Transmission 2016-2023- 6 SPEED AUTOMATICS COULD BE LOW ON FLUID DIRECTLY FROM FACTORY

Picked up truck on Saturday and on Tuesday, the dealer had it all day to check diff and tranny fluids. Came back all full. They said they manually checked everything, so I'm trusting that they did it right. I didn't paint any of the bolts or anything, so just trusting. Truck was built 11/16

 

2017 V6 AT TRD OR ACab W/Tow built 11/10/16 in TX. Checked at Stevenson Toyota W. Denver w/600 miles on it. They found it almost a quart low, using proper procedure. They also put in trans TSB which apparently was due with this built date. Shifting improved from cold R > D and less hunting. These guys impressed me as a straight up outfit. The owner is moseying around checking on things. Will be back there when need more dealer service.

Selling dealer Autonation claimed to have "checked it", but could produce no record of it done or the results. Throwing down the BS card here. Didn't like the vibe and shell game there. Adios !

Has anyone seen advice on towing with this 6 SP auto, to minimize wear, beyond the graphic OD tow warning ?
I'm looking for an easy hookup Trans. Temp. gage that does not need a sensor in an oil passage opening? It seems that a contact sensor should work- though it might have problems with quick response to hotter fluid? Any ideas?

Thanks to Gearcruncher for all the organizing of this thread and tech support! Guys like him, Jeff L, renau001, and many others should have a Happy Hour "DONATE" button on their icons- cuz we owe them for building this community.
Greatly appreciate all the substantive posts.

 

2016 DCSB 4x4 TRD OR with 16k Miles. Brought in this morning to find out i was 2 qts low. TSB was also performed and feels much better while driving.

 

Hello gear cruncher. I watched the dealer check mine when it had only 5 miles on it right after it came off the truck. They did not pin the thermostat as far as I could tell. The level was good as I saw the spurting fluid come out. I posted this a long time ago elsewhere but is it likely that when the trucks are built that the trans is filled without a cooler on the truck , then later down the assembly line a cooler with no fluid in it is added ? Later after the truck is run and the trans comes up to temp for the first time , the thermostat opens up and then fills the cooling system for the first time . Now the fluid level is low by the amount of the cooler and hoses capacity ? I am wondering if mine could be low ( by the cooling sys. capacity)because it was checked before the trans ever got up to temp the first time
edit , I have never found this tech chat thread before today. and this may have been discussed before. if it was I am sorry .

 

Hello
Taco16LB


Yes , your theory has been discussed many times before . I doubt the low fluid issue has anything to do with a later installation of a transmission cooler , but I could be incorrect . Some members are up to 3 quarts low . With this said , it take less than a quart to fill the after cooler and lines .

To justify your question , pin the thermostat anytime your engine is running and the fluid will fill your cooler . From there , put your transmission into temp mode and check for proper level .

 

My 2017 TRD OR DC is being delivered this Friday from the factory. I will report my findings. Truck build start date was January 26th.

 

Thats a good question regarding towing that other members will probably be considering down the road .
At present , you do not have the ability to tell what temp your trans is running at . All we have is a light on the dash that pops up far too late . I believe its well over 300 degrees and I guarantee you have cooked all your fluid by then

I will just copy and paste this . Its somewhat of a universal Toyota cooler information page
Lets have a peek at what transmission coolers do
TRANSMISSION COOLERS
If you do not have a transmission cooler on your truck and you plan to tow or haul heavy loads or you are in heavy stop and go traffic and use 4X4 low a lot , consider purchasing a cooler . The cooler thats built into your rad is designed to cool the transmission with the weight of just the truck by itself .When you are in 4x4 low , your torque converter is usually in the stall stage and creates a tonne of additional heat .You dont have much air flow going through your rad when you are in low range 4x4 .
160 - 200 are considered normal temps providing your engine radiator is functioning properly . If your engine overheats , your transmission will also overheat
Normal fluid temperature in transmission to be 175 deg. F.

Rate of oxidation to double for each temperature increase of 20 deg F above normal (175 deg F). As oxidation rate doubles, useful life of fluid is cut in half.

At 175 deg F life is 100,000 miles
At 195 deg F (20 deg above 175) life is 50k miles
At 215 life is 25k miles
At 235 life is 12k
At 255 life is 6,250
At 275 life is 3,000
At 295 life is 1500
At 315 life is 750

At temperatures much above 300 deg F the metals in the transmission will tend to warp, twist etc. This is when Toyota decided to inform you that there may be a temperature issue with your transmission
high temperatures causes the formation of varnish deposits which impair or pre vent transmission operation.

At a fluid temperature of 415 deg F fluid life is 30 minutes!

Source: Empire Lubricants Inc.
Consider a scan guage http://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-Comp.../dp/B000AAMY86
Here is the best information for the scan guage http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...-pressure.html

Ultraguage is now offering transmission temps http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/318340-ultragauge-transmission-temp.html

You could also use the Torque app with an Android phone as a cheap alternative to watch your temps http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/per...d2-reader.html

This is how Low Pressure Drop technology works::
When Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is cold it is viscous. The unique Tru-Cool design allows the colder, thicker ATF to flow more efficiently through two open bypass channels positioned at the top of the cooler. As operating temperatures increase, the ATF becomes hotter and thinner, It's then directed through the core where it is cooled. Tru-Cool's highly efficient cooling technology combines improved protection against lube failure with optimal heat transfer.
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Tru-Cool-.../dp/B005XZXB1M
Long Tru-Cool Oil Coolers offer advanced cooling protection for many towing applications. The advanced technology out performs TUBE & FIN Designs, Delivers up to 15 times less flow restrictions, 30% more cooling delivers maximum heat transfer, Self-Regulating for maximum lube flow protection through start-up, varied temperatures and driving conditions, heavy loads and towing.
Here is Toyotas fluid flow guide ...Look at page 8 on this PDF http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf
And here is a guy who recently installed a cooler correctly http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st...agram-pic.html

cooler and fan install http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...n-install.html
Last but not least , the Tacoma World Towing Bible https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

Well? Did you pick up the truck?

