Toyota Transaxle Fluid Level Check - No Dipstick
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- See how to check the transmission fluid level on a Toyota without a dipstick
TIMELINE:
0:00 Introduction
1:03 Drain plug and fluid level check straw
2:20 Fluid level verses the straw
3:30 Toyota WS Fluid
3:55 "Cold" fluid level check procedure (No special tools needed) at 40-45 Degrees C (104-113 F)
7:02 "Hot" fluid level check (special tools needed) and procedure at 85 degrees C (185 F)
9:05 Adjustable heigh gauge (straw)
11:25 CORRECTION TO PROCEDURE When using the 10002-00101 adjustable level gauge, use the BOTTOM of the moveable collar rather than the top to set the proper height measurement. The height is different for each vehicle, so be sure to look up the specification for your vehicle.
12:55 On vehicle demonstration
13:08 Scan tool for the fluid temperature
14:25 Fluid fill plug
15:50 Connect vacuum tool
21:27 Remove drain plug
22:30 Install adjustable height straw tool
23:37 Correction to tool straw height shown in the video. Use the BOTTOM of the moveable collar rather than the top to set the proper height measurement.
24:28 Turning off the vacuum
27:03 Adding fluid to the transmission
31:26 Connect the vacuum and remove tool
32:16 Install drain plug
32:47 Turn off vacuum, remove tools and install the fill plug
TOOLS NEEDED:
ATF Level Gauge Kit = 10002-00101
Pump and tank = 00002-11100-02.
Update Kit = 10002-00101-U1
They are available through OTC Tools, call 1-800-933-8335 or
toyota.service-solutions.com/... or
toyota.service-solutions.com/...
COMMENTARY:
As an automotive professor, I hear from a lot of people and students who have a negative reaction to this video and wonder why they took away the dipstick. Think about this: if a dipstick is so easy to use, you should be able to answer all of the following questions:
1. At what temperature is the "cold" mark accurate?
2. At what temperature is the "hot" mark accurate?
3. What temperature does the dipstick even refer to? Outside air? Coolant temperature? Transmission fluid temperature?
4. How will you measure that temperature?
5. If the fluid is within the cold mark area when it is "cold", is the fluid level okay?
6. if you live in a cold climate area like Alaska, is the "cold" level accurate there? What if you lived in a hot climate area like Central America, is their "cold" mark accurate?
If you cannot answer all of the previous questions, should you be using a dipstick?
Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, BMW, Mercedes, etc. all do the same thing. This is not just a Toyota thing. See my other three videos: • Transmission Fluid Lev...
See my dipstick video for details on dipstick usage • How to use a Transmiss...
Questions for Teachers:
1. Does the vehicle need to be parked on a level surface or an inclined surface?
2. Does the engine need to be running during the fluid level checking procedure?
3. If the engine must be running, at what engine rpm should the fluid level be checked?
4. If the engine must be running at a specified rpm, how will you verify the proper rpm?
5. If the engine must be off, are there any conditions that must be met before checking the fluid level?
6. Are there any procedures that must be met before checking the fluid level?
7. Does the transmission cooler have a bypass valve? If so, how does it affect the ATF fluid level?
8. At what temperature range should the fluid level be checked?
9. What temperature is being referred to in the previous question? Outside air? Coolant temperature? Transmission fluid temperature?
10. How should you measure that temperature?
ABOUT US:
Weber State University (WSU) - Automotive Technology Department - Transmission Lab. This episode demonstrates the proper method and tool needed to check the automatic transaxle fluid level of a 2007 and newer Aisin U660E/F or U760E/F 6-speed automatic transaxle. This transaxle is used in many front-wheel-drive Toyota vehicles including the Camry, Venza, Sienna, as well as several Lexus vehicles. This transaxle has no dipstick and is somewhat difficult to determine if the fluid level is correct.
We teach current vehicle technologies to our automotive students at Weber State University and online. For more information visit: www.weber.edu/automotive
This video was created and edited by John D. Kelly at WSU. For a full biography, see www.weber.edu/automotive/J_Kel...
Visit my other youtube channel / vibratesoftware to see the amazing NVH app for vibration diagnosis!
