Transmission drain and full amount

Simple, because as long as there is no leak. Measuring exactly the amount you remove and adding back the same amount is foolproof.

 

Nah, it takes to long to do it the right way! There is always a shortcut....

 

Love All Girls Garage!

 

Was just in The Stealership yesterday for 40k interval plus diff and xfer fluid changes (side note: $450 for parts + $200 for labor on that one ) and I got the “never do your transmission fluid” talk.

The guy was saying they never recommend changing with the “world standard” fluid as they’ve seen it cause problems. “They like it unchanged”

This doesn’t exactly align with my understanding, which is: start your trans changes around 60k and stay on em. BUT, if it’s never been changed and you’re up at 150k or whatever just leave it as it can do more harm than good.

Thoughts?

 

Even though I find this guy more annoying than nails on a chalkboard, here’s how to put your truck into transmission fluid check mode.

https://youtu.be/qvcgIxW9VqA

 

Only if your positive that you had the right amount to begin with. If the trucks used, you don't know the history and there have been reports of over filled transmissions on 19+ models possibly because they were filling with the amount required if the truck still had a cooler. I have personally done it both ways, when I did my first drain and fill I measured what I took out and put that back in but it didnt sit right with me so I ended up going back and doing the check procedure and I did get a bit out and then felt better that I did it the right way. I think what happens is that people get intimidated by the check procedure so they skip it but once you do it once you'll see its easy and only get faster at it.

 

Since we are talking about trans fluid, I wanted to ask if the tundra needs a trans cooler?

 

Once again Joe is right. Assumption is the mother of all #uck ups. Assuming the fluid level is correct to start with is a mistake. Why take the chance?

 

Just had mine done at the dealership. $293 flush using the trans pressure and WS fluid. Had mine done early at 32,000 miles as I towed before installing the cooler at 12,000 miles. I did not buy my truck from this dealership but I like their Service Manager. He's for installing the cooler that is missing on the 19-21's. I do most all of the maintenance on our Toyotas but I figured let the them do it for piece of mind. That price also included a fluid conditioner from BG products. You could save $30 ish off that price if you chose not to use it. Zero problems after 3000 miles since the service. Shifts nice and smooth. Also had my wife's 2018 Highlander done a few weeks ago. We bought it used with 66,000 miles. I had it done the week we bought it.
Again, zero problems. The Highlander was a bit cheaper at around $275. I plan on having this done every 35 to 40,000 miles on both vehicles.

 

Wow - incredible price considering it’s about $200 in fluid to do a full change.

 

As long as they are both about the same temperature.

 

Agreed, they must have missed my earlier post that my last two Toyota trucks were under filled at the factory and verified by the dealer.

 

Which dealership you getting that rate for? I'm in York and almost would be interested in driving anywhere in pa that would do that service at that price.

 

Williams Toyota Elmira

 

How often are you doing it? I'm at 30k now. Was planning to do it at 60k

 

I’m swapping 4 qts about 1x/yr or 15k miles. Started at 45k. The first drain has been the darkest.

 

ditto.

I do a drain every year. I run 20k a year.

 

So if we installed a trans cooler are we to pin it before doing the drain and fill? I should know as I installed the cooler but I forget.

 

yes

 

Well shoot I talked to York Toyota in pa and they are charging me 308$ for a fluid replacement service stating they are replacing 12 qts. At that rate, I think I may just let them handle it. Especially if it really does replace all 12qts.

 

Math experts and scientists on this site can explain that what you drain and what you add can be significantly different. It is very hard to exactly match the amounts! For example draining 3.8754 qt. and then adding exactly 3.8754 qt. is VERY challenging and an average DIYer can be off by a factor of 2.
We've had many examples of DIYers adding 8 qt. of engine oil to the sump after draining 4 qt. of ATF. Good example that it's hard to be exact and math can be confusing like Toyota ATF cooler thing or is it the old "warmer"?

 

Just follow the service manual already noted in this thread...it is not rocket science, lol.

 

How are they replacing 12qts? I would want to know their procedure exactly.

 

Yeah that was why i asked how many qts they replace. On the WO they have a line item for a BG3143 ATF fluid kit which is a 3 gallon jug of ATF fluid as well. Totaly cost out the door was $336. I was hoping perhaps a toyota tech saw that and could chime in more. The SA went and asked the tech who did the work on my truck how many qts it would replace prior doing the work.

 

FYI, the capacity is in you manual...I always have 2 qt extras for spillage. What I did is overfill, open the return line, and refill as I started the engine and move thru gears. Of course it took at least 2 people.

 

Some places may charge the average consumer for 12 quarts since the owner's manual shows "fluid capacity" is 12 qt.
and some others argue that 12 qt. on the receipt is a computer generated work # or line item that they have to select to start the work because manual calls for 12 qt. ... and you still have to pay the specified $ for the job as previously agreed and signed and please ignore the "computer" generated invoice. I've seen it many times.
believe me not but you can't argue with the "computer"

Lesson:
Ask questions first not after the job is done!

 

More info toyota transaxle fluid level check.
https://youtu.be/cNcecuGzTDg

 

Yep.. that's why I asked how many qts they would use. The SA walked into the shop to ask the tech who replied he would be using around 12qts.

 

4 for your truck, and 8 to remain on the shelf.

 

My tundra doesn't have a transaxle per google definition, lmao!