Transmission Oil

So on my first ever oil change I accidentally unscrewed the trans oil instead of the engine oil screw. Upon doing this about a 1/4 of a quart came out. I did not want to reuse this oil due to dust and old engine oil residue so I went to the local automotive store and bought the closest off brand trans oil I topped off the trans oil and left it. Like I said it was only about 1/4 of a quart, but I am wondering if mixing the off brand and OEM would be an issue and harm my truck. Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I’m assuming it’s an automatic. That mistake is harder to make on the manuals because of where the drain bolt sits. People will debate about mixing oil until they are blue in the face… I don’t think it’s a big deal. My old CRV has been leaking oil for 2 years and I top it off with different brand (same weight/viscosity) oil all the time.
That being said, the automatic transmissions have a pretty specific fill process. It requires jumping some switches on the OBD port and letting the trans come up to temp. Then opening the overflow bolt to ensure proper oil quantity. Check out the “team oil drop” video on YouTube. He has a great video showing the process. Considering you don’t know exactly how much you lost, it’s probably worth it to ensure all is good by doing that process…. And if you are gonna go through all that trouble, might as well just change it.
It’s an excuse to wrench on your truck brother! Take it!

 

As long as the oil meets Toyota spec, you should be fine.

I drained and put in valvoline maxlife atf and it’s fine.

 

No problem as long as it’s a Toyota ‘WS fluid’ equivalent.

 

Here is a good write up on checking the fluid level.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-automatic-transmission-fluid-level-check-diy.547455/

 

Also how do you exactly know its 1/4

 

If you’re close to 60t miles, for a peace of mind just have the AT fluid changed .

 

Problem, that's not always the case. I put the Dexron equiv. in my 2001 tundra that was called for by a popular brand. A short time later my transmission began shifting strange. Took it to the dealer where they did a complete transmission flush, and used the toyota atf. I had no issues after that always using the toyota atf when doing their 4 qt drain, and replace.
When it comes time for this tacoma it with be the toyota ws atf only.

 

WS for me as well. And some lubeguard.

 

I did multiple drain and fills with Redline D6ATF around the 35k mark. I'm at 50k with no issues. I tow a 2k trailer quite a bit. My WS looked like crap and smelled burnt even at such low miles. Perhaps it was fine, I didn't test it since I was putting in all new Redline.

 

It was roughly a quart I am not for certain. I kept the OEM in there added about 1.5 qt and did the whole jumping wires, let it leak out until it barely drips etc like a ton of videos and instructions stated online.

 

It’s an automatic. I did exactly what multiple different YouTube videos instructed and very well might of followed the video you listed. I know I filled it up right and jumped the wire and drained the extra off etc my main concern was mixing the two different brand oils. I had read a few threads that say never mix OEM and off brand but the oil I did put back in it was the closest if not the same as OEM oil.

 

How do you know it was the closest to the same? Did you have that atf specifically analyzed? Just doing the taste test doesn't always work.

 

does it have a topper ?

 

But we are not talking about all the fluid, just a 1/4 quart in a transmission that takes what 10 quarts? I can’t remember the total fill requirements were you to drain the system completely. As long as it’s compatible, it will be fine.

 

It may very well be fine what you did, but I wouldn't recommend using any aftermarket atf that's suppose to be compatible unless toyota themselves recommends it.

 

Seems like there are many fluids that claim compatibility with Toyota WS fluid:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...a-ws-atf-automaitc-transmission-fluid.373083/

 

I got the most referred from some posts on here I believe and some YouTube videos. I would be lying if I said I went with valvoline or castrol but it was one of the two in the dextron VI ATF. I was also not too worried at the time about mixing OEM and aftermarket just because of how little it was and from some research I did. I could go get OEM due to time constraints as well.

 

Exactly...their were many aftermarket aft's that claimed to be compatible with dexron III when i had my tundra. In reality they were not after finding out from a toyota dealer needing a complete flush. Don't mix aftermarket compatible atf's with the toyota ws atf thats already in there, if just doing a 4 qt drain, and refill like what i once did on my tundra.

 

what fluid did you use?