Transmission fluid change question

I’ve already drained and refilled my transmission and performed the routine at temperature to ensure the level is correct. My question NOW is on subsequent changes, what if I caught and measured how much was removed when I execut the approximate 4 quart drain and refill, and simply refill the tranny with that amount? Would this be acceptable to do now because “I” performed the last fluid change and confirmed the level was correct?

 

unless you develop a leak... then you wouldnt know the true level. food for thought. Ski

 

The fact that Toyota gave us no tranny dipstick is asisnine!!

 

I agree above. It should be easier to change transmission fluid. The idea of measuring through an overflow once the transmission fluid is at a specific temperature. It’s like porridge not too hot not too cold. Anyways having my fluids changed today. Hoping it’s done right… holding onto bill in case.

 

I would still do the proper level check.

 

The drain and refill amount is 3.5 quarts as per Toyota. When I do mine , Im draining it stone cold, and pumping new fluid in stone cold. I will measure what comes out for giggles.

 

do you remove the pan or just drain plug to get the 3.5 qt's? i am going to do mine and will not mess with the pan. i might try and stick a tube thru the fill hole after draining and run it in to the bottom of the pan and see if i can suck anymore out

 

If you attempt this, make DAMN SURE you can remove the fill plug before draining.

 

Yea..and it is kind of up high a bit hard to get at. same with doing the diff's.
what i will not do is fill it with the engine running like some videos say to do. no way will i be under my truck while it is running.

 

Not that big of a deal……try standing next to an aircraft engine running……always unnerving

 

The idea is, it's an overflow style. So intentionally put too much in. Pushes out the unneeded.

If you do a measure and refill its not ideal, but it certainly won't break anything.

Dip sticks were very subjective and manufacturers wanted people to stop messing with them.

I prefer the overflow style. I despise dip stick transmissions.

 

So if my truck is is cold and I drain it. Then fill it till it weeps from the over flow, Im going to assume its filled to the correct level. To be honest I don't even care if its perfect. It'll be better than half the Tacomas on the road that get zero trans maintenance.

 

No. If you drain it cold and refill it with the same measured amount you will be good. If you drain it cold and refill until it runs out through the overflow tube you have just put in MORE fluid and will be overfilled.

 

10-4 quibble man

 

i expands when it gets hot. do like you described then warm up the truck to 1/4 hot then check the overflow drain again.
a little may come out. that's what i do. but that's just me.

 

What is the temperature range it needs to be in to remove the standpipe plug?

 

Here is good info on checking your fluid level.

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

 

I wish if they were going to do away with the dip stick they would have built a sight glass into the transmission case

 

I've been curious about how much the fluid actually expands. I did the change cold and refilled to it started coming out the overflow. When I got it up to temp there was negligible fluid over what came out cold. Is 10ml of fluid really going to make a difference? I'm really asking. This seems like the difference between textbook and actual practice to me though. Something for the OCD to focus on

 

I have heard from a few Toyota techs that cold to hot can differ by about 1/4 of a quart