DONATE TO OUR DEPARTMENT
Please consider a donation to the Department of Automotive Technology at Weber State University here: advancement.weber.edu/Automotive
CORRECTION TO PROCEDURE: When using the 10002-00101 adjustable level gauge, use the BOTTOM of the moveable collar rather than the top to set the proper height measurement. The height is different for each vehicle, so be sure to look up the specification for your vehicle.
WeberAuto thanks. First time I have heard of the tool. Does it give a measurement for the tundra ab60f or is just for the front wheel drives? I found the tool on a Toyota site but it doesn’t give any info.
Thanks again
Do you recommend changing the filter or strainer? If yes, how many miles do you recommend.
@@CG-nu9ru See your maintenance guide, it is either 60k miles or 120k miles depending upon vehicle use.
WeberAuto man ... I am middle eastern , and there was an Arabic middle eastern Mecaniec mention your name as one of the TOP transmission masters 🤣... that’s make me com and watch your Chanel and am really so impressed and feel how shitty Mecaniec we have back home :)
Goes to show when you make a simple task more complicated than it needs to be, mistakes happen. Car manufacturers are so short-sighted
"It's an ingenious solution to a problem that should never have existed in the first place." -James May
They gotta fuck us any and every way possible
The perfect quote Samniss. Seriously, how much could a dipstick cost, when you consider economy of scale? It's not like it takes up a lot of room either. An extremely frustrating decision on Toyota's part.
It gets worse, there are some newer cars out there I've seen with no engine oil dipstick. Process that shit, because hell, I'm trying to!
thats insane, my citroen c5 has both electronic guage and a dipstick.......love it.........but no dipstick on the auto grrr
I heard that for some high end cars you have to hook up a computer to do fluid change. If that is true I'm guessing Toyota won't be left out and will soon adapt it 😂 Better to just buy a small plane folks, cars are getting too complicated
Great informative video, I went in my garage and kissed the dip stick on my 06 corolla.
Thank you! That is pretty funny.
Haha what a response
i lovin my 92 tracker even more after seeing this & starting to dislike my wife's 2015 4 cyl. camry..... at shop hey mac check ALL my fluids. ... in a hurry...... bill oil change 80.00 check transmission level checked good .... $ 90.00 labor .
Me too I go kissed my 2009 sienna :-)
Yea I’m so glad mine has one too. This is a nightmare for something so simple and important
I actually prefer this "standpipe" method of checking fluid level. It's a lot more precise than a dipstick. When I do this at home I jack up and level the car. After I drain the old fluid and change the strainer, I overfill the trans by 2 quarts. Then I disconnect the trans return line, hook up a clear vinyl tube and route that into a pan. Start the engine, let the trans pump out the remaining dirty fluid. When I see the fluid begin to run cherry red I cut off the engine. Then reattach trans return line and dump a quart or two fresh fluid back into the trans. Then start the car, let the engine idle. Doesn't take long and I can feel the fwd portion of the pan, where the fluid is returning from the heat exchanger starting to get hot with my hand. The heat exchanger warms the trans fluid quickly. I initially use my infrared thermometer to check temp all around the pan. Once I see the temp climb to about 110 F in the center of the pan I pull the plug and catch the fluid that comes out in a small plastic container with a temp gauge in it so I can a very accurate fluid temp measurement. I'm usually right on the money with temp when I do it that way and this procedure is really very easy. Let the excess drain, put the plug back in and not think about it for several years till needs it next time.
That was a Beautiful Demonstration, in the late 60's I worked for Aamco transmission around Los Angeles, as a fill in r& r man, and student at LA TradeTech college for Automatic transmission, I never thought this day would come, to be So complicated to do such a simple job, again, a Beautiful Demonstration, thank you.
This video has to be the most professional and educational one out there. Only admiration to your work sir.
Thank you!
Even though the method is designed to be overly complex, I'm surprised there's not more likes for this excellent demonstration video! Not only did he show you HOW to use the tool, he clearly explains WHY you have to do it that way.
Thank you!
Holy crap! I always said that french car could force you into a psychiatric clinic. But now, welcome to the club Toyota
I saw this video years ago when I first bought my 2013 RAV4 (no dipstick) so glad I found you again so the repair shops don’t act like they know it all
Hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to do the same job as a $10 dip stick, good job Toyota.
Here are two more for you to enjoy without a dipstick, Ford czcams.com/video/Wa8X0CHK7_M/video.html Chevrolet czcams.com/video/dPrP4NQZg6w/video.html Thank for your feedback.
