am glad to have the info, as I too just added a trans cooler and needed to add fluid. Turns out I was still 2 quarts low after the install and replacement of lost fluid.... I was running low for a while but not low enough to cause issues. I hope.

 

A suggestion for those who are interested . Go try checking the fluid before the engine starts .The fluid level will be far above the hot notches .Then start the engine and check the level again and you will notice that the level dropped down.This test is used to check if the transmission pump is broken .

 

So, being the curious one, I followed gearcruncher's advise, early this AM I went out and checked the tranny fluid level with engine off and sitting overnight, dang, fluid levels very high on the dipstick, way over the marks....then I started the engine and went through a drive and reverse sequence twice quickly and checked the tranny levels before anything had a chance to warm up and it was at the lower marks....since I always have checked my tranny fluids when everything is warmed up (driving a couple of miles) like I did with the radiator change last week I didn't wait for everything to warm up, it was moot and I was jonesing for my first cup o java.

I have never checked my tranny fluids with a cold unit first thing in the morning, engine not running and not warmed up at all, I learned something new...I just hope this puts the OP at ease with his transmission fluid levels and proper checking procedure.