How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

the change in the temp range maybe the difference in t-iv and ws fluids - it would make since that the thinner ws fluids would not need to be as hot to flow properly for the overflow drain.

will a scan tool work in temp check mode? if not you could drop out of check mode right when the light comes on and check with scanner, go back in check mode until you get flashing light drop out again to check the upper limit with scanner. when i get my kiwi3 i will give this a try

 

High temp would result in a low fluid level since fluid expands as it gets warmer.

 

thank you sir.

 

This refers to a750 transmissions of different years, a 2006 vs a 2012...both using WS. The early 4th gen 4runners used Type IV ATF, the a750 transmissions with a dipstick used T-IV. The v8 got a sealed WS type a750 in 2004, 2005 for the V6 models.
I asked @Fury if that was a Toyota or aftermarket service manual, haven't heard back yet. If it is a Toyota RM, then they have changed the temp check range.

 

Yes it is from the Tacoma 2012 FSM. I paid for a month subscription to TIS back in '12 and spent countless hours printing each page to PDF files and arranging them into folders.

I don't know what year they changed the temp. range but I would advise anyone that has a different MY than '12 or '06 (the only 2 years we know the ranges) to pay for a 2 day subscription to TIS and find out the range for their truck before doing a level check on their transmission.

I have been running a ScanGuage 2 for a few years and have both transmission temps up all the time (converter temp and pan temp). I use it for temps when checking fluid level as well as for when towing.

I checked my level a couple of years ago and found it 0.4 of a liter low and I adjusted it to proper. Since my range is 97 to 115, I pulled the overflow plug at 98 F. converter / 96 pan. I choose to check at the low end of the temp. range so my level is at the upper end of the level range (cool end of the temp. range means less heat expansion so less will drain out leaving the fluid level at the high end).

Lastly - I just did the full flush using 11 liters of Toyota WS yesterday.
I got 3.0 liters from the pan drain - Truck is 5 years old with 40,000 km. (this is early I know but I made the plan from new to do change the belt, coolant, PS fluid, and ATF flush every 5 years)(a side note - I will pull the pan and change the filter on a 10 year cycle / every other flush since I don't get many km.). New gasket on drain plug - torque to 180 "#'s and added 3.5 liters of new ATF.
I pulled the return line from the coolers and ran the engine (trans. oil pump) to drain 2.0 liters - added 2.0 new. Repeat 2 more times.
Repeat a fourth time draining 1.0 and adding 1.5.
10 liters out / 11 liters in. I did this to make sure I only had to do the level check once.
Hose back together from cooler.
Run engine until 98 converter / 96 pan temps. pull overflow and drained out 7/8 liter until trickle. So adding a full liter more than I drained was overkill since I set the level properly 2 years ago - I could have gotten away with just a half liter more added than drained. New gasket on overflow plug - torque to 180 "#'s
Torque fill plug to 21 '#'s (re-used the O-ring).
Old was not quite as red as new. Here is a pic of the 2 on some paper towel.


DSC07630 by Fury1961, on Flickr

The 5 year items listed above are on top of my 6 month and yearly lists due this Spring of course.

I tow a pop up to camping sites a few times a year sometimes over some fairly high passes so I like the piece of mind of having all my maintenance items done.

 

Just finished this today as well. Doing this with a Scangauge II justifies the price of the scan gauge itself. I chose to pull the check valve plug at 115 pan temp and less than half a quart came out. Truck is shifting significantly smoother compared to when I first got it this month.

I drained 2.5 quarts and filled with 3.5 quarts; looks like mine came filled low from the factory as well. Now that it's confirmed that operating temps for 2012-2015's is 97-115 deg F, I will flush at 106 deg F at 75K. Thanks for the info @Fury. All that's left for me to do is PS flush and my 50K service interval is complete.

 

Thanks for the clarification, I think 115° is a good safe number, if you don't know for sure what the temp range is for your year. It's the common number between the two given ranges, so I'd go with that if you're in doubt. I saw on a 4runner forum that the difference in fluid level (for the a750)between 97° and 115° was about 6oz. So not enough to make much of a diffence if that's true. If 15° (Checked at 130°)more degrees made another 6oz of difference, by that logic, you'd be roughly 12oz below maximum capacity if you checked the fluid level at 130° Instead of 97°. So assuming that's correct, you're within half of a quart (actually closer to 1/3 of a quart) at any temperature between 97° and 130°.

 

Here's the I mentioned in my above post.

 

I still think its crazy that Toyota didn't account for filling these transmissions with the correct amount of fluid out of the factory. I understand there are allowable tolerances, but driving x amount of miles with a system unknowingly underfilled always concerns me.

 

What kills me is that it's still happening... 12 years later.

 

i pulled the plug at the high end of the temp range (using the temp check mode method) so i'm headed back to the stealership for another $10 bottle of ws to recheck. this time i'm going to make sure she cold and pull the plug as soon as the light comes on and the plug going back in as soon as i see the stream drop off. also im going to catch the fluid back in the bottle and reuse the same oil if i need to recheck the level.

 

i think that's the problem they did account for the low fill to save money. toyota is selling maybe ~10 million units per year. let say they are saving $1 per unit year over year.... can you blame them?

 

Toyota says not to use fluid that has been drained from the check hole, but I can't see that it will hurt anything, especially if you're using it right away. They also say that "no flushing or changing is necessary during the life of the vehicle". I mean I guess when the transmission dies from having burnt up, sheared down, nasty fluid, the fluid has lasted the lifetime of the transmission. Lol

 

thanks for the info.

i have a kiwi3 coming to compare the temp of the temp light in check mode. so i may reuse the fluid to recheck the level at a lower temp with the scanner later in the week.

i'm on the fence about reusing it out of the same bottle. if it's less than 1/2 the bottle, i'll toss it any way.

 

I've never heard of kiwi3, I have an ultragauge mx. I say save the extra WS, you never know when you might need it later. I wouldn't hesitate to use it in a pinch.
Be sure to update us if you check the scanner alongside the temp check mode. I'm gonna do that soon as well. I may drop the pan and clean it at my next service. I don't think it's necessary, I only have 80k miles, plus I have a spin-on filter added into the cooler lines. I'm just curious to see what it looks like in there. Plus I'll check/torque all the valve body bolts and inspect the filter screen while I have the pan off. I think I'm gonna use Valvoline Maxlife ATF at my next service. I'm thinking I may just do a pan drain and mix it with WS and change my spin on filter. I'll post pics of the pan and I'll cut open the spin on filter and see what all it has caught in the last 20k miles since I installed it.

Does anyone know if the tranny pan gasket is reusable? I think it is, can anyone confirm?

 

where is the best place to check for level. bottom of drain pan near overflow bolt?

 

If you're parked on a fairly level surface I wouldn't worry about leveling it.

 

fair enough - thanks

 

round 2 complete. i end up with 1/2+ qt add. i was little quicker with the plug this time as well. the temp light must be updated to the new 97-115 range because it does not take long to go from light on to flashing here in the deep south.

three hours in the garage with a 75F ambient was not enough time to cool off. ended up pulling her out of the garage and hosing down the bell housing and tranny.

is 35178‑30010 the correct crush washer for overflow and drain plugs?

 

Edit: also here are the torque specs for the A750