Oil change nightmare! Help please

I agree with BT, "learning as you go" implies more than just grabing a wrench and taking things apart. The OP was unprepaired, and failed twice to catch his mistake; first the colour of the fluid removed, and second, in checking the oil level when done. This isn't a grade school "square peg, round hole" trial and error task, this is a 20-30k truck. It's not that hard to pick up a book first and "learn", before doing. And if you can't do, take it to someone who can.

I don't come from the school of thought, where everybody gets a gold star for effort. Sometimes a fail, is a fail. You can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

Frank

 

funny, i was just bragging to my neighbor about how easy my trucks oil change is

 

Not doing anything is also a mistake.

 

I did this once on a 79 celica I had... I actually started the motor and drove for about half a mile never hurt the motor I think it was a 20 r or something like that.

 

OP, lesson learned but don't let this stop you from learning and working on your truck in the future. Unfortunately this happens more often than not on the Tacomas. Heck, there was a thread here not long ago about a dealership overfilling on an oil change. I web search before any first time repairs or installs on all my vehicles, from oil changes to lifts. I did a double take the first time I creeped under the Tacoma for it's first oil change and can see where you made the error. Both pans had the the same color and similar bolts. I painted my oil pan bolt head to eliminate confusion and catastophe that you unfortunately experienced. You could also buy a Fumoto valve to make oil changes and identification even easier. Kudos for being man enough to post your error knowing the possible bashing. We all make mistakes just hope it all works out well for you. Make sure the shop knows how to change the transmission fluid. Here's a link from a TW member that did his own. :
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html

Click for full-size image (1024 x 768)

 

Seriously, having done oil changes on many a car and truck over the years since I've started driving, I'm glad you posted that. I'm used to an oil pan looking like, well an oil pan.

 

You need to watch out you might hurt his feelings....

I think everyone here deserves a ribbon just for posting. I still don't know how this can happen if you have any mech. knowledge of a vehicle. Front plug is motor then comes transmission. I would have been wondering wheres the transmission plug? Sounds to me like shoot first then ask questions is what heppened here.

 

ehh you missed the point

 

Makes sense, I hear ya bro.

 

"Learn as you go" is great for $50 huffy bicycles, not so great for $10k trucks. The potential damage (and $ loss) with screwing up an oil change definitely warrants some research and learning of the correct procedure before an attempt is made. Bottom line: could have been worse, nobody got hurt... good for the OP.

 

Made me go to youtube.

 

Crazy how people are doing this. Oil and tranny fluid look so different IMO. Also TW has a sticky on oil changes and tells you where the oil drain bolt is. Even a video.

Are the bolt sizes even the same?

The first time I changed my oil, which is the only time so far, I made dang sure I was at the right drain bolt.

I admit I was tempted to touch the bolt closer to the rear of the vehicle because I thought that was the oil pan back there. Again TW to the rescue.

 

100% agreement on this.
Look for info before you do anything.
I am also perplexed how can anybody mistake transmission for an engine. They don't even look similar.
I guessing people are doing this in pitch black.?

 

It was a post just like this one that made me pause and take a good look before my first oil change. I wasn't confused and it was obvious which drain plug to work on. But I did appreciate the reminder to double check my work.

 

Well, this isn't the first time and it more than likely won't be the last. It amazes me how often this happens though when the tranny pan is nowhere near the engine.

 

sorry i was thinking of my other truck witch is a tundra hence my username tundrataco..

 

Hope everything is okay OP. The first time I crawled under my 2011 I noticed that the transmission pan looks similar to a oil pan. I can see where if you are not familiar with the truck that could be a relatively easy mistake to make.

On a side note I refuse to take my truck to the dealership to get and preventative maintenance done on my truck. I bought it at the largest Toyota dealer in the state and although we have had real good luck with buy from them their service dept leaves something to be desired. When I bought my 2011 I took it in 2 times for the "free" maintenance and both times they didn't rotate the tires like they were supposed to. I marked them with chalk both times and each time it came back out without the tires rotated. The manager gave me a sheet showing everything they did. I asked him if they rotated the tires and he said yes. I pointed out (both times) that the tires had NOT been rotated because I marked them with chalk. He said they must have overlooked them and he took it back in and rotated them. I asked did you even change the oil and filter???

I don't trust anyone with my truck but me unless it is something internal that I can't fix. I have free service on my 13 but I refuse to take it in. Free isn't free if they don't do what they are supposed to do. If I do it I know it is done right.

 

Next time follow the rule of thumb that the engine oil drain plug is underneath the engine and the transmission oil drain plug is underneath the transmission. My sister in law's ex made this same mistake on her 99 4Runner and she backed out of the driveway but couldn't go forward. Once we fixed the problem, it worked again just fine. That 4Runner now has 250K miles and counting with no issues, so if the tranny ever dies it will be from old age, not from "the incident." So just take a deep breath and say "Good thing it's a Toyota."

 

Happy to report the Taco is back home and all is well. Had the shop do a full transmission service/flush as it was due anyway...Definitely learned my lesson from this bonehead mistake.

 

Also glad you posted up, other will take note & learn. You did a righteous thing by posting up, as another mentioned. Again, so glad your truck is up & running!!!!!