2020 Transmission Drain and Fill

Not a shop in the free world would check for dead-nuts level. If your driveway or garage is flat enough that the truck won’t roll in Neutral, you’re good. Even with a little standard rake, you’re not talking about much fluid volume difference.

Now, if you’ve got that Carolina squat bullshit going on, you will need to get it way more leveler. Recommend driving front end off cliff.

 

I put a magnet level on the pan.

 

I’m an over thinker, so I just had to ask! Haha. Thanks!

Smart! I’ll try that!

 

Call us when you get to the “trickle” part.

easy to overthink

in fact, the trickle renders all previous overthinking mute

my definition of trickle= 1 inch of laminar flow.

 

How can you possibly consider any laminar flow at all to be a trickle??? That's total madness, sir!

 

see how easy it is to overthink?

 

I just finished and it went smoothly besides slightly stripping the check plug head. In my haste to begin the fluid check procedure, I rushed to get the plug off after I turned the truck on and felt the star bit give. Just about scared the crap out of me lol.

Shut the truck off, sprayed some liquid wrench and broke the torque on the plug and started the process again. Once the plug was off and the excess drained, there is a noticeable difference between what was excess and the “trickle”. Luckily it came soon after I removed the plug because the ATF fluid was already at 101° (I live in Phoenix).

Gonna get a replacement plug and change it the next time I do the spill and fill.

thank you all for your help!

 

Yeah people like to get all worked up about what a trickle is when its very clear when you do it yourself how the flow changes, its either coming straight down or it starts to trickle down the side of of the pan.

 

So how long was your trickle?

 

Dick Trickle...NASCAR great.

 

Oh my. And there goes my mind down ye ole memory lane. To that golden era of NASCRAP and its head trickler: Dick Trickle.

 

I thought there was a Days of Thunder reference coming.

 

Did my first change last night at 112k(I bought truck with 104k on it). Doubt it was ever done before but yah, I see you guys joking about the definition of a 'trickle'. That's no joke...as I'm like what the heck is a trickle!. Wish I'd have read this thread before I started though. I amy have put my plug back in quicker. Dang sealing washer jumped off plug and did a swan dive in to my catch bucket so that caused a bit of consternation. I didn't rreplace them this time...never really replace those on anything but will get spares for next time as I see one's an oring.

Anyway, it'll be quicker next time. I checked it in the 115-120 range as I was trying to get my bluetooth thing set up to read trans temps while it idled before I started. I got it fired up and temp dropped to 114 and I almost literally dove under the truck to get the plug out. DOH. Anyway, next time it'll be quicker. Saw someone mention running a hose from the top. I may try that next time.

 

Are you referring to the video of the guy that bought the kit from walmart that attaches to the ATF bottle and attaches a longer hose? Seems like a lot easier and simpler way to fill. That's the route I'm going to go.

 

No, someone, may be early in this thread said to get a piece of 1/2" ID hose(5/8 od)...and it'll cram in the hole and then run it up beside the valve cover. I only watched the car care guy video on this. But I'll look for that thing at Walmart as well...gotta go get some oil for the family truckster oil change tonight.

 

use this.

thank me later.

 

Hmmmm, I'll look in to it. Are those outlet elbows that can hook in the fill plug? That's almost exciting. Yah, I live a sad existence

Does it have volume graduations on the side?

 

yes...it hooks right on the filler hole.

yes, it has measurements....but, fill it with about a quart more than came out....and check valve it down to correct level.

 

Thanks. I just was looking at their website... I drained 3.5 qt last night and put 3.75 back in...I have read to just go 4 in this thread and drain from there. That'll make it easier. I have a Honda Odyssey we just bought as well that we'll be heading in to the 'drain/fill' routine with trans on it too...so yah, this thing might be just the ticket. I looked at their Amazon store. They have other choices as well but that little one may be the best and just refill with a bit to get last qt in.

Thanks for the info! I used a 8 dollar manual pump from Harbor which is my go to last night. Worked well enough but suction side took some doing to get it all out of the bucket I was using.

 

Here's the one I saw. Jump to 1:50.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH90IJSgg2M

 

You can use a pump sprayer from the garden section of your hardware store for ~$10. I cut the nozzle off the end of the tube, slid a 12ga wire down the inside, used a heat gun and bent the tube around a large socket and cooled under cold water to hold the shape, this way you can hook it in the fill hole. Worked perfect and was cheap.

 

That may have been me. $5 yellow part from Walmart and 5’ of 5/8” OD, 1/2” ID vinyl tubing from Home Depot.

If you already have a funnel with a small tube (like a transmission funnel) you don’t need the Walmart adapter. You just need the hose to make a really long funnel.
From the top, slide the hose down behind the driver side valve cover. Go under and put hose in the fill port. It’s that easy.

 

I just recently joined the group and after finding this thread learned that my 2020 has no AT cooler so looks like I have some work to do.Plus my Tundra has 102k and I'm sure the trans fluid has never been changed.I purchased the truck in May with 101k and I will be hauling a tractor or side x side so it's a full service and cooler add for me.

 

Did you do a filter change and flush or just a drain and fill? I bought a 2020 with 101k so I'm in the same boat with you

 

Agreed on the cooler. It was meant to run with one, and you’re using it to tow.

In the meantime, you could just drain the pan. Measure how much you got out (it’ll be ~ 5qt). Yes, it changes volume when it warms up, but barely at all. Run a funnel with a hose from the engine bay to the fill plug on the side of the transmission, and put back the same amount you drained out. Use Toyota WS fluid. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.

Pro tip: make sure the fill plug breaks loose before you start draining the pan.

Do this every 20k if you tow a lot.

When you add the cooler, add 1.5qt of fluid. Pin the thermostat open, and cycle through all the gears with your foot on the brake. Then set the level with the level check drain. It helps if you’re around 105ºF when you remove the level check plug, but probably not super important.

When I installed my cooler, I just monitored pan temp with an OBD reader instead of going through Toyota’s overly complicated temperature check process.

Once that stream starts to break up (becomes a trickle), replace the level check plug.

 

Good deal.My son has a 2018 that we will do a drain and fill also.