Does This A/T Fluid Look Normal?

I just did a drain and fill on my 2015 TRD Sport 4x4. It's the 4.0L V6 with 5spd automatic. Does this fluid look normal or bad? I bought the truck in January 2018 with 104k miles. It was a one owner truck with documented service at their local dealership. (It came from out of state).

I now have 121k miles and wasn't sure if and when the transmission was last serviced. The records aren't really detailed. They just say the date, and that the vehicle was serviced. I can tell that someone has checked the transmission before, at least, because of markings on the fill and drain plugs.

I measured what I took out and added the same back in of fresh fluid, ATF WS, that I purchased at the dealership. $12/quart, ouch! I tried to do the #4 pin to #13 pin on the port under the dash to check the A/T Temp light and check the overflow drain, but I couldn't get the light to come on like I saw in a "how to" video on YouTube...

I did put the same amount back in that I took out, though. My question is: Does this fluid look really bad or normal? Should I do another drain and fill or two? How much fluid is actually in there? How accurate does the fluid level need to be?

I'm gonna do the diffs and transfer case next. I can tell they've been checked or changed before too by the drain and fill plugs, but I want to get fresh fluid in there.

 

It's rare that fluid removed is bright red.

A dry drain with empty converter is usually around 5-6 liters.

Ideally a pan drop and magnet clean/screen clean. But another drain and fill during your next oil change is a good idea.

Honestly these transmissions don't fail. I've seen 2 in 8 years of working at Toyota, and it takes a shit ton of negligence.

 

I have been a die hard Toyota truck driver since I was 14 years old with a farm permit. I've never owned anything but a Toyota truck. I had an '85 4x4, a '92 V6 4x4, an '01 Tacoma TRD Off Road Limited, and now my 2015 Tacoma Sport. I also have a '75 FJ40.

I bought my '01 Tacoma used with 40k miles. At around 70k miles, the A/T started acting up and shifting hard. I did a couple drain and fills and it smoothed out a little. Then, around 90k miles it acted up again and I lost overdrive. Had to replace the transmission when it finally quit shortly after that. The guys at the dealership said they've never seen one fail... I'm hoping that was just a fluke, but don't want a repeat of that.

 

Looks scorched to me although hard to tell from pics, you have a tow package? Other signs vehicle has been used heavily for towing (all the paint in hitch receiver rubbed off, trailer brake controller or otherwise) ?

I would do a full flush / drop the pan and clean the magnets. Did it in my truck with 120k, trans had never been serviced and fluid was still pretty pink.

You dont have to use toyota fluid, there are several much cheaper alternatives.

EDIT there is alot of debate on the net about whether or not a full flush is good or bad for a neglected trans, here is a video I think is great for undecided people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o690DovjDAc

And another EDIT.. should you decide to do the flush, I followed this write up to a T and it couldn't have made it easier

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/

 

I've seen all the stuff about flushing a neglected transmission. I've never done it, because I've never owned a brand new truck. I'm not sure what the previous owner had used it for. I can tell someone has taken out the drain and fill plugs before. Looks like they used the wrong sized wrench...

I do have the tow package, but it doesn't look like the PO ever used it. I haven't towed anything but a small trailer to haul off yard waste. I want to tow my LandCruiser with it, but I'm afraid to damage it. That thing is heavy.

PO did however, add some extras. I got Icon coilovers, Magnaflow stainless exhaust, and K&N Intake. There's also a sticker on the door jamb that says "retourque beadlocks". It did have factory wheels when I bought it. Must have switched them back. Looks like he made a mall crawler. There's no dents, scratches, or scuffs on the undercarriage or skidplate.

I put some of the old fluid on a paper towel like in the video. Doesn't look as bad...

 

To get the AT light to come on after shorting the two OBD pins you have to get the timing of shifting the gearshift down right. It took me a couple attempts to get it into the temperature indicator mode.

