Oil Change Question

Hello, had a quick question about an oil change mishap.
Everything was going just fine, I slid my catch pan under the truck and forgot to grab my socket wrench. When I slid back under the truck I loosened the plug only to find I was draining red fluid (transmission fluid). I though fast and managed to get the plug back in only loosing about half a quart or less. I guess we all make a dumb mistake occasionally. Question is with the sealed transmission you cant just check a dip stick and add some, there seems to be a lot to it. Is it worth going to all the trouble to add fluid or is a half a quart low ok until the next transmission service? Thanks

 

You are far from the first on here to do that. I've read several stories like yours.

I wouldn't drive a 2013, $30k truck, low on transmission fluid but I'm no expert. I would put some back in.

 

I haven't actually looked at the links in the post, but these should help you:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...id-change-2013-4-0-v6-tacoma.html#post7211461

 

Not to be devil's advocate, but it probably would be beneficial to learn the process of checking the transmission fluid level. I've seen posts where people claim it was slightly overfilled/underfilled from the dealership so who the hell knows - losing 1/2 quart may have made the level perfect. 1/2 quart is probably not going to do any damage either way but my recommendation would be to learn the exercise and perform a sanity check - it'll only be easier next time. The actual procedure is not difficult and does not consume much time.

 

...and it depends on what you mean by 'next transmission service'. That could be 100K miles away if you go by dealer recommendations.

 

You should pour what transmission fluid you got out into the pink liquid reservoir under the hood. That's where its meant to go.






















Don't do what I just said... http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/33318-halp.html

 

Thanks for the advice, and its nice to know I'm not the only one. Might not do anymore oil changes after a sixty hour work week. What is the procedure for checking and adding fluid in a sealed transmission? And why the hell isn't there just a dip stick and reservoir under the hood? By the way that thread about poring trans. fluid in the radiator is very funny!! Thanks

 

why cant you simply measure the amount of tranny fluid? and pour the exact amount back in?

i cant believe people make this mistake. the original owner of my truck hit the oil pan and drain nut with bright red paint..guess he was nervous as well.

nice save OP!! did you cuss? hahah. i would have NO shot of gettting that plug back in..i fluster easy.

 

Problem was I had connected a 5/16 radiator tube to the drain port at the oil filter to drain the run off from removing the old oil filter down to the catch pan. So what fluid did come out mixed with the oil from the filter. That's why I'm not absolutely sure how much I lost from the transmission.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html