Believe it or not ...some techs even screw up checking level with the dipstick. I've seen it.
Yes but that is hundreds of thousands of times 10$ production didn’t have to spend, so still profit!
@@michaelr6205 See it all the time
Right
I can't stress enough to all the other technicians out there how this makes complete and total sense and also mr. Kelly I really do appreciate all of the videos you do on the hybrids and keep up the good work I think you're awesome thank you
Thank you very much!
Nonsense.
Toyota Engineers: How hard do you want us to make it to check the transmission fluid?
Toyota Management : Yes.
They want to make money by doing all by themselves. They do not want us to mess with it.
@@harakiri881 and I bet they won’t even spend all this time to even do it, they will probably just drop and fill
None of the equipment in the video is necessary unless you are not able to wait 3-6 hours for the transmission fluid to cool down like a high traffic mechanic shop. If you are at home you can do it without equipment because you have TIME on your side.
@@djlinux64 i sure hope you’re right, fam
Great video. Your explanations and tutorial are EXTREMELY easy to follow and understand. Kudos to you, I appreciate it.
Thank you very much
Probably the best educational channel about automobiles i ever saw. I follow it for quite some time and i love it. Thank you for your lessons. I really appreciate it. Keep it coming.
Damian Vieira de Castro Thank you very much! I am glad it is useful for you.
I agree!
Che Kelley Thank you!
Damian Vieira de Castro I subscribed.
WeberAuto Great video on a unnecessarily complicated Toyota procedure. You explained it VERY well.
THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR VIDEO SIR. It was 200% helpful and I will not be committing that BIG MISTAKE to lie costumers pretending to check the trans oil level of their cars. Congratulations for your English language so it is paused, understandable and friendly…I will say a good teacher. I know a lot of teachers but you are outstanding. Thank thank thank you.
Your thorough work (video content as well as the text under "SHOW MORE") is really appreciated. It might have been too much for some of us suffering from ADD! Your work also gives a pause for thinking as to where we have been led to as a result of technological advancement and/or profit-making pressures.
Thank you for the details on this new kind of transmission, and especially the demo of whats inside the pan. Your video was for service shops but I'm a DIY guy. I did a fluid change today at ambient temperature. added the same amount of fluid plus a bit more. Then started the car, went thru the gears till the pan temp was 103 to 104 degrees, and drained the extra fluid as shown on other videos. All you guys posting how to videos are doing a great service to us newbies... Much appreciate all your work.
Seems to me. (An "intelligent" novice) that is the perfect way to do it.
I appreciate the time you took to explain the details. A very informative video. I have a 2013 es 350 and you answered all my questions, thank you.
Thank you!
The most accurate video i have seen about changing transmission oil in a toyota!!
Thank you very much for sharing sir !!!
+kostantinos menounos Thank you!
Excellent video, I clarify many doubts. It's because of that kind of engineering that Toyotas are so durable and reliable. God bless you professor.
how would a dipstick not make a Toyota durable or reliable
Thank you for explaining this in depth, love you Professor real talk I could listen to you talk all day
So, in other words, you don't need this special tool if you allow the engine (and transmission, obviously) to cool down below approximately 90 deg. F. and then just simply use the factory included level tube (on the separate drain plug). Just fill the transmission until fluid starts to drip from the level tube, start the engine and use OBD2 scanner to read transmission temperature until it reaches factory specified temperature. Once the fluid gets to a slow drip, install the level tube drain plug, shut off the engine and make sure that both drain plugs and the fill plug are tight. Job done.
Very simple. This is how I do it on my 2016 4Runner. The special tool is only needed for a dealership where they don't have time to allow the transmission to cool down.
Hey thanks 🙏, I like your way better
Correct. I just finished this job and my best piece of advice is to do this service when the transmission is absolutely, undoubtedly, cold.
Yes, yes and yes
DIY can begin cold, use a laser temp gun on the front of the pan looking for 105°F and check your level.
Doing this hot at idle
temps is for the shop/dealer mechanic.
This 💩 is making the procedure look like rocket surgery using red hot magma
Thanks for the video John. You did a great job trying not to laugh your way through this debacle. Chapeau!
