ATF Check With ATF Cooler. How?

Ok so if you're going by the manuf recommendations on the level check then go with the manuf recommendation on the fluid change 60k if towing and 90k if not. I personally wouldn't do either and have changed it at 30k. And lets stick to 10k oil changes. Like I said not rocket science.

 

I hear you

but if you get me under the truck, I’m gonna use the check process every time

my 4Runner and tundra both had variances after a couple changes

maybe, like whiskey aging in a barrel, the angles take a share.

 

I run Blackstone lab analysis for determining fluid life. The fluid level check is not a recommendation, it is a procedure for determining the correct fluid level. Big difference.

 

And that's fine. I never said it was wrong or stupid to do it. To me it's like when you do an oil change and I am guilty of this. Drain the oil, change the filter and re-fill. I still pull the dip stick to check the level. Why? I put in exactly what Toyota say the engine takes. I know the oil is in the engine, as long as you didn't forget to re-install the plug. So its the same with the trans fluid. I know it's at the correct level and I have no leaks, so 4 quarts comes out, 4 quarts go back.

Wouldn't know anything about whiskey aging, only know that I dont like it.

 

You are correct, it's a procedure. Still not rocket science.

 

The pan does hold about 4 quarts, the entire system is about 12. Doing the drain and fill without the check process will work but is not the correct way. Personally I use Toyota ATF WS its not super expensive if you shop around.
https://autoparts.fredandersontoyot...standard-automatic-transmission-fl-00289atfws

 

Price has gone up a lot. I paid around $3-4 a while back. I was thinking of switching to the Valvoline since it’s a full synthetic. But I have while to go before that happens so.

 

Confusing thread.....

So to recap:

Pin the thermostat

Drain the pan

Fill with same volume that drained OR ~4.5 qts

Get to proper temperature

Open overfill and drain to trickle.

BUT LEAVE IT PINNED OR PIN THERMOSTAT WHEN DRAINING TO TRICKLE?

Thanks!

 

Not confusing. Look at post 5 of this thread.

 

It's confusing because there's 30+ replies for a simple question and many replies just go back and forth. I'm just lookign for an accurate step by step way instead of wading through videos.

Thanks!

 

If you are checking the fluid when you first install the cooler, leave it pinned. After you have correctly checked the fluid level, the next time you drain and fill u don't need to pin it and you can put it what came out because you know it was at correct level.

 

Well the PDF post right after yours says PIN the thermostat as far as I can read......

 

If you want to do the whole procedure absolutely correctly every time, that's great and the best choice. If you know for a fact the fluid level is correct, how can putting I'm whatever came out steer you wrong?

 

Gotcha!

I'm confident the level is correct and I see no leaks but IF I wanted to make 100% sure I have the correct level which approach should I take?

 

You're just lazy and want spoon fed information? Post #5 over a year ago i not only posted the answer to your question but also posted a video and had it start exactly where the check processes starts in the video. Sounds like you might as well just have someone else do the work as well since you can't even be bothered to read the replies to your own post for over a year.

 

@TravisH did you take a nap for 15 months? Welcome back!

 

It is way too confusing for a simple transmission fluid swap, I agree 100%.

WTF Toyota.

 

Gettin ready to do my first trans drain n fill on my '18 that I bought used last year(Nov). It's got about 34K miles on her now but since it's 6years old, i'm guessin it's probably a good idea to jump on that soon.

Between reading this 1 year old reawakened thread and watching a few videos the steps are all pretty straight forward n simple. I'm gonna buy 5qts of ATF WS just in case I drain anything over 4qts. Looks like adding about .5qts more then what drains is the best practice(better over then under). Gonna jump on the Fred Anderson sale right now for that along with other stuff.

I wonder if OP still has not completed his trans maintenance