How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

I'm thinking that it might be underfilled.

 

Well…surprising that I haven’t felt anything running this long. It’s been at least 60k since last drain and fill at the dealer….

I am trying to find a good way to check the temp of the fluid to just overfill and let it drain out anything extra.

this whole thing has got me wondering about dropping the pan and doing a full fill up to check for anything that might be inside the pan

any input is gravely appreciated.

 

Scan tool is the best way, temp should be 95-115F and engine running in park when checking.

 

Already know how to do the drain and fill and use pan temp and overflow tube to get correct level.

The question I have is where about is the fluid level in a stone cold not engine running pan?
I can see that when running the transmission would draw some up (lower level) while the temp increase would raise the level up due to expansion so these would have opposite effects.

If you pulled the plug in the overflow tube when cold (outside temp say 80F) and not running would any come out?

 

Yes quite a bit would come out.
The fluid level is always higher on a transmission with the engine not running, when the engine is running the pump is circulating fluid through the tranmission. With the engine off alot of the fluid settles to the pan.

 

The reason i ask is that I am going to use this to get as close as possible the correct volume of fluid back in following the dropping of pan, changing filter etc. And yes I know there are other methods including measuring the volume of all the fluid that is drained and I did those on prior drain and fills.

Prior to draining (cold and not running of course) I am going to pull the overflow plug and measure the amount that comes out.

After the pan drop and filter change I will then add enough fluid to just have it start to dribble out (again cold and not running) and put overflow plug back in

I will then add in the volume of fluid I measured from pulling the overflow plug in the beginning plus a teeny bit more.

Will then do the engine running , temp tested volume check.

Just want to get it bang on while cold so i don't have to bother having to add more while its hot and trying to avoid the hot exhaust pipe and running or have to wait till its cold to add more.

 

I just try to overfill them initially then get it up to temp and let the excess drain back out, it's easier to do that than try to add it running and not go over the temperature.

Did you see the revised check temp of 95-115F per TSB 0129-08?
I wish we could get a mod to edit the first post since the OP is long gone but so far we have been unable to convince them to do so.

 

And my method is also doing a slight overfill when cold.

"I will then add in the volume of fluid I measured from pulling the overflow plug in the beginning plus a teeny bit more"

I was using 115F previously. Did the TSB change that?
Its list 115F as max so no change for me
That only lists models up to 2008 although i have the same transmission. A750F

 

The TSB really only applied to 04-08 vehicles with the A750 transmission that had the incorrect 115-130F in the service info, all later models the service info was updated to the correct 95-115F but alot of people on here go by the 06 FSM that is commonly found online and as such have the wrong info.

From the 15 FSM.

 

No worries then. And I use my ultragauge to monitor pan temp so no need to do the OBDC jumper method.

 

Good afternoon. 2013 4.0L SR5 4WD AT. Anyone have the part numbers for the OEM fill, drain and overflow drain plugs?

 

Overflow and drain washers:

$7 35178-30010

35178-30010

Fill washer: 90301-15004

 

I have the washers/gaskets but was looking for the actual drain plug part numbers themselves. Thought I would replace them, especially the fluid level check plug. Did not find them with the typical search effort. Just checking to see if anyone has the numbers handy. Thank you.

 

@Fortech first off great write up and videos. I read through a lot of this thread but… there’s a lot to read. I can’t get my 2013 DCSB TRD Sport with the 4L V6 to enter temp check mode. I used my scanguage II to get to temp before changing but wanted to make sure to hit accurate temp as noted scanners can be inaccurate depending on where the thermometer is recording temps in the system.

I’ve tried the N to D a handful of times over 2 sessions with the 1.5s interval in mind but nothing. The first attempt is when I drained the pan when the engine was already warm. Rereading I noted that the truck should start below 86 degrees F. So tried again the next day but again nothing. Any ideas why it’s not lighting up?

https://youtu.be/kWrtKr4N_WM?si=SbYEC1lBy9soEXao

 

The fluid temp stated in the OP is incorrect, per TSB-0129-08 the fluid temp must be 95-115 when checking. 09+ trucks had their programming for temp check mode changed to reflect this.
Honestly it's much easier to just use a scan tool to read the transmission temp.

 

@Dm93 that makes a lot of sense.

 

ive read this write up a lot, very good. however, for those who have access to a scan tool like i do so you dont have to jump the pins on the obd, 115-130F is not the right temperature. The correct temperature is 97-115F

 

@ToyotaMan2015 yeah I used the scanguage II to change the fluid but was puzzled why the Hotwire option wasn’t working. Made me question the scanguage accuracy but knowing the temp range is lower makes sense.

 

I believe the scan gauge (like my ultragauge) is just reading the temp from the same sensor as doing the wire jumping method. (pan vs converter) so curious why you don't trust it.

 

The only reason why i know that is because when i serviced my trans, i have a friend thats a mechanic and he has access to all data. And thats what it said. And @Dm93 posted the spec sheet from toyota on that. And it said the same. For those that come to this thread, i really think that should be updated. But i know its hard to do that on here.