Topping off ATF when accidental leak

I have a 2006 automatic transmission, 4.0 Tacoma. Driving in the forest, unfortunately did not have my skid plate on and I ripped out the transmission radiator hose upfront or wherever it goes causing a bunch of oil to leak out. I’m going back out there to recover it but all the post I see in regards to the amount of oil assume you know how much you drained out which I don’t. I have seen using copper wire jumper on the OBD connector, etc. but that’s not going to happen out there today. What would you suggest as a way to measure a fairly correct amount to add?

 

How long did it run after the hose was detached?

 

Here's how I would do it.

Add 2 quarts then start the engine and add fluid until it comes out of the check plug, that should get you to a safe point to drive it.

Then once you get it to a good location let it cool and do the standard fluid adjustment procedure.
(Fluid temp must be 95-115F with the truck on level ground to check)

 

@545 It ran about 3-5 minutes as i tried to wonder why i was barely moving.

@Dm93 the check plug is the 5mm allen one you’re talking about?

 

If it was barely moving due to slippage then it leaked out allot. I agree with DM93's recommendation.

 

4wd



2wd

 

I have a 2006 4wd. I don’t think i have that top #3 - got the side fill, drain and i think the one you meant on bottom which uses a 5mm allen. I got the gist of how to get the oil on that side 24mm hole but not 100% clear after- with both the side 24mm and the bottom 5mm out then start car and add oil till comes out 5mm one? I take it i should run through the gears too?

 

Yes you can run it through the gears after you start it then go back to park and add oil till it comes out the check plug.

 

Well its not looking good. I’m out here trying to recover it. So I added 2 quarts and then started the engine ran through some gear and then with the engine running I added oil and it took two more quarts and nothing came out. I then ran out of oil so I stopped the car, and then came pouring out of the overflow but not very much like maybe a quarter of a cup. When I start the car, it does not rev more than around 2000 RPM and I have no neutral and no reverse. Neutral causes it to move forward and reverse does nothing and parks also moves forward a bit. suggestions? I am very very far away from a tow truck.

 

That's not good, that suggests to forward clutch plates have welded themselves together from slipping due to low fluid.
If you can get enough fluid in it you may be able to drive it slowly to a location where you can recover it but it sounds like the transmission is damaged.

 

How can I ensure that I did not put too much fluid. It took a whole gallon and while it was running, nothing still came out of the bottom overflow plug only when I stopped the car. It doesn’t sound like there is too much oil, but I don’t know much about automatic transmissions.

 

That's what the check plug is for, once it's full it runs out of the check plug. The reason they want it in a certain temperature range is because fluid expands and contracts with temperature but you can get close enough to drive it.

Being you leaked out enough for it to quit moving it's probably gona take quite a bit to get it full.

 

I understand. I guess the point I’m not clear is if the engine should be running or not as I pump and watch the overflow . Because it did not run out of oil as I was pumping while the engine was running and a little bit came out afterwards. Could I just need more oil?

 

You want the engine running once you get the initial fill done because you want the fluid circulating in the transmission when checking, when the engine is off alot of the fluid drains back into the pan.
Sounds like it's still low if it isn't running out of the check plug with the engine running.

 

This is exactly what I would’ve said

 

When you shut it off, oil drains back to the pan, above the overflow port

transmissions are always checked running (probably some exception, but not common)

Worse case if you overfill it, it will come out the vent. It’s not like oil in your engine where you can damage internals by overfilling

 

Well, I was able to move some trees and I’m able to drive out. It seems perfectly normal moving forward but neutral also goes forward and reverse does nothing it’s like a park.

 

Best case it's a stuck valve in the valve body, worst case the forward clutch is welded and the trans will need to be rebuilt.

 

Shoo dang. Well made it home at least - no towing through 30 miles of forest road. So the gears L-D seem to work, neutral moves with slippage and reverse does nothing. Checking the stuck valve - is this a take apart the tranny thing? I doubt that adding more oil would improve things would it? I guess since it never overflowed when filling w engine running it must still be low but its a whole gallon I put in.

 

Yea transmission fluid probably isn't gona help it at this point.
I think there's some pressure checks you can do but that's beyond my area of expertise, probably time to start looking for a transmission shop or used transmission.