2005 Transmission fluid change/check level

I have a 2005 toyota tundra 4.7 v8 with 209000 miles and I want to do a drain and fill
The part I don't understand is how do you know I'd the transmission is at the right temp to check the fluid level

 

My understanding is that you let the vehicle get to operating level and check the trans fluid while it's running. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
What I want to know is how people are getting fluid back into that tiny dip stick port when they are refilling. I'm sure there is an easy trick I'm just not aware of.

 

Do some looking around, make sure you have a point of entry to refill it before you touch the drain plug. I believe its tricky on 05-06.

 

I had a 05 tundra dc and they told me at the dealership that the transmission fluid never needed changing. It was serviced at the same dealership the whole time i had it. I put 174,000 on it.

 

Run a 3’ section of half inch PEX line with into that port and on the other end tape a water bottle cut in half and taped to the PEX. Homemade funnel with extension. I’ll grab a pic of mine tomorrow.

 

I change mine every 30-50 k depending. One time in the early years of the 02’, I was having rough/abrupt shifting at speed (30-50 mph) 3rd to 4th gear? Took it to stealership and they changed the fluid and it went away. Ever since I change it regularly. Now that she is older I’ll be changing it every 3rd oil change (10-12k miles) as the trans plug is right there next to the oil drain.

Unless you pan drop or suck the system dry, you can only replace about 3 quarts at a time. Best to keep that DEX III fresh. Its fairly cheap too.

Glad it worked out for you.

 

Transmission tube filler. Fits perfectly snug in the fill tube. Cost little.

 

I’m pretty sure the dealership uses techstream to monitor the temps and fluid levels.

 

05-06 are different in that there is no dipstick.

Directions are in this post
https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...1st-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-45#post-808062

Otherwise one of these funnels make oil and transmission fills easy.

 

Brandusedtundra, I have a 2006 dbl cab. had the dealership do a trans. service at around 120k, it was shifting a little rough after a couple years of towing trailers . From what I understand contamination of the fluid is a big deal with these transmissions. The cost was around $200.Take it in and have them check the fluid, if it's discolored I would think they would recommend a trans flush. I wouldn't mess around with these transmissions if you want them to last. Hope this helps

 

I thought about having it flushed but it's got 209000 miles on it I just bought it and I don't know if the fluids been changed recently or ever so if I flush it the new fluid will have less friction and if my torque converter is to badly wore from the bad fluid it could start slipping and that would not be good so I'm not sure if I'm gonna do a drain and fill or have it flushed

 

Drain and fill is the best to avoid the possible problems you stated.

Slowly refresh over time and you should be golden. Maybe do a drain and refill every 2-3k over the year so you are not shocking the system. Or, take it to a tranny shop and see what they say. Maybe pan drop and inspect?

 

You need a special trans funnel

 

Ours are sealed. I think only the dealership can do em. Which is actually ideal if you have high miles. Most shops will make you sign a waiver Inc ass they duck up your high mileage trans, you have no recourse. However if Toyota recommenda you do a flush or drain and fill and you let them do it and it goes wrong, they'll likely hook you up with new parts or rebuild.

 

Where/how did the Toy factory fill these 05/06’ when they built them? Fluid had to go in somewhere.

 

When in doubt, take it to the Toyota dealer and ask them. Of they recommend it, do it and of of it goes wrong, it's on them for recommending it and doing it and they have access to eh parts to fix it. Just don't let them make you sign any waivers.

 

That's a good question and I don't know. However, I know some vehicles have a small trans cooler inside their radiator or near it and with a flush machine, you would hook up to the trans lines going to and from the trans cooler and trans to do the flush.

 

They aren't sealed, there is a refill plug on the side of the transmission and an overflow tube to prevent over filling. They do need to be at a specific temperature to get the correct fluid level though.

 

By sealed I mean there's no dipstick tube. That's just what we called it when I worked in a lube shop in college.

 

I don't trust sealed transmissions. Fluid eventually breaks down and needs to be replaced. I don't care what the manufacturer says.

 

Toyota will say its lifetime fluid and they won't change it.

I have heard, but can't confirm, there is a fill plug on the transmission. There just is no dipstick to check the level (or fill by). You need to know exactly how much fluid it needs when refilling.

 

Nope, once it's at the correct temperature you fill until it comes out the overflow then replace both plugs.

 

Logically thinking like Spock: Wouldn’t one drain the fluid, then replace with the exact amount drained?Obviously, the fluid would be brought to operating temp before draining.

Edit: Assuming the proper amount was in the case.

 

Lifetime is a nice vague tricky catchphrase. They want you to come back and buy a new tranmission. Same with the new Tundras and these guys bragging about not needing to change oil until 10k miles because Toy ‘says’. Truth is nothings changed about the internal combustion engine needing fresh oil.

Once the warranty is up Toyota doesn’t care. By then, its new truck time$.

 

That would be the tricky part, the drain and measure is a good place to start.

 

But... if you remove hot fluid and replace it with the equal amount of cold fluid, wouldn't you be overfilling?

Best play is probably dump and fill while cold, and refill the same amount you removed. Use a big graduated cylinder.

Times like this I'm glad I have an 03

 

How would you know the correct temperature?

 

That's what we do in 4th and 5th gen SHOs for the PTU fluid. Also a "lifetime fluid". Shit comes out black after 30k miles. These manufacturers are garbage at fluids.

 

Also, when building a vehicle, they have tools and machines to install parts in minutes what takes us half a day to take apart. I watched a motor/trans/front suspension go in in 10 minutes in a focus svt in 03. They can fill a sealed trans easy.

 

In the one link I posted above there are 2 ways. One involves a handheld scanner, the other you jump pins on the obd port and wait for the transmission temp light to come on.