Automatic Transmission Fluid change

Hello, wondering if you guys can help me out with some info regarding changing the ATF in a 2018 2.7L tacoma. I just hit 65k miles. The fluid I will be using is OEM toyota ATF-WS. I plan on buying 3 quarts of new fluid as I will only be draining and filling.

Do I have to clean the pan after i drop it? from what I'm reading and watching everyone has a different principle with changing ATF. some say drain flush fill, some say just drain and fill, and some say dont even change it at all. I guess I want to just drain and fill so that theres a small amount of old fluid in there.

Will I be needing a new rubber gasket?

Is there washers I have to replace on the drain/fill bolts?

I would appreciate any tips from people who have done this before. Thanks guys.

 

Get 4 quarts and overfill it so when you temp check the fluid level you can drain excess and be done with it in one shot. No need to drop pan yet.

 

A bit counter DIY..but considering the rather complicated method needed just to check the fluid level..that often is done wrongly..which could result in destroying the transmission..the risk vs value or money saved, unfortunately doesn't balance out..I recommend taking it to the Stealership for service..

 

Drain and fills are simple. Buy 4 quarts so you have enough,usually only 3 will drain out. You don't need to drop the pan . You could reuse your drain and check bolt crush washers or just get new. Make sure you can get your fill plug off if it's seized you don't want to find out after you drained the tranny. I have a V6 so I'm not sure if the procedures the same for the 4. There are good threads on here for the process. For filling the trans a funnel and long hose are needed to make it easy,go from the engine bay and run the hose to the trans. Measure what you drain out and put the same back in , I use a juice jug with measurements marked

 

Just did a drain, fill and check on my 2016 SR 2.7 at 63,000 miles. I used the obd jumper and shift method. It wasn’t hard. It took about 12 minutes to come up to temperature. The outside temperature was low 60’s. I drained just under 3 quarts and replaced 4. It was about 1/2 quart low. My level check plug didn’t have a crush washer, but the drain plug did. I put one on the level check plug after the procedure and it leaked. I removed the level check plug and captured the fluid in a clean container. I removed the crush washer, reinstalled the plug and put the fluid that came out back in. It has not leaked.

I used a funnel and plastic tube like Hunter Gatherer suggested and it was much easier then pumping fluid into the fill hole.

The old fluid was still red, but not as bright as new.

I plan on doing it again at 75,000 miles.

 

i believe 60k miles is the recommended time to change it by toyota master mechanics. toyota stealerships says its lifetime fluid which we all know is a gimmick.

thanks for the tip, I was gunna buy a pump but now im not.

any reason why you are changing it again at 75k miles? Ive read changing it often is bad for the transmission.

 

I only changed 3 quarts or so of about ten when doing a drain and fill. I will do it again at 75,000 and again at 100,000.

I also did my power steering by using a syringe and removing 200cc and replacing same amount. I then drove the truck and replaced another 200cc. I did that six times over a week.

My first gen got a drain and fill every other oil change. I used a pump and 1/4 inch tube in the dipstick tube to pump out 3 quarts. It just took a while to pour it back in using a small funnel. At close to 200,000, the fluid was cherry red.

 

I haven’t attempted this yet but here’s a video from TCCN on how to do it.

https://youtu.be/NUAuGmDGntY

 

Thanks, he does describe the process well. Call me stupid - had he not said practice the process of getting the temp correct, I would have bumbled along.

 

Hey all. I am planning to do this transmission fluid drain and fill. I cannot for the life of me find the fill plug. All the videos I see are on V6 models. Is the fill plug in the same location? Does anyone have any pictures of the transmission fill plug or diagrams on the 3rd gen 4cyl automatic transmission 2.7L?

 

No need to drop the pan, I did a 100k pan drop and it was total overkill. Just drain and fill, do another at 120k miles then at 200k do the pan drop/clean, filter and gasket change.

 

So You were able to find your fill plug on your 4cylinder? I can't find the transmission fluid fill plug anywhere on mine. Is it in the same place as the v6 models?