Thank you
Thanks for explaining the truth in this procedure. I did it exactly wrong as you predicted, but this video set me right. I even purchased a new air Compressor for all of the new vacuum tools that run off a Compressor instead of a vacuum pump.
Keep on keeping on!
Thanks.
Oh Wow! This definitely a Master Class. Thanks for sharing with us and teach about all these details and documentation available
On my Toyota Camry & VW i have changed X’mission fluid few times over the years with success; I leave the fluid in the trunk overnight and change it next day as the fluid and the car are at the same temp; if 3 litres comes out I add 3 litres and my vehicles had no problems.
Huh. Bravo
Soma P, I do the same with my Honda Civic. And it’s still purring like a kitten.
Think I will be doing the same. Thx.
Oh that's easy. I'll just have to do the fluid level check in July or August. It is always 104-113 here in southern Nevada in July and August. I won't have to warm it up or let it cool down.
True, it shouldn't take long to do the fluid level check. Thanks for the feedback!
I wonder if a couple heat lamps aimed at the transmission would heat it up and a thermal gun aimed at the pan on the transmission would suffice for measuring the temperature? I don't see why not?
Normally, transmission levels are checked with the engine running and fluids circulating. Without a dipstick, I don’t see how the levels are ever going to be right.
@@WeberAuto does the 103-113 temp apply to a 2015 highlander
@@kenmarriott5772 There is also a procedure to jumper the OBD port (two terminals), and a shifter dance. Then the D light blinks (something like that) when the temperature is ready to check. You don't need a scan tool but it is a weird procedure.
Best video hands down on this procedure,You saved a lot of people some serious problems,I am now a subscriber!
Everyone that wants an unbelievable Prius education needs to sub. The professor is so talented and knowledgeable.
John! This was a great video. It was very informative. I knew that the levels were temperature sensitive however, I didn't know that this procedure was so involved. Thank you.
A much easier system is to drop the pan and let out the transmission fluid. At this time replace the transmission filter as well. If you are careful, drop the pan without spilling any fluid, and put the fluid into a measured container. This quantity subtracted from the amount of transmission fluid specified in the owners/service manual is the quantity of fluid in hoses or the internals of the transmission. Hopefully these two figures are close to each other. If there is a large discrepancy, then you might want put the same amount of fluid you drained back into the transmission and drive the car for say 50 miles. Now the dirty and clean fluid have mostly mixed and is relatively clean. Drain the oil from the pan again and fill with clean fluid. Now your transmission should have close to new transmission fluid.
WTF isn't cheap, but this procedure will also let you clean the bottom of the transmission pan where metal particles settle. If you have something to lift the whole car, such as a floor jack and put the car up say one foot up on blocks, you can get to the transmission on a sedan. The blocks you use must be equal on all wheels and the vehicle is level. You probably have enough room under a truck or SUV without lifting the car. The floor jack with a small piece of plywood can be used to lower the transmission cover without spilling it. Most transmission covers are not completely flat and hold some fluid in it, so just draining and replacing fluid is just not quite right.
The temperature expansion problem on this video can be avoided by letting the transmission fluid you drained equal the temperature of the new fluid you will put in. If you have a transmission leak around the transmission gasket you might have to make a guess how much fluid leaked out, and add an additional amount to the new fluid.
Audi was probably first to introduce engines where fluid levels can't be checked. Avoid German cars as they are overly complex money pits that the average car owner can't fix. I'm disappointed with Toyota going this route. I'm glad my Prius doesn't have this nonsense.
As long as no one mess with the transmission before and didn't know what they were doing cuz if they did you're just repeating their mistakes and putting the wrong fluid level and again
I drained, then dropped the pan, changing the filter (OEM for $42, pan gasket for $14 and a new set of screws with thread lock preapplied for $16, $8 a quart back then) for a 2018 Rav4 XLE from Japan with 64k miles back in 2020. I sent the fluid to a lab and was told it only had 10% of its useful life left!!! It must have been a delivery vehicle in its previous life. Over 32k a year was a lot.
I ended up putting 5.5 quarts in. My Home Depot bucket measured just under 5 and I did my Master Technician-recommended overfill. Ultimately, good Toyota mechanics will tell you to overfill by 0.5 quarts as a guide. Too much more overfill and the temperature may get too high before the drain gets to a trickle.
Excellent video. I appreciate the high level of detail in your videos. Well done sir.
Absolutely Brilliant! One of the most interesting narratives I have ever seen. Thank you John. Great Job and a very Happy New Year kind Sir.
@@luckyguy600 ??????
Thank you for this very competent and honest video.I used to change all fluids at 60K. Surprisingly, Audi told me for my Audi A4 quattro, Coolant, transmission fluid, Brake fluid wouldn’t need to be changed in lifetime.Audi antifreeze G12 or G13 has a shelf life in a closed bottle 3 years. In fact no matter what additives they add, still Propylene Glycol oxidizes and affect the engine block and heater core. The more additives, the higher risk for blockage of the heater core.Transmission oil starts deteriorating since driving 30K miles and must be changed mandatory every 60K. Never do drain and fill. This can make more worse than good. Louse deposits in the pan can travel to the transmission, and block something. This happens to my son's Mercedes Benz S550, and now he needs a new transmission. So, changing the Transmission oil, you need to remove the transmission oil pan, clean anything (there are a lot things), insert the magnet in the right place, install a new transmission filter, and put it back.All these intentional and malicious complications, makes the life of customers more difficult. The intention is, to create more problems to the drivetrain, making profit in expense of customers. At least Toyota his honest, and doesn’t spread false information, as the Audi is doing. In all my cars, I flush the radiator, and Fill up with prestone Ethylene Glycol, set the density with a Refractometr $20 at Amazon, and flush every 3 years. Same with transmision oil, brake fluid, and other fluids.
Thank you for your feedback. It sounds like you have a good system of maintenance. Best wishes
wrong coolant for the Audi
whatever works in a recession
I really enjoyed your video! Thank you for sharing.
I am with most people how I don’t like how they are making it more and more difficult to service your car. I get that dip sticks aren’t that accurate, however I do believe changing your fluid regularly makes the car last longer..
Thanks for your feedback
John, thank You,....This lesson complete, clear, and appreciated, Your professional demeanor , teaching a real gift to us........ Thanks Mike Sager
Thanks for the show that teach me to understand more for my Camry 2010. thank you so much!
You just sold me a Honda. Thank you for sharing.
Almost all modern transmissions do not have a dipstick, not just Toyota's. Thanks for your feedback
Great respect to you Sir for such a great tutorial and hands-on demonstration to prove the theory and operation. I realise that I should not attempt to check, fill or change my ATM fluid on my RAV4..
The SSTs required are prohibitive. Aisin (pronounced "Eye-Sheen" in Japanese) are respected as manufacturers of highly efficient and reliable transmissions.. This work requires high accuracy and
careful temperature measurement. I wonder if the average Toyota technician will replicate the same meticulous measurement and inspection processes.
Thank you for the information. They could duplicate it if they were properly trained and paid, but the flat rate pay system promotes sloppy work and shortcuts.
Excellent video! Seems like many of your viewers don't understand the necessity of precise fluid levels at specified temperatures. As it's been said many times, "Good enough isn't really good enough!" Just a note: that little plastic straw is known as a standpipe. Thanks for your top quality video!!!
Thanks for the education on this topic, most appreciated!!!
Toyota's design seems to implement more precision than us backyard mechanics are used to. We don't want to have to buy special purpose tools for a simple fluid check. It appears a change requires dropping the pan which is also more tedious. All that aside, this is the first video I've seen from WSU and I have to give you kudos. Well done and very thorough and informative!
Thank you!
It’s meant to eliminate the issue of people draining their transmission fluid accidentally. Toyotas are the easiest vehicles to DIY and unfortunately lots and lots of people fuck it up because they’re so easy to DIY. Very common DIY issues are all over at our shop.
The other thing you can do for a fluid change is just leave the car for a long time so the fluid is completely cold, measure out how much you drain out and fill it with the same exact amount, however this only works if the level was correct to begin with.
You can also bridge over the 4th pin and the 13th pin on the obd ii connector and the vehicle will go into trans level check mode, but it won’t do much good when the fluid is hot though.
He didn't design the car. You can thank the engineer for that. Keep it up man, love the instructional video. Hard to find a good instructional video that teaches the new generation on how to do things properly. Sometimes they are not the easiest of ways to do it. But if we teach them proper procedure things will be done right the first