How to Drain/Refill Automatic Transmission

Perfect thank you. I guess it was at the correct level then. I just don't like the way it acts at 35mph 40 mph.

 

Ideally you’d want to check the level at temp. Did you check tranny temp? Between 115-130 degrees?

 

110 because I have read some trucks are 97 to 115 and some are 115 to 130.

 

First post and need some help on this. After Toyota wanted $750 for a drain, filter, and fill I decided to do this on my own. I knew I had a leak on the front of the pan that was seeping pretty bad so I didn't know how much fluid had escaped.

I had no problem getting it into AT temp mode but found it would only stay in it for a few minutes before getting too hot.

After removing the pan, filter etc. and draining, I put about 4.5 quarts back in. Got to temp removed the check plug and had a pretty constant drip. When I saw the temp get too high I shut the engine off before putting the plug back, big mistake as it started pouring out... Did some other work on my diffs and waited for it to cool down.

Tried again trying to get it done in a quick window as I knew the tramsission was still warm. AT temp mode, removed plug, nothing came out, added more fluid. Here's where I got a seep. But then about 30 seconds to a minute after it started to pour out again so I put the plug back and sealed it up.

My question is, if the Trans gets too hot, will the fluid start pouring out? I don't have access to a lift today so checking the level again will be a pain in the ass. I'm thinking of just asking Gregg's Japanese Auto to just check the level.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

I did mine on the ground last weekend. Its no problem to fill or check.

I was concerned that it was low from the factory so I put in an extra quart the night before and warmed it up to the correct temp the next morning. As trans fluid warms up it expands and could pour out. If it was me I would add some extra fluid tonight and start from a cold transmission in the morning. It did't take long for it to come up to temp. That would help me sleep at night.

 

If it was at or around temp and fluid was *slowly* dripping out, you are probably fine. I don't think anyone gets it exact, being slightly low or slightly high is probably not a big deal -- difference is probably only a few ounces.

 

Thanks guys! Went through the process again, got to temp and when I removed the check plug nothing came out. I closed the plug, shut the truck off to keep it from getting too hot, added about 1/4 quart of fluid to the trans, started it back in temp check mode, dropped the check plug again and had a steady stream, waited for it to trickle out and sealed it all back up. Based on what came out I was likely 1/8 of a quart low. Not much, but I feel better now about the whole process.

 

If I use the Scan Gauge to check the temp, should I look at the post torque converter temp or the pan temp?

 

I would use the pan since that's where the check plug is. If i remember right the temps are fairly close anyways.

 

As some are finding, this procedure is difficult to do during the summer months. The window for checking the fluid level goes by quickly when the ambient temp is 90*F+

If you can wait, do this in the fall/winter/spring and you'll be less rushed to do the check.. Just my .02

 

I agree completely. I made notes for myself for next time, and the first note was “do this on a cool fall day”.

 

As I just did this, a item to note is the filling procedure (maybe this was posted, didn’t read all 60 pages) My stupid little hand pump died at qt #4, so I was forced to take a step back and re-evaluate.

I found that a long flex funnel with clear tubing attached could be routed from the engine compartment to the fill port and made for easy 1 handed fill, even left the other hand free for a beer !!

Just a heads up for anyone that doesn’t want to fight those stupid pumps..

 

Nice save^^. I purchased two fluid pumps for that very reason.

 

Want to add some items Just finished this. Also did pan removal and filter/screen change. Thanks for this tutorial and the following which helped immensely. Thanks to all of the community and youtube.

