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2001 Tacoma Automatic Transmission Fluid/Fliter change

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by c005jjc, Oct 9, 2010.

  1. Oct 9, 2010 at 10:15 AM
    #1
    c005jjc

    c005jjc [OP] Statistics are boring…until you become one!

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    I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 V-6 Automatic with 162,000 miles. I bought it at 110,000 but I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. It has a dipstick to check the auto fluid level on the passenger side of the engine and also has a drain plug on the bottom of the tranny. Sounds like it would be an easy DYI for just drain and fill method like I have read here on other post. I have been reading different threads about should I change the fluid/fliter in my transmission...should I do a complete flush (which would mean taking it to a shop and paying out the yengyang). Should I just drain the transmission 3 or 4 times and add new fluid (would be considerably cheaper if I DYI)? Should I change the filter? The filter is just a screen and don't worry about it? So many different ways of doing this maintenance! If you have taken care of this on a 2001 model, your input would be appreciated!
     
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  2. Oct 9, 2010 at 10:18 AM
    #2
    747

    747 function > form

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    FWIW: When I did mine (@ 75k) I just drained and filled w/T-IV; zero problems; just make sure you have enough T-IV fluid before you start.
     
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  3. Oct 31, 2010 at 8:41 PM
    #3
    c005jjc

    c005jjc [OP] Statistics are boring…until you become one!

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    I have drained and filled for the first time since I have had the truck. Seems to shift better and smoother. I will drive for a month or so and then do the drain and fill again. Will do it a few more times to get most of the old TF out of the torque converter. I was talking to the parts guy at the dealer and he said any Dexron III will work. I have noticed a Castrol high mileage TF for about the same price as the TF from the dealer and it will work on my tranny. Might use it after I have used up all of the TF from the dealer.
     
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  4. Nov 19, 2013 at 2:08 PM
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    senoiachuck

    senoiachuck Member

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    My 2001 Tacoma V6 auto transmission calls for dexIII. I cant even find it! I want to cahnge the fluid myslef this time but dont want to put the wrong type of fluid in. Like I said the manual clearly say dexronIII but I am having trouble finding it. Does it sometimes go under a different name. The guy at Autozone says to put Castrol DEX/Merc tranny fluid in it but I dont want to F this up. Any thoughts?
     
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  5. Mar 29, 2015 at 5:33 PM
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    AbodvenTacoma

    AbodvenTacoma Member

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    I just changed my radiator and a little bit of transmission fluid poured out. Was wondering what kind of ATF i use to refill what was lost?
     
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  6. Mar 29, 2015 at 5:42 PM
    #6
    Snowman

    Snowman I have a problem for your solution…

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    Ive always used this, no issues.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Apr 7, 2015 at 11:04 AM
    #7
    JJ04TACO

    JJ04TACO Well-Known Member

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    The filter is just a mesh screen that the fluid falls through back to the pan. I did mine at 120k (filter) and it was clean. Dirty fluid passes through, it seems that it's to catch bigger particles and not remove micro contaminants. I replaced it because I took it apart, but it wasn't really necessary.
     
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  8. Jul 6, 2016 at 8:24 AM
    #8
    TacomaMike2001

    TacomaMike2001 New Member

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    I am as shocked as anyone else about changing / maintaing your ATF. I mean, we should change the oil regularly, we should change the timing belt regularly, but don't mess with the Transmission unless you have been regularly changing it? At least that is what I been told.....I have a 2001 Tacoma V6 3.4L with 245,000 original miles. I have never had any transmission work on it. Runs smooth. Recently, I thought that it was way past due to get a Trans Fluid change and I started reading up on it. The Quick Change Oil Lube places want to use the "exchange vacuum machine" which everyone says don't do. So, I found this guy on YouTube that does a great Transmission change where he drops the pan and changes the casket and filter, looks very easy, especially if you have a lift. So, I have a friend in the auto repair business who has a lift and when I told him what I wanted to do he was like..."No Way" don't even bother unless you are having a problem with it. It will only create a problem for you". So, I decided against changing out the fluid. I did add a 1/2 quart of ATF fluid to my transmission. My ATF dipstick says "Use Only Dexron II or Dexron III" I found this at O'Reilly's which the store manager explained that they no longer manufacture Dexron II and that Dexron 4 is only a higher formula but is designed to work the same. The label says; "for use where Dexron II or Dexron III." Hope this helps someone else. It sure took me a long type to research this information.
     
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  9. Jul 7, 2016 at 1:59 PM
    #9
    RobertHyatt

    RobertHyatt You just can't fix stupid...

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    just so you realize where you are going here, some "round numbers".

    Assume 12 quarts capacity, and assume you can get 3 quarts out of the pan (which I have never been able to do but that is another issue).

    Here's a chart. Each row is the results of the next 3 quart drain/fill:

    change old new %
    1 9.00 3.00 75.00%
    2 6.75 5.25 56.25%
    3 5.06 6.94 42.19%
    4 3.80 8.20 31.64%
    5 2.85 9.15 23.73%
    6 2.14 9.86 17.80%
    7 1.60 10.40 13.35%
    8 1.20 10.80 10.01%
    9 0.90 11.10 7.51%

    After 9 changes, 27 quarts, you still have close to 10% of the original old oil left. After the 4th change, where you have used 12 quarts of new fluid, 1/3 of the fluid is still old.

    It is far easier to just flush using the instructions published here. Unhook the external cooler line, drain the pan, then fill until it overflows, crank, pump out a couple of quarts, refill, and continue. By the time you have used 12 quarts, you will be close to being all new fluid, the only mixing that occurs will be in the torque converter so you will never get 100% of the old out. But this gets it out a lot quicker.
     
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  10. Jul 9, 2016 at 12:19 PM
    #10
    Rambo MARINE Recon

    Rambo MARINE Recon Well-Known Member

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    I drain and refill with AMSOIL Signature Series ATF , 100% Full Synthetic ATF !The Best for Florida High Heat and Towing a Boat !
     

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