Low Transmission Oil Damage

Hey everybody this is my first post (been lurking for a while and finally made an account) but Im afraid I really goofed up. I recently changed my AT transmission fluid in my new (to me) truck and I accidentally went on probably a 10mile drive when I was low on fluid. I think it was about 1-2qts low on fluid when I went on the drive. I know the oil registered on the dipstick when I refilled it but I wanted to warm the oil so I could accurately top it off but when I drove it the level never went above the cold marks. Any way I can tell how much damage I may have caused? Thanks in advance

 

If there are no symptoms of damage (hard shifts/delayed shifts etc...), you may not have any. You really can't do anything about it now, so don't sweat it.

I am willing to bet you are fine.

 

the truck only has 112,000 and Id like to see it last over 300,000 but I guess your right, only time will tell. It seems to shift about the same as before but i hadnt driven it much to really get used to it. Thanks for the quick reply

 

I'm sure you're fine. People have done a lot worse with their transmissions and they're still running strong.

...People are driving thousands of miles with low AT fluid with the 2016s and they seem to be okay.

 

A guy I worked with did this to his Impala, but he ran it until it stopped in gear... He refilled it and never had any issues. It is not a Tacoma, but I guess it goes to show what these newer auto transmissions can take.

I'll bet the fluid level disappeared due to the torque converter being drained, just a guess.

 

boom, there it is, haha


OP you're likely just fine, doesn't sound like any damage occurred and you filled it up shortly after you realized it. I'm sure its all good.

 

Thanks for the help everybody, your making me feel a lot better about it. I plan on having this truck for a long time so I'd hate to kill it from doing something stupid lol

 

At least you didn't do what this guy did

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-problem.398578/#post-11055783

 

Oh no. At least he didn't do what THIS guy did

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/halp.33318/

 

yeah that was the thread I was looking for initially thanks lol

 

You are fine. If you never experienced any jerky starts, then the fluid pick up was circulating transmission fluid like it should.

My wife had the transmission fluid drained on her 98 by accident. The oil change place didn't fill it enough. That truck would jerk at every stop sign because the fluid would slosh away from the fluid pick up. We were in hurry to get to the airport to make a flight. 100 miles each way. Topped it off a week later and all is fine. She is still running that truck today.

 

The only jerks I ever felt was when I first put it into drive and just the slight jerks as it changed gears but it did that before i messed with it and Im confident thats normal.

 

I'm sure its normal. You'll be really sensitive to anything you feel or hear for awhile but you'll know for sure if it's something that isn't right.

My '04 just recently threw a check engine light, I seem to have fixed it by cleaning my MAF and resetting the light by pulling the battery, but I'm really paranoid that wasn't the issue and I'm overly concerned with every little sound my engine is making right now lol.

 

Yup , I think you will be ok
Here is some transmission information for your truck
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sions-write-up-your-4-speed-automatic.325531/