Tutorial/reference Aids.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF1EQc4A0Hk--Thanks TunnelVision 4x4- Also used his tutorials for Diff/transfer oil changes.. NICE JOB
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj-vQeQJlmg--Thanks Ash-


VEHICLE SPECS.
-2005 Tacoma Sport LB/4DR-1.5" lift, 285/75/16 BFG KO2 and Wrangler Duratracks (same size)
-236,666 miles /1st 140K miles Original owner(Orig Owner- parts sales man ,highway miles to and from Denver,Fort Collins,Colorado Springs in same day (Sold to me in Nov 2010). AND no lift/MODS
-Has tow package (larger Tranny cooler) My ownership of 90K +miles always had lift and 285s
-Tranny fluid never changed (as far as I know. I think Tacoma 2nd gen was still considered lifetime Transmission fluid. IDK when the new updated change interval was TSB'd)
-USE of truck during my ownership- Some rock crawling/lots of highway, lots of Colorado Highway (I 70) hitting accelerator hard on accents(commute to Vail)/ Towing (prolly 4-5K miles towing a bit over the 6500# tow rating over 8-10 times over mountain passes ranging in ambient temps of 25 F to 105 F)(lived in SD CA for a while and moved back and forth to CO a couple of times )

Notes/Changes of procedure/Different tools (i thought made it easier,cleaner)
-Use 3/8"ID rubber hose and not clear plastic (See Tunnel Visions issue with ID too small and poly tube too stiff to fit over nipple)
-Use this fluid transfer pump from Harbor freight. Made transfer so much easier than /pumping of fluid very easy and faster/cleaner : -goto Lowes and use 2x 5 qt paint buckets (1 for used fluid and 1 for new) and large 10qt (collect all old fluid) : https://www.lowes.com/pd/United-Solutions-5-Quart-Residential-Paint-Bucket/3734821
https://www.lowes.com/pd/United-Solutions-10-Quart-Residential-Paint-Bucket/50094784
-instead of pumping awkwardly with a transfer pump ,used by Tunnelvision and most others, straight out of the quart container- empty your exact measurement in the buckets and transfer with harbor freight pump (HB pump is easy to pump while in awkward position under the truck and the supplied hoses are around 3-4 ft long so you dont have to hold up the 1 qt bottle. Each pump of the plunger delivers 2-3 ozs of fluid.
-Tranny Pan bolts -Be careful of tightening too tight. Spec I found was 20#. I snapped a bolt and did the rest to under 10#(Al transmission housing. be carefull of damage)
-Tranny Pan Magnets- WTF. I had none. IDK if i have a Mexico or Freemont Tacoma. I replaced the magnets with some neodymiums.
-Tranny Pan gasket-I used a felt gasket. No sealent needed.
-Color of Used Fluid---As dark and black as used Motor oil !!!!
-Total Oil drained with Pan left on=2.8 qts
-Total oil drained after Pan taken off and filter taken off=5qts (so Pre pan drop + pan drop + filter drop= 5qt total)
- Measured used oil at total of 14 qts after flush procedure
-Extra drained when filled and Tranny fluid Temp measured at 118 F with ScanGauge= 2.3 qts (I think I was overfilled from factory???)

Test Drive- Rear Diff oil changed same time- so observations are inclusive of that fact
Prior to fluid changes- Feeling of axle wrap (best way i can describe it)( Ive had it befor so know the feeling)
I know it wasnt a leaf spring issue because I have All Pro Heavy Duty Overland Leafpacks and Flipped U Bolt Kit.
Post Fluids change- No feeling of "axle wrap"-fixed from diff oil change or Tranny or Both...IDK. BUT gone now

Ill Update after a while of driving

 

Good notes^^^.

 

I checked tranny temp temp this weekend (got truck into temp check mode, etc). Immediately after I was done putting the check plug back in, I checked the trans temp using Fusion app and it was 98 degrees. So I guess my 2010 truck is one of the 97-115 degree trucks.

 

The tranny pan bolt torque specs are in INCH pounds, not foot pounds. I thought the spec was 35 inch/pounds. That’s what I torqued mine to and I didn’t have any trouble with leaks or broken bolts.

 

39 inch pounds on the trans pan bolts, see the attached PDF.

My 07 Checks between 97-115, verified with my UltraGauge.

39 inch lbs, see attached PDF.

 

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