Its happened to folks before so here's a list of some topics you should probably read up on.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/g...023728:lgfaynpqci4&cof=FORID:11&ie=UTF-8&q=drained+transmission+fluid&sa=Search

 

Here's a link in just this forum:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/search.php?searchid=13210041

Does yours have a dipstick? If so, it should be no biggie. If not, it's going to be a lot more interesting. As for the fluid, stick with Toyota, especially if it requires ATF-WS. Check your owners manual for the spec.

Also, I thought the transmission used a hex (Allen wrench) plug, different from the regular 14mm bolt.

 

Thanks for the replies. My truck does have a dip stick. There is a sticker on it which says I should never have to change the fluid.
I put in what I took out, which I thought was 3.5 quarts. But the manual says it only holds 2 quarts. I put the fluid in, let it get warm, shifted from p to r to n to d and so on. I checked the dipstick and it shows fluid in the "cool" zone of the dipstick, not the "warm" zone. And the "warm zone is way up above the "cool" zone, which makes me think I need to add more fluid. I'm afraid to add more and I'm afraid to drive it. 30 some oil changes I've performed on that truck with nary a problem. And today I drain the trans. What an idiot I am.
And the drain plug is regular hex. And it was kinda loose when I took it out

 

Don't worry about it, as long as there wasn't dirt in your pan that you collected it in. Just fill it to whatever mark, make sure it's really warm if you use that mark, and make sure you use the right fluid.

FYI, I don't have the same tranny as you but mine was about a cup low from the factory, yours could have been too.

 

Thanks for the reply. I added too much. I removed a quart. It seems to be shifting fine. I haven't yet had it above 45 mph. Thanks for listening.

Russell

 

So...at 170K, is this the first time you've changed the ATF? If so, don't believe that sticker! With that many miles, I'd do another drain/refill at 20K, then do a flush. I remember reading an article explaining how to do ATF flush on high mileage trannys. Something about slowly introducing the cleaning agents in new ATF in high mileage cars, but you definitely don't want to put it off, and change the ATF filter too.

Yesterday, I happened to do the 2nd flush, at 132K, and 1st ATF filter change on my v6 Tacoma. 2 qts came out at the drain plug and another 2 when I dropped the pan and removed the filter.

 

Hey Chuy,

Why would Toyota tell people to never change the fluid? I had a friend who owned an F-250 with a lot of miles on it and someone talked him into doing a trans flush and a month later his trans failed. I have always heard (likely wrong) that if the trans fluid hasn't been changed before 100k it should never be changed. Something about fine particles suspended in the fluid helping with the shifting. And when the fluid is drained, the particles are gone and the trans fails.

Of course, I drained mine accidentally, so I'm a different situation. I will go ahead and buy a bunch of fluid and a filter and drain and change the filter once and then drain the pan every 20k and add whatever drains out.

It's an '07 and I'd like to keep it for a few more years. I think the only way to justify buying a new vehicle is to drive it for at least 10 years.

Thanks Much,
Russell

 

Actually, Toyota says not to change the ATF IF driving under normal conditions. Otherwise, change at 60K. Do any towing? Change at 60K. Off-roader- 60K. Cab driver - 60K, etc... I would add if you drive in extreme weather conditions, such as below 50F and/or over 90F, flush it.

But even under normal driving conditions, that advice is crazy, I tell you. My wife drives like an old lady and her WS equipped 07 Lexus ES350 is always garaged here in sunny San Diego. When I did a 2nd flush at 15oK, I changed out the trany filter. That filter is a paper element and was black and gunky with particulate matter. And the pan had a then layer of gooey matter.

Over on the Tacoma Word forums is a member named gearcruncher. He works in a transmission shop and boasts of having serviced some 4K tranys. He recommends periodic flushes for any ATF trany to prevent trany failure.

As for the Ford's trany, I say that trany would have busted regardless of a flush. Without analyzing the components, it is hard to say what exactly killed that trany.

 

Way back in the day when cars were doing good to get 100,000 miles, it was true that you were usually better off not changing the fluid if it hadn't been changed in the first 50k or so. But today with the improvements which have been made most say that if changing the fluid results in failure then the transmission was probably on its way out anyway. I can tell you I had a shift solenoid quit working at around 200,000 and cleaning it along with a complete fluid change kept it working until I retired it at 250K.

 

I'm gonna drop the pan and change the filter. Then I'll drain the pan and add new (2 quarts or so) whenever I do an oil change. I think I will forego the flush. Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

If you have a wire mesh filter you can clean it with whatever recommended chemical agent is out there. Just get a new gasket from your dealer. My V6 Taco has a wire mesh filter which looked relatively clean when I took it out (at 130K). I bought a Beck/Arnley filter which leaked. Turned out the gasket was thinner than the OEM filter (1.75mm v 2.2mm). I ended up doubling the two gaskets. The OEM cork/rubber gasket looked in great shape; however, I only reused it cause I needed to get my truck going. I will change it out during the next flush.

 

I bought a Beck/Arnley filter which leaked. Turned out the gasket was thinner than the OEM filter (1.75mm v 2.2mm). I ended up doubling the two gaskets. The OEM cork/rubber gasket looked in great shape; however, I only reused it cause I needed to get my truck going.

You can contact Beck/Arnley about that. They INSIST that their parts are made by the same manufacturers that make the OE parts. I have contacted B/A before about questions I had regarding their products and they have always responded to me and were professional. Perhaps it was a mistake and the wrong gasket was put in the box, or perhaps it is some other type of mistake, but they would want to know about it so they can either confirm that you ordered the right part number, but got the wrong gasket in the box, or that there was some other mistake that they can fix. They make a huge deal that their parts are the exact same thing. In my experience, it has been so. The last time I contacted them was in September. PM me and I will give you the contact email address that I used then. I don't know if it's still good, or if this particular B/A representative is still there in the same position, but you can try to contact him.

 

I did that today, to their Products dept. Thanks.

 

I am trying to buy around a 2008 sequoia. Likely will have 200 k miles on it. As used cars seem to never have service records i am trying to decide if i should change out 2 or 3 quarts and the filter and do that maybe every year or so ??