Transmission fluid type

I do not have an owners manual for my 2001 tundra 4x4 and i need to do a tranny drain and refill. I need to know what the fluid specs are, if no one knows for sure that is okay then, i will just go buy fluid from the dealer despite knowing im going to get charged up my butt for it. Also about how many quarts does a drain and refill take? Any tips for me? Ive never done transmission service ever and I'm an inexperienced 20 year old. Thanks

 

The one & only.. for pan it’s 4.5 to 5 quarts, but for entire flush I believe it’s 12-14? Someone step in

 

@MrAristo ok. Thanks, thats what i like to see

 

Where do you buy the fluid at? I cant find the fluid anywhere other than ebay and Amazon, and im too worried about it being fake.

 

Never leave home without one....

https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM34416U/pdf/OM34416U.pdf

 

I use Valvoline Max Life ATF. It’s cheap and available at your local Wally World.

 

Your 2001 calls for Dexron III. Type T-IV is backwardly compatible and is fine, but kind of expensive. Any Dex-III will work for the transmission and the power steering system.
Don't overthink this -- any fluid that meets Dex-III spec will be fine. I used Valvoline Dex/Merc from Advance Auto.

 

3rd for Valvoline, shifts great and no issues

 

Valvoline Max Life here.

 

another max life synthetic vote from me

 

OP has a 2001 which has the A340 Transmission. The spec is DEXIII. Marbles bought the last pure DEXIII formula in the world.

Here is what I’ve been using. Its cheap at Wallywurrlld at around $14 a gallon. You’ll need 2 gallons. Use the extra on your Power Steering fluid change. Same fluid goes there.

The service fluid change is easier than a oil change. Usually takes about 4-4.5 quarts. Measure your stick with engine warm and on level ground. I try to get my fluid reading on the high end of the stick.

 

Any local Toyota dealers nearby? Best bet. I know local shops/garages also sometimes will have bulk orders of stuff like this they get for themselves, might be willing to sell to customers also.

 

Check the Parts Dept. at your nearby Toyota dealer...or order it online. Just do it man.

 

I go through so much of this I should own stock in the company.

 

You and PHM both. I think he's on the board of directors.

 

He changes it "just cause". I add it cause my truck HATES ATF. Everytime I put it in he spits it back out! Trans, PS, doesn't matter.

 

As many others said, Valvoline max life Is where its at. Works from DexIII thru WS.

Sweet to need only one for a large range of vehicles.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2701768

 

Valvoline Maxlife for me. Did a pan drop filter and gasket change with a little over 4 qts changed out in my 2001 AC. Plan to drain and fill a couple more times this year to get more refreshed. Shifts great. Incidentally did this to our 2009 tranny growling RAV4 earlier this year and now it shifts great. My son also uses it in his 2005 vibe/matrix without incident. So far so good using Maxlife

 

@bmf4069 wait so should i use dex/merc or max life? Max life is the red bottle, and your using the blue bottle

 

@Professional Hand Model yo, so is that the red bottle or the blue bottle that you use?

 

Use the pic that @bmf4069 put up. You want DEX/Merc.

Reason I do not use Maxlife is it has other non necessary additives (for our A340 trans) to satisfy a larger range of other vehicle transmissions.

DEX/Merc is more specifically tailored to our transmission and costs less.

 

Headed to wallyworld after work today to pickup dex/merc, thanks for the info on why its more sensible to use dex/merc instead of maxlife hand model.

 

Anything I can do for wurrld peas. Grab a funnel (to pour the Dex into the trans tube) with a stiff straight tube versus that Mickey Mouse type with the flexible accordion tube. The skinny funnel should slip right into the truck trans filler tube neck.

 

Yeah, blue. I use it for my PS juice too.

 

@Professional Hand Model i can totally see the funnel being tilted too far toward the front of the truck with the way our tranny sticks are and spilling a shit ton. Might buy 3 gallons! Hahaha

 

If you need, theres a single 10mm bolt holding the tube on. Its tucked up under the head in a pita spot.

 

For anyone visiting this thread for similar info, i did a drain and fill and put exactly 4 quarts in and my tranny level is perfect. By far easiest thing you can do on your truck. Will do another one in the next 200 miles or so.

 

You can hold off till your next oil change, unless you absolutely want to.

 

I agree it’s easier than an oil change - unless your dropping the pan and changing out the filter and gasket which is fairly easy as well. And probably the safest way to replenish tranny fluid.

 

Most everyone I’ve asked here on this forum that has done a pan drop reports that their filter and pan magnets were pretty clean. If I ever had to do an entire fluid content change, I’d just do thru the in and out hoses at the radiator. The pan drop seems like lots of work not to mention those pan bolts liking to snap.