How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

For those doing a full flush, the Argee Corp makes these graduated 5-gallon buckets. I buy them at my local hardware - Dixieline. I've seen smaller ones at HD, in the paint section.

 

Subd, I need to do this

 

sub'd

 

FML... I did the same damn thing. Brian from Camelback Toyota sorted me out with a new pan for $85.88, plug $2.34, and washer $1.83.

I guess I'll be doing another drain and fill once the parts come in.

 

This thread needs to be updated. After you've set the transmission in AT Temp Check Mode, but before removing the overfill plug, please remove the jumper wire so engine rpms and affected trans pump run at a steady speed.

Also, if you shift the N-D sequence too slow, the truck won't go into AT Temp Check Mode.

 

I've got 240k... The trannys never been touched. I'm thinking I'd like to do this, but a little concerned with the high milage that I may be opening a can of worms. Opinions are appreciated.

 

There are 2 opinions.....

A. Complete flush of all fluid

B. Multiple pan drains

Either way, your pan is dirty. I would first drain pan. After draining pan on level surface, elevate front of truck with floor jack as high as it will go. This will drain and extra qt. of fluid. approx. Measure every drop. Clean pan - change filter or rinse it out if it's the "screen" variety which is what I've experienced in one A750E transmission and clean magnets in bottom of pan. As old as the filter is, it probably wouldn't hurt to go ahead and replace it. Reinstall pan with new gasket. Refill with fresh ATF - your choice - lots of opinions here on which ATF to use. I won't get into that argument. You will need to overfill the transmission with X amount of fluid before you start the fluid level check. It's my belief that if you drain 3 qts. and an extra qt. with the truck elevated for a total of 4 qts. drained, your transmission was properly filled. I use that as a guide for how much to overfill with.

Next do the fluid level check. After that, drive truck a bit and see how things feel.

Now you ask yourself if it's time for A above or a couple more shots of what you've just done. Many will say A; many will say B. Your choice.

You'll need parts regardless of which way you go:

$10 35178-30010

35178-30010 - drain pan plug/overfill plug gasket - qty. 2 - You might want to grab a few extra
90301-15004 - Refill plug gasket
Transmission pan gasket - 35168-60010
Sufficient ATF

 

Thanks

 

Is this on a Ford or Toyota?

"Flushing can prolong the life of a transmission, provided it is done fairly regularly, say every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. But if the transmission on a high mileage vehicle (say over 100,000 miles) has never been flushed, it is probably best to NOT flush the fluid. Here's why: The detergents in new ATF may loosen up accumulated crud inside the transmission, which could cause some problems within a few thousand miles or so after the flush. So if your fluid has never been changed and your vehicle has a lot of miles on it, it is probably best to just leave the fluid alone and top off the fluid level as needed if it is low."
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/bf100456.htm

That being said, my concern is a clogged ATF filter. Therefore, if this were my car, I would open it up, replace the filter, clean the pan, and re-use the old ATF, topping off with new ATF as needed.

 

Lol, the Ford was driven to the bone yard at 317k

 

any one changing the filter? im a chevy guy which means the only way to change the fluid is to drop the pan and while you're there you clean the pan and change the filter. the first change the pan is always dirty. after that its always clean.

i'm at 45k so i'm dropping the pan and changing the filter for the first change and then just drain and refill after that. is there a good diy write up for pan and filter change? torque values for the filter and pan bolts? what's the service schedule for the filter?

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...13/499217-diy-transmission-filter-change.html

Even if OEM has the pan bolts set at 69 in/lbs, it seemed way too high. I stuck with 35 in/lbs as with all my other Toyota products and have no leaks in some 30K miles. The bolts are the same size and the pan gauge seemed the same among the Toyotas noted in my sig.

 

It's not a filter - rather a "screen".

I changed mine, too. The parts guy at Toyota looked at me like I was from Mars asking for a new one.

I am about to add an external filter to my transmission, to make up for the lack of filtering in the screen.

 

thanks - u are the man.

 

thanks for reply. i like your idea of adding a filter. would be nice if there was a third party drop in filter to replace the oem screen. any idea what the oem replacement schedule is for the filter?

i feel there is value in cleaning the pan and magnets from break-in trash (metal shavings) at least once. my logic is i may as well replace the screen while the pan is off.

 

On my other vehicles, I would pull the pan off every 15,000 miles, clean it, change the filter, and add fluid. This maintenance got me 320,000 miles on the transmission on my Ranger - a transmission known for failing at 50,000 miles.

On this truck, I have pulled the pan once, but probably will only pull it every other fluid and filter change.

 

i would love to here feedback from the second change.

my chevy's pan would be clean as if it was just changed on the second change after 30,000 miles. how clean was the pan in the ranger for the second+ changes?



fram's description sounds more like a filter...

"FRAM INTERNAL TRANSMISSION CARTRIDGE -- Effectively catches foreign particles, varnish, and sludge"

based on this description i think it's worth replacing at least once.

 

I got that same stare when asking for the crush washers and fill plug o-ring at the dealership. The parts guy who was on his 10th year there was convinced the tranny is a sealed unit.

 

I had to clean the pan every time I dropped it. I don't remember the early years, but in the later years, the pan was dirty every time. Bands and clutches definitely were wearing.

Can you post up the FRAM part number? I quick running Fram filters many years ago when their quality dropped, but any filter would be preferable to a screen.

 

Fram FT1237 Automatic Transmission Filter

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/search/?q=Toyota+Tacoma+Automatic+Transmission+Filter