How screwed is my tranny

So the other day I was in a rush and needed to get my oil changed. On the brink of heatstroke I quickly undid the drain bolt and watched the dark fluid fill the pan. Switched the filter and thought “one thing less to worry about.”

Next day, went to run some errands for my old lady in the next town over and noticed a little jerking on the highway. I immediately recognized my mistake. Turns out I drained the transmission fluid, not the oil.

Getting someone to bring some atf by in a bit but figured I’d go ahead and ask if anyone else could give me an experienced guess on the severity of my situation. The slip and jerk is very noticeable now. What are the chances it’ll be fine after I top it off? Am I gonna need a new transmission? Or would a rebuild be possible?

If someone wants to start a petition to make the drain nuts more distinguishable I’d sign. It’s too hot/humid to think AND breathe this time of year

Before you give me a hard time, just know it’s hard enough being this stupid

 

Depends on how far over the next town was?
But I'd guess there is a 70% chance it will be ok.

I have to ask, How much oil is in the engine?
When you checked the level, did it not look like it was WAY over full?

 

I have to ask to you add more oil to your engine ?

 

i was about to ask that. too much engine oil is not good either... you probably have oil in your intake and breathers, etc. now

also, you did not drain all of the trans fluid. it does not all drain

 

Yeah, I'd be more worried about the motor than the tranny. The transmission system holds nearly 12 quarts, so while it was certainly low, not empty. The engine, however . . .

 

Yup it was a little past full so that should’ve been my wake up call. Just been too mentally occupied with everything else to give it a second thought. It was already low and I only put 4 1/2 quarts in.

Not an old man yet, at least not clinically but it may be about time for a pharmaceutical intervention. My cortex should’ve been done a minute ago so I may be stuck like this forever, if that’s the case my goose is likely cooked

 

Your not the first person that’s done this, it happens more than you would think.

 

He's not the first person this week: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sh-t.835790/

 

Oh, Dude. Dude.

 

Would have been good if you have done frequent drain and fills since you would have recognized the problem immediately since the fluid would have been red instead of black. And even though it hold 13 quarts a lot of this is in the converter or maybe not now. Pan is probably still quite empty. Whats probably happening is that the pan does fill up enough to reach the intake of the pan filter and is then sucked up and then there is a lag until enough fluid fills the pan again to repeat the cycle hence the jerking. Its probably also the case that its now not straight fluid thats flowing and maintaining pressure in the valves but a mix of fluid and air.

As i guess I would think it would be OK as long as the ATF temp didnt go through the roof. I gather you know how to do the proper fill procedure using the trans temp and overflow plug?

 

I only recognized it because I had a similar issue with an old Dakota when I was first learning to drive. Same deal with unpredictable acceleration/jerk. Ended up having to get the trans rebuilt that time.

Glad I’m not the only one who’s experienced this at least.

“Change your own oil” they said “it’s easy, you’ll save money” they said

 

I'm gonna tell you a little story

about 6 months after I got my truck, I took it to the desert bone stock, and more or less destroyed it. one of the bigger issues was a loose battery from the previous owner slopping around it's space in the engine bay, which resulted in a corner tearing one of the transmission cooler lines (previous owner upgraded the battery but not the J hook holding it in place). This happened about 3/4 of the way through the day.

I didn't notice this issue until about sunset on our way out, when the spray was shorting out he headlight. Pulled over at the gas station by the exit, slapped some rubber cement (which didn't hold very long), and drove it home 2 hours. The transmission didn't have a single issue until I was 5 miles from home, and was fully burnt out and useless by the time I got to my driveway, but it still got me home.

Do a drain and fill of both systems and see how it does.

 

Learning on the fly atm

Drain the trans and motor you mean?

 

correct

just make sure you fill em right this time lol

 

I’ll do my best captain

 

Toyota seriously needs too put big warning stickers on the transmission,stating ( Warning this drain plug is for transmission FLUID ONLY )

 

Dude, my frame mount perch just ripped off of the frame... Now I'm rolling around south Louisiana in the summer in an 89 f250 with no a/c...

We all got problems

 

You're kidding right?

 

you just need to remember engine oil drains out from under the engine... not under the middle of the truck.

a must read...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/halp.33318/