 

Sorry for the hold up, I did pick up the truck. I had asked the dealership if they had checked the vehicle and they replied yes. Checking the transmission fluid is now one of the dealer checks becuase of passed issues. I personally did not like their answer and called Toyota and they recommended to go back to the dealership and ask for the delivery checklist as a form of proof Incase of future issues. I haven't had a chance to get back to them becuase of work but I will head there within this week.

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

I've been following this thread off and on for a year or so. While I have not read every single post I got the gist of the issue from the beginning. I took delivery of my Texas-assembled '16 TRD Off Road on December 31st, 2015 in Hickory, NC. I now have 17K miles on it in 14 months of ownership. The transmission issue still continues to bug me. I have been to 3 "local" dealers (i.e. close to me in FL) plus the dealer where I bought it twice. I travel there twice a year. The selling dealer performed the TSB twice and one of the local dealers did it once and also added 1/2 qt of fluid. The hunting continues. Since computers control almost everything nowadays has anyone ever had the ECM (Powertrain Control Module) replaced to solve this issue. I know one local guy with same exact truck as mine who did have his replaced but it was for "making thuds" and he was unaware of any shifting issues prior to that. I'm also aware that a revision 1 to the TSB 0077-16 was issued in July 2016. I am not sure which version was done on my truck since the required "sticker" to show completion was never affixed to my truck under the hood. An additional complaint of mine is that while in cruise at highway speed even the slightest incline will cause the transmission to downshift pretty hard and take a while to get back to 6th gear and lower the RPMs. I am not confident that the flash reprogramming was correctly done or if even done at all although the delay and hard shifting from reverse to drive is alleviated. I love my truck except for this major annoyance. Has anyone gotten complete satisfaction from the TSB remedy?

Any inputs?

 

The first thing I would be checking is the flash . Use the link below
Are you interested to find out whats been done to your truck while it was on warranty or another owner ?
Type in your VIN # and see what,s been done to your truck at the dealership
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/home

 

Thanks Gearcruncher. I already had a Toyota Owners account and have checked the service records. Plus I have all the printed copies given to me at the time of service. Several records say "performed ECM update" but with no reference to Revision 1 of that TSB. I have read the TSB revision and it states a label is to be affixed to the vehicle. There is none. Don't trust dealers much. I've been to four different ones. In my Air Force days we always had a motto--the job's not done until the paperwork is done. Sloppy record keeping is in the interest of "hurry up to the next job". I had a case number open at Toyota and after the last service I spoke with their follow up guy and told him I was not satisfied and to not close the case number. Do you know of anyone who had the ECM replaced? I'm leaning toward requesting exactly that.

 

I havnt heard of any members replacing the ecm but I have heard that Toyota skips out on a lot of stickers which makes it more difficult for the owner of the truck to justify the TSB . The TSB update will be visible when the technician connects the techstream scanner to the ecm in your truck showing him what revisions have been performed even if the sticker is missing. I agree with you . If the sticker is missing , it didnt happen .
Have you considered the TIS mini ? http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mini-VCI-Dia...ash=item360c03770b:g:VRkAAOSw4GVYFtDi&vxp=mtr

 

Very interesting idea. Unfortunately the particular interface cable and cd are not compatible (according to the item description on eBay) with my '16 Tacoma. If it were I don't have the Windows system to use it. I have no laptop and all my gear is Apple/Mac. Would love to try it.

 

Just ordered the parts to add a larger trans fluid cooler.
Has anyone found a convenient place to buy the new overflow O-ring online?
Is it specific to the overflow bolt or will generic part work?

Thanks!

 

Should be the same part number in Europe as here in North America . Use the link I have provided . Why are you replacing the o-ring ? If there is no damage when you visually look at it and feel it with your hands , simply put it back into service . O -rings last an eternity
http://toyota.7zap.com/en/jp/hiace/711160/trh219w-jdtdk/2/3512/359185/

 

2016 TRD OR with Tow Package, Built in June 2016 in USA....approx 1/2 quart low. I checked it myself. Once the truck was at the proper temperature in temp check mode, the trans pan was only 90 degrees (in 38 degree weather) according to my IR thermometer. So i'd recommend nobody rely on an IR thermometer for this. I used a fluid pump made for filling Honda outboard motor lower units via the check plug (Honda 08200-9011), the threads happened to be the proper size for the trans pan. With the truck still idling in park, I pumped a qt in, and about 1/2 qt came back out when I removed the pump. I never had to touch the 24mm fill plug.

 

Id just like to have one on hand just in case I accidentally damage the ring. 3 bucks at a nearby dealer

 

So I called the dealership and they will not do a manual transmission fluid check. Anyone know of a Toyota dealership in the Bay Area Northern California that will? Also, where is the overflow plug located for transmission fluid. I looked through all 640 pages of the owners manual and can not find it. Thx.