Automatic Transmission Flush or Fill Best Method

A single drain and fill will go a long way towards freshening the fluid up, more than you'd expect changing 1/3 of the fluid to do.

 

any way i can stick a tube in the drain hole and pump out the remaining 2 qts?

 

It's definitely a really helpful video... Thank you!

 

you probably could with a fluid extractor, but I'd just drop the pan.

 

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

 

Valvoline MaxLife is about $26 a gal at Walmart (last I checked). Used it for years (~20k miles).

 

Did you notice any difference between stock fluid and valvoline?

I’m getting ready to order all of the fluids and that’s the only one I’m the fence with.

 

Valvoline makes good stuff at fair prices. I'm sure it would be fine.

 

Funny enough redline d6 is a few bucks cheaper than WS. Not really too concerned with price (well as long as it’s not amsoil price) just better protection. I need to check out valvoline too. That’s what I’m going to use in the rear diff

 

i am going to do the same, how many washers do you have to replace rear diff and tranny?
i am going to get tranny fluid and washers from dealer.
rear diff walmart.

 

@kahanabob

2 crush washers (drain and fill) for the trans...

$7 35178-30010

35178-30010

transfer case and diff washers listed here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/

 

I’m going to go to the dealer and just say I need all of these washers for x. Everything else is just from Amazon/summit. I’ve been reading nothing but fluid stuff for the last two days. I don’t have the willpower to look up all of the washer part numbers.

 

Went with Redline D6 for the trans. Just under 400 bucks for a full fluid change (diffs, t case, trans, engine).

 

Thanks to @MGMDesertTaco and the link here are all of the gaskets. I’m going to try Amazon but I might just stop at the dealer.

T case

• Drain plug gasket - Toyota part # 90430-A0003
• Fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 90430-A0003

Trans

• Drain plug gasket - Toyota part #
  $7 35178-30010
  35178-30010
• Overflow plug gasket - Toyota part # 35178-30010
• Fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 90301-15004

Diffs

• Rear drain plug gasket - Toyota part #
  $14 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010
  12157-10010
• Rear fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 12157-10010
• Front drain plug gasket - Toyota part #
  $3 90430-24003 Front Differential Drain Plug Gasket
  90430-24003
• Front fill plug gasket - Toyota part # 12157-10010

 

A bit off topic, but I've been going through and doing all the maintenance front to back on my truck. (coolant, brake fluid, radiator hoses, serpentine belt, air filters, driveline fluids, ect.) This might be applicable to others.

FWIW, I flushed the power steering fluid last weekend with a little over two quarts of dexron 3 atf. This was the old fluid after 6+ years, but only 18k miles.




With the front of the truck on jack stands I carefully pulled the bottom return hose off the plastic reservoir and stuffed it into a sports drink bottle; then I plugged the reservoir with a black Dorman vacuum cap. One full turn to the left or right will drain about half of the reservoir, so you'll have to keep topping off with every max turn (completely to the left or right) to avoid introducing air into the system.

I'm going to look into installing a larger aftermarket power steering cooler (Hayden or Derale) and filter (Magnefine) for the 285's and 2.5 fox coilovers I'm installing soon.

$26 Magnefine 3/8" Magnetic Inline Transmission/Power Steering Filter

https://www.amazon.com/Magnefine-Ma...ower+,aps,151&sr=8-1-spons&smid=A33WFIG7XLWS7

 

My 2nd gen had 245k miles on it when I traded it with original tranny fluid, never any issues.
My 3rd gen currently has 155k miles on it with original tranny fluid, no issues.

 

That's correct, it's all I did for my gen1 tundra, and that transmission worked still like new at 290k miles 19 years later. How long do you expect to have these trucks? There is such a thing as too much maintenance.

 

I had a 88 Tercel that had the transmisson fail at 120k miles, never changed the fluid. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. That car did not live up to Toyota quality myth on a number of fronts, though.

 

Take this for what it's worth. I am not a mechanic.

How many tacoma ATs are blowing up? How many miles does Toyota tell you to service your transmission at? Hint on the second one: It's never (although they do say for "aggressive use" or whatever they call it, towing/off roading, to do a flush).

I'm at 60k, going to drain and fill here and every 30k, and call it a day, not dealing with the flushes and whatnot.

 

You don't need a pump, just a funnel on the end of the hose and pour it in. Fluid exchange is by far the best method, but you reallyneed two people to do it easier.