Transmission fluid D&F at 120K

If he just installed it though and did the check, then there was never anything in it in the first place, so he would technically be low on the fluid within the cooler and the lines. Need to pin it as the thermostat doesn't open until ~185F, which is lower than the check temp.

 

Yes, his video is what convinced me that I was going to do more damage than good by servicing my transmission now at 120k. This video https://youtu.be/jJr30r6RRgw?si=fwf7368hDNfcpAFl

 

Meh, I'd do a single drain and fill, which is around 3.5-4 qt's. Get's some new fluid in without radically modifying the fluid properties all at once, so it isn't a shock to the shift patterns. Then in another 50k, repeat again.

 

That’s loosely plan. I’ll do a single D/F, and then repeat at the next oil change if I only notice positive results.

 

I installed the cooler and added a quart and a half ; then got it up to temp on the scanguage three, ran it though the gears and pulled the check plug until the flow slowed. Reinstalled the check plug and called it a day. Would you think by that explanation that I am low (or high) on fluid?

 

Yea, you are low because it didn’t make it to the cooler before you drained to a trickle at the check plug.

 

ok damn; guess I need to do it sooner rather than later. Incidentally I haven’t even gotten close to 185 temp yet……does that matter? Highest I have seen is 173

 

How much did you get out after adding 1.5 quarts during check process?

Theoretically cooler hasn't filled yet, when thermostat opens it will fill then you may be low. I would pin it open go through the check process again and see where you are at.

 

Only got like 4 - 5 ounces out during check process

 

You could of been low initially or some fluid can bypass thermostat by design ... I don't know.
I'm curious though, so go ahead and do the check process with it pinned and let us all know.

 

Ok getting ready to go out, pin the thermostat and do the check procedure again. Couple questions:

1. Should I add more fluid? Initially added the 1.5 quarts and did the check procedure. I got about 4 ounces out and then closed it up. Before do the check procedure again, should I add more fluid? If so how much?

2. After I get the level right, I eventually want to do a drain and fill. Should I just replace what comes out or should I go through the whole process of adding extra fluid and doing the same check procedure again?

thanks in advance

 

Welp, got under the truck, removed the skid plates and found that the thermostat shipped pinned……so the fluid level was correct.

 

I changed the fluid in my Tundra when I purchased it with 99k miles. 20 years ago. It's worked flawlessly. I've done two more drain and fills since then. I would not be concerned with a D&F.

 

I'd still do it at 120K. You're replacing about 30% of fluid with D&F

 

So, question for the group here...

What is everyone using as the benchmark for identifying when we've hit a 'trickle' when identifying the proper fill level at the check plug?

I've heard several variations of what's right ranging anywhere from a series of drops, to a slow continuous flow (stream), to a to a slight reduction of what full flow was, etc...

 

Once it starts running on the side a little vs a flow straight down is my definition of “trickle”. Used that method on our Sequoia and Tundra with no issues.

 

That's been about the same thing I've done in the past....

I'm getting ready to throw a cooler in my '21 in a month or so, and it'll be getting its first DnF at the same time since it's coming up on 30k...

Long story short, I was watching a few different videos on the cooler install, and seems like everyone in those videos has a different definition of what a 'trickle' is so I started questioning myself and my past practices

Also, during my research, I thought I read somewhere within a TSB that the 'trickle' was described as a slow intermittent flow of fluid... Which would mean I'd need to drain longer than I have been doing in the past...

 

Honestly, the lack of definition on it shows to me that it isn’t super critical and that there is more tolerance on the fluid level than we think.

 

Now that you have defined trickle, define skosh since that's how much extra fluid is in your transmission.

 

The hole is on the side of the transmission. If you imagine the top of the hole as the top of the fluid level in the pan and the bottom of the hole as the bottom of the fluid level, they want want the level closer to the bottom of the hole than the top.

 

This actually makes sense in my tiny brain

 

I got the WS, and this scan tool from Amazon and sure enough this tool doesn’t read Toyota transmission temperatures. Something about Toyota using a non-standard PID. This is all a bit over my head, so I’m sending it back and ordering the OBDLink MX+ https://www.obdlink.com/products/obdlink-mxp/
While I don’t know how the computer side of these vehicles work, my buddy has the OBDLink MX+ and says it works for reading trans temps on his truck

 

Most of us use that or Vpeak BLE with OBD Fusion app.

 

Sometimes you have to download specific applications for the scanners to recognize certain PIDs. Often it's a free download and update to the firmware. So, if you end up w/something else that isn't reading them out of the box, just double check that a download isn't available....

 

I use the Scangauge 3…..another option for you as well

 

If my tundra does not have a transmission oil cooler/thermostat installed would atf mode still work to check fluid temp?
Also if you could point me in the right direction to find this procedure pdf for a 2015 4.6 tundra 2WD that would be much appreciated!
I'm new to the tundra world and this site so if i formatted this post incorrectly I apologize

 

Yes, the procedure is the same - with the exception of pinning the thermostat open.

File linked below.

 

Thank yall!

 

Welcome to the forum!