How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

A drain and fill should take about 3.2 quarts.

 

around 3.2 quarts came out last night when I accidentally drained the transmission fluid instead of the oil... I let it sit over night because I couldn't get my hands on new ATF.

I finally got my hands on some ATF and when I pulled the check plug again, about a quart came out.

 

It probably drained out of the valve body overnight.

 

That makes sense. No harm done, right? Just gotta let the new fluid circulate and replace the same amount?

 

Yeah, put it in each gear and let it run with your foot on the brake for about 3 or 4 seconds in each gear then go back to park. Then shut it off and do the temp check procedure.

 

Awesome. Thanks for the help, man! Really appreciate it! Funny, I was going to change the fluid since I just went over 100K.... guess I heard to learn the hard way.

 

I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma with 142k miles. I just did a transmission flush. I drained out from the ATF cooler line. I would have start the truck and 4 quarts came out at a time and I would refill through the ATF cooler line going back to the tranny. I did this process 4 times so a total of 16 quarts came out. Every time the oil came out the same. It Didn't look any cleaner. Is that normal or my truck was that dirty?

 

I would guess that extra quart was being held inside and above the filter. With the pan empty and no longer holding fluid inside the filter, it slowly drained out overnight.

 

It sounds like that was the case. I refilled little more than the amount that came out (around 4.7 quarts) and my truck is running good as new now. Changed the oil too and my truck is running smooth as hell! Feels like a new truck LOL

 

Hi, complete newbie here. i plan on doing the simple draining and refilling my truck 3.2~4 quarts, truck is at 64k miles. How imperative is the temp check method. Everything else sounds relatively simple enough, just the whole puttjng the truck into temp check is making me hesistant. Thanks for any help.

 

You should absolutely put the truck into temp check mode, it's really simple and easier than using a dipstick once you've done it a few times.

 

I'm fairly new to working on my truck as well and putting it into temp check mode was super simple. Felt like I was putting in the Contra code

Up up down down left right left right B A

 

Just find a piece of solid wire (like something you might take off an old home appliance like a ceiling fan) and insert it into the 2 places and that's it.

 

Is it better to do the initial drain when the oil is warmed up? Will I get any more out than if I just drain from a cold engine/tranny?

 

So i just tried this, and it seems like i do not have a AT TEMP light. 2008 PreRunmer v6 SR5... is there another way to do the temp check..? Thanks for any help.

 

Just finished my drain/fill. I only have 32,440 on the ODO, but I plan to do a drain/fill annually (maybe not again til 60k), then drop the pan at 100k, replace filter and gasket and do a full DIY flush. Fluid was 22oz. low, presumably from the factory. I have a 2012 4X4 SR5 w/tow package.

 

I'm planning on doing a drain and fill soon and I was pondering on something. How accurate would using an infrared temp gun on the side of the drain pan be, when checking for proper ATF fluid temperature? If I've read previous posts correctly, the proper temperature for a 2013 is 97*-115*?

 

Someone checked this on a 4runner on another forum. They found that a non-contact thermometer pointed at the bottom of the pan was within just a few degrees of the OBD and temp check mode temperatures (it was a smidge low as I recall). So I'd feel totally comfortable using your temp gun on the pan when it says the pan is in the middle of the temp range.

 

Performed this Maint about 10k ago. Last month of driving I've been noticing my tranns feels diff than ever. Sort of like it doesn't want to engage fully to neutral during a stop sign/stop light and seems to have more pull during slow down than normal. Also get a weird stutter/clunk every now and then once starting throttle from one of these stops. Hope it's nothing serious. Anyone think I have too much or not enough fluid possibly? I'm thinking of performing the service again soon.

 

I would add a 1/2 quart of fluid and then go through the temp check to verify that the level is correct first.