I did a drain and fill, at 17k miles, when I bought my used 2014 in 2016. The fluid wasn’t cherry red, but it wasn’t as dark as yours either. My previous vehicles were Hondas which caused me to be paranoid about the transmission so that is why I did the first drain and fill so early. My plan is to do the next drain and fill at 45k miles and then determine at that point if a 30k interval drain and fill seems appropriate.

 

I guess I need to practice the A/T light trick. One video showed them cycling through all the gears and one said to go from Drive to Neutral in 6 seconds back and forth until it came on. Maybe I didn't get the timing right... How precise does it need to be? I measured 3.2 quarts that came out and put that much back in. Who knows if it was right before???

 

I never could get the transmission temp light to come on either after about 20 tries I gave up and just put back in the amount that I drained out. I tried everything on the video numerous times to no avail. Open to suggestions on what I might not have done right on the video

 

ive never seen in print the recommended or specific amount forthe trans
ive been informed its 'sealed '

toyota is not the first or only to have sealed components
no doubt if Ur fluid was that dark
it needed to be changed !!

no less changing installed is quite a bit different than
spankin brand new on a line pass by
true ' production line boredom ' raises it ugly head

yet it might reduce the rare air pocket ...............
a remote yet valid concern

 

I use a scan tool and the Torque or fusion apps.
I usually check the level when both the TC and tranny are in the correct temp range.

Much easier imo.

 

The 05 will go into temp mode just switching D to N 6 times. Actually 6 moves - 3 laps. I’d practice that a few more times and make sure the fluid is at the right level. Plenty of posts here stating the fluid could have been low from the factory.

 

I would do that, but I don't have a scan tool. That's why I'm trying the other method.

I'll practice that a few times. I'm gonna drive a 100 miles or so and change it again to get as much new fluid in as I can. I want to make sure the final fill is correct.

 

Not a clear container, but was surprised how dark the fluid was when I flushed my 2014 at 38k when I bought it. The sniff test, checking for a burnt smell, is a pretty good indicator the fluid is toast and had a hard life. Otherwise, the color of the fluid (just like the oil you drain from the engine) is not a great indicator of its condition. If you're worried about it, I'd send it to Blackstone and get it analyzed. Otherwise, taking the time to make sure the fluid is at the right level is the most important thing you can do now.

 

The first thing I did after looking at it was smell it. It didn't smell burnt. I know the trans holds a lot more fluid than the 3 quarts I got out. I wasn't sure how many more times I should do a drain and fill based on how dirty looking the old fluid was?

 

Here's spec, so you get about 1/3 the fluid with a drain and fill

 

I was rereading some posts regarding this, and you have roughly 1.5 seconds to shift between N and D or between D and N each time. I’m going to check this tonight when I get home since I’ll be doing a drain and fill sometime in the next month.

And if you haven’t seen this thread check it out.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

 

I tried getting into tranny check temperature mode this evening and was successful two out of three tries. The one time it didn’t work was when I hesitated slightly too long between shifts.

Here is the OBD port dongle that I use for getting the Tacoma (and my wife’s Pilot) into test mode.

 

I didn't realize how precise I had to be in the timing between shifts. I just figured I needed to shift between the gears a few times until it got to the correct temp. I've tried it 4 times now with no luck. I'll try it again.

I just figured it would light up when it warmed up enough... I tried shifting through all the gears and I also tried shifting just back and forth from D to N. I'll give it another go. So far, I just measured what I took out and put the same amount back in. I want to do it at least one more time, maybe two, just to get the most fresh fluid in there that I can.

 

I did it! Took a few tries, but I finally got the light to come on.

I think that my previous method of measuring what came out and adding the exact same amount back in worked out pretty well. When I opened the overflow plug, it drizzled out just a very small amount. Maybe an ounce out two.

I probably won't even try this when I do my next drain and fill in a couple hundred miles. I'll just measure what I took out and put the same amount back in.