DIY: Full Flush for Automatic Transmission

Very nice write up and awesome pics. Thanks OP.

 

Just read that article. Good info. As far as my Tacoma I want to do this soon. I have 55k mi on the clock and I do some towing / offroading / mtn driving etc. Question - according to the article it seems one could check the fluid level fairly accurately by just getting the fluid up to temp and pulling the check plug? The temp check mode seems a bit convoluted!

 

It's kinda nice to go ahead and check it the right way, then you know it's done right. I think when you're in temp check mode it lowers the idle a little bit, which slows down the transmission pump and subsequently the flow of fluid back to the pan. Does it make a substantial difference? I can't say one way or the other. It's really not that hard to put your truck in temp check mode. I wouldn't hesitate to do what you've suggested in an emergency type situation though, if I busted a cooler line hose or something and didn't have the tools to do it right. I'd say just pulling the plug would get you somewhere close.

 

That's how I do it, with an IR gun. I can point to two articles where it was proven to be just as accurate as with official software. I'm at work and have the links on hm computer.

 

Not articles, but trustworthy nonetheless.

Post #146: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...o-transmission-flush-pics-10.html#post9686129

1st post;

 

Thanks for the links, its nice to see many opinions on this manner.

Is it a bad thing when I checked the AT stick when cold it was up to the hot fill line. I then drove it around several miles and checked it when hot and the oil was about 3/16" past the hot fill line. I had a drain and fill done at the dealership less than a week ago, which will be my last time. I have to go back next Monday to have the recalled catalytic converter replaced, should I point this out?

 

Nice! Confirms what I was thinking. I just need to get some MaxLife ATF now. I should have my drill pump coming soon, then get some hose and fittings.

 

Very informational

 

The stick should have a cold fill line, which will be below the hot fill line. So, yes, since dealer overfilled it a bit, I'd ask them to confirm your observations and drain some ATF out.

 

I just got done doing the flush. I bought 3 gal of Max Life ATF at Walmart. Used the drill pump method to fill and drained from the front at the cooler. I do a fair bit of towing, 4 wheeling and mtn driving so I work the tranny. My truck has just under 55k mi. Honestly the fluid wasn't bad so I can understand Toyotas logic that it can go 100k if your not too hard on it. I also changed the motor oil and air filter plus topped off other fluids. All that in about 2 hours or so taking my time. note if you use the drill pump you need 1/2" id clear tubing but you need to reduce it to 1/4" to get it into the fill hole. Luckily I got a 1/2 the 1/4 coupler and 1/4 tubing at the same time at home depot. The pump worked beautifully. So I'll be using it to do my wife's Acura MDX soon. First time doing a trans flush btw. no sweat thanks to this thread.

 

I did the same as well. What a freaking mess. I drained the pan 1st, then filled 3qts using pump, then let the truck drain 3, put 3 in, etc. Everything from the one cooler line disconnect. Warmed truck up and using the ultragauge, 110 and was a little low 1st attempt. Added 3/4 qt (all I had left). warmed her up again, checked level and some came out, success!!!!

My pump had a 3/4" in-out, downed that to 3/8" line then clamped the crap out of it at the cooler. Used 1/2" line for the output from truck.

 

Well; I was going to take this on today, but after trying 3 different stores and nobody carrying quart pumps, I took it in to a reputable shop.
I asked them repeatedly if it's a FLUSH not just a drain and fill. They told me yes. I got the tech to tell me exactly what he does for a flush. He seemed very competent and commended me for my knowledge. I watched him do it, he brought the machine over; sent about 13 liters through until clean red fluid was coming out. Very impressed with how it was all done. With all these horror stories about shops claiming they do the work and don't bother, I made sure to keep an eye on him; I recommend you do the same.
Transmission feels buttery smooth, and my mind is at ease about it potentially leaving the factory with low fluid.​

 

Here's what my fluid looked like with 97k on it versus the new WS fluid:

 

I've got 180k on the clock. Gonna do this as soon as my aux trans cooler shows up.

 

Hey Mountain Lion,

Thanks for the write-up. I completed it today(atf 1 April, 2016) it only took me 2 hours and the process was easy. I used 13 quarts of Toyota ATF WS. I found a 12 quarts box on eBay plus I had a new quart at home.
Question: Did the oil look foamy when you were draining out? For some reason, after I drained three quarts at a time in a water jug, it looked like it had a lot of air in it(foamy), and of course pretty dark.
By the way, tranny feels smoother when changing gears now. Truck has 31k miles. My next tranny oil change will be close to 60k and will be made with a new filter and gasket. This time I didn't worry too much about the oil filter.

Amilcar A.

 

So you vacuumed all of the transmission fluid out from the cooler? I wanted to use a Mityvac 7300 and wasn't sure if it was safe to use it there. How much fluid were you able to extract?

Link to Mityvac 7300.

$109 Mityvac MV7300 Pneumatic Air Operated Fluid Evacuator with Accessories for Draining Engine Oil or Transmission Fluid Directly Through The Dipstick Tubes

http://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7300-PneumatiVac-Air-Operated-Evacuator/dp/B000JFN9WW

 

He used a drill powered pump to push new fluid into the transmission through the return cooler line. The transmissions own pump was used to push the old fluid out of the cooler lines.
Edit: I think in his case, he used the drill pump to put in fresh fluid through the actual fill hole.

 

He said he used it to fill and drain from the front at the cooler. I quoted him.

 

More on flushing. I ran across this the other day on youtube. Older 4 Runner with a dipstick that uses Dexron-III.

The age of the vehicle - model and fluid used are not relevant. The technique used in the video is. Can be used with many modern vehicles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WngXE_7vg-Q

 

I followed his procedure here....
DIY: Full Flush for Automatic Transmission

Except I used these lines here....
DIY: Full Flush for Automatic Transmission

Truck pumped out the old fluid and the drill pump pumped in the new fluid. No need to do 3 qts at a time, since the drill pump can keep up with the out put