ATF fluid too high? Please advise

Took my 2017 tacoma sr into the stealership for a atf dump and fill and noticed it whirring alot more. I know this place has a habit of over or under filling pretty much everything they do so I decided to check the "check plug" while it was cold and a significant amount of fluid came out so I put the plug back before it was fully drained. I know I should check while its at temp but seeing as it is cold and more dense, that means I definitely have too much fluid, right? Thanks ya'll

 

Truck was level?

 

As level as I could reasonably make it. I put a level on the frame and the bubble is almost exactly in the middle for whatever that's worth.

 

If you have the AT you can’t check by just pulling the plug. It’s a semi complex procedure where the transmission temp has to be within a certain range. Then you watch for dribbles.

 

Yeah I started getting into it on youtube but from what I can tell, I still have too much oil right?

 

Not necessarily... when it is at the right temp there may very well be less fluid in the body and more distributed throughout. Only way to know is to check it the legit way.

 

That was his point. Fluid was cold, so theoretically nothing should've came out.

Op, hard to say without doing the procedure by the book. Some of the overflow tube could've had some oil in as well, from driving and what not.

 

Ah I hadn't considered that. I will have to do that tomorrow.

I also really didn't trust the fill the dealership did because while it was obvious that they had removed the transmission drain plug (there was oil cleaned from around it) it was also obvious that they hadn't removed the check plug (still super dirty around it)

 

Truck was running, correct?

 

nope, ice cold (75F lol), and not running. Honestly I didn't expect anything to come out so I just put the plug back immediately but still lost a significant amount of fluid.

 

It needs to be running and at temp to properly check, more than likely it's low now

 

Ummm......you messed up. How bad is yet to be determined.

The tranny needs to be at operating temperature and in Park with the engine idling.

The torque converter will use some of the oil while it is running. When things are cold and off, the Torque converter will drain.
Also fluid will be circulating in the valves and passages when running. These will drain when cold and off.

You can not check the Automatic Tranny fluid level with your method or assumptions.


Suggest you return to the shop who serviced the transmission to have them verify the correct fluid level.

 

yeah that's what I was wondering. It would make sense the oil would pool at the bottom where the check plug is and like you said in the torque converter. Also yeah don't worry it really wasn't enough fluid loss to do any damage and I have not driven it since, but I will take it in tomorrow just to be safe.

 

For God's sake don't tell the shop about your "check".

Just say it seems to be shifting sluggish. And ask, if they would verify the fluid level.

Be aware, you may need to pay a few $$. Don't bitch about the cost, consider it the price of learning.

 

lol consider your advice taken