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ATF Drain and Fill

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by matrdguy, Sep 4, 2021.

  1. Sep 4, 2021 at 6:41 AM
    #1
    matrdguy

    matrdguy [OP] New Member

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    Just looking for some input on my situation from the knowledge base here...I did search but not finding anything regarding my situation.

    2016 Tundra with 123000 on it... due to a variety of circumstances I failed on the ATF maintenance cycle...so what I'm asking is if I do just a drain and fill on the ATF would I be ok?

    I put lots of hwy miles on the truck and local Toyota dealers want $ 500+ to do Transmission service. I don't have that $$ right now... so I was just gonna do a simple drain and fill ( about 4 qts or whatever comes out) then in about 2000 more miles do another D/F.

    I was also worried that dealer would do a flush on the Trans service ( with the machine) and not drop the pan which I know might possibly cause issues too due to the old fluid being in there and maybe dislodging something that would mess up my transmission.

    What say you ?

    Any advice is appreciated...
     
    Wallygator likes this.
  2. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:12 AM
    #2
    dt325ic

    dt325ic Member

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    Your plan of multiple drain and fills is good.
     
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  3. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:18 AM
    #3
    frichco228

    frichco228 Valued Member

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    drain and fill , dont do a flush with higher miles.
     
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  4. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:21 AM
    #4
    coldcanuk

    coldcanuk New Member

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    Interested if you're going to watch the AT temp for the level correction I guess you'd call it?
    I've seen about 4 ways to do this but think when the time comes for me I'll suck it up and buy a Scan Guage, seems like the cheapest while still being accurate? The jumping the ODB II pin method seems pretty detailed to me. I think I'd like to slow things down, watch the temp on a Scan Guage. Happy for thoughts from the experts, I know it's been hashed out a lot.
     
  5. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:28 AM
    #5
    matrdguy

    matrdguy [OP] New Member

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    Yeah.. unfortunately buying a scan tool or any of that is not in my budget .... I was just gonna let it sit overnight to get totally cool and just drain and replace exact amount of fluid ...

    I watched a bunch of vids but I'm thinking some clean fluid is better than NO clean fluid...hope that is the right mindset to be in

    Hoping that works... until i can get a job... $$ is very tight... and I still am traveling as I can for interviews etc...so I need the truck to be running.
     
  6. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:42 AM
    #6
    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    TorquePro on your phone for $5 is cheaper, or use an IR thermometer. I've done those and the jumper, the jumper is a pain in the ass to do correctly imo :D

    OP I see nothing wrong with drain and fill same amount. Any new fluid is better than none imo.
     
  7. Sep 4, 2021 at 7:56 AM
    #7
    Hbjeff

    Hbjeff New Member

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    I measured how much drained out. Then re added exactly that much. Not scientific but no issues
     
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  8. Sep 4, 2021 at 8:09 AM
    #8
    georgiey22

    georgiey22 Moving to Idaho

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    I’ll be doing the same drain and fill at 30,000 miles. How many quarts drained, need to go buy some WS this week.
     
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  9. Sep 4, 2021 at 8:12 AM
    #9
    CTundraForMe

    CTundraForMe New Member

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    Ask the dealers how/what they do.
    There IS a safe way to do it, and there definitely is a wrong way to do it.
    The right way is for them to cycle out the old fluid with the natural flow from the transmission pump while refilling it with new stuff. Some dealers know how to do this and do it right.
    The wrong way is to force it out with an external pump. That's what damages transmissions.
    The lame way for a dealer is to drain and refill. That doesn't do much of anything and isn't very efficient.
    When I had it done on my 2015 they charged me about $325 give or take. Most of that is the cost of the fluid.
     
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  10. Sep 4, 2021 at 8:17 AM
    #10
    coldcanuk

    coldcanuk New Member

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    Nice, I think when the time comes, I might just do that. I'll also look at the TorquPro mentioned here, great tip/help!

    Big fan of the KISS method

     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2021
  11. Sep 5, 2021 at 2:58 PM
    #11
    matrdguy

    matrdguy [OP] New Member

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    Thanks to all for your input and advice..
     
  12. Sep 5, 2021 at 4:33 PM
    #12
    Black

    Black Raised Hands Surround Us. 3 Nails To Protect Us

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  13. Sep 5, 2021 at 8:13 PM
    #13
    Elroy_unlimited

    Elroy_unlimited New Member

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    Super informative video. I had no idea that was the way these transmissions needed to be filled and checked. With the amsoil ATF that had to have costed 110-150 just in fluid.
     
  14. Sep 5, 2021 at 9:48 PM
    #14
    Joe333x

    Joe333x Member

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    I did a simple a drain and fill. Let it sit over night, drained it the next day day, basically exactly 4 quarts came out. I measured using empty milk gallons and a scale but next time wont bother and will just always do 4 quarts, there no need to do the temp check with the overflow drain with this method since your just putting in what you took out. Now if you were completely draining the system and refilling I understand the need to check.
     
  15. Sep 6, 2021 at 3:33 AM
    #15
    matrdguy

    matrdguy [OP] New Member

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    Joe,... Thanks.. that's what I'm doing today... I let it sit overnight to get fluid completely cold and am going to just replace what I remove. I have the Toyota WS on hand.
     
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  16. Sep 6, 2021 at 5:51 AM
    #16
    georgiey22

    georgiey22 Moving to Idaho

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    Thank you Joe. Will do the same in the coming days. How many miles were on your truck when you did this, how did the oil look? The tranny fill bolt head looks like the same size as the differential, did you replace the washer as well?

     
  17. Sep 6, 2021 at 9:18 AM
    #17
    Joe333x

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    15,000 miles. Didn't replace any washers. Old fluid on the left.

    Screenshot_20210906-121722_Photos.jpg
     
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  18. Sep 6, 2021 at 11:12 AM
    #18
    matrdguy

    matrdguy [OP] New Member

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    Exactly what mine looked like
     
  19. Sep 6, 2021 at 6:13 PM
    #19
    pursuit2550

    pursuit2550 New Member

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    Wrong way and temp to check. Per Toyota it’s 115* to 133*. And never use a temp gun. The tranny oil and pan temp are different. It’s been proven that there is a difference in temps between the pan and tranny oil. Why Amsoil would do this is ridiculous and wrong. Use a scanner or look up the procedure to jump out the obd2 connector for the right temp.
     
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  20. Sep 8, 2021 at 3:52 PM
    #20
    parkerbows

    parkerbows New Member

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    Did you drain hot and then measure in morning? would think draining hot may get some extra crap out
     
  21. Sep 8, 2021 at 5:13 PM
    #21
    Anthony605

    Anthony605 New Member

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    What A difference between old and new. Nice job...
     
  22. Sep 9, 2021 at 3:33 AM
    #22
    plrod

    plrod New Member

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    if you're just draining a refilling, no reason not to drain it when hot which would get out more solids in suspension IMO
     
  23. Sep 9, 2021 at 4:07 AM
    #23
    convex

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  24. Sep 9, 2021 at 8:39 AM
    #24
    Joe333x

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    I just assumed that letting it sit over night would allow as much fluid to come back down into the pan as possible.
     
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  25. Sep 9, 2021 at 2:05 PM
    #25
    parkerbows

    parkerbows New Member

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    thats sounds reasonable also
     
  26. Sep 9, 2021 at 3:59 PM
    #26
    endagon

    endagon New Member

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    It only goes up a couple degrees a minute and steel conducts heat very quickly. The last time I did a drain/fill I used both the OBD2 readout and double-checked the infrared gun for curiosity's sake. It was never more than 2 degrees off at any given time. I can understand if it's a cheap and poorly calibrated gun though.
     
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  27. Sep 15, 2021 at 1:14 PM
    #27
    plrod

    plrod New Member

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    Is the transmission filter in the 3rd gen a screen or paper element?
     
  28. Sep 15, 2021 at 1:20 PM
    #28
    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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  29. Sep 16, 2021 at 6:21 AM
    #29
    parkerbows

    parkerbows New Member

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    Just curious did u use a long funnel or what u used to refill?

    Thanks
     
  30. Sep 16, 2021 at 3:10 PM
    #30
    Joe333x

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    I used a pump from Amazon, I believe it was called slippery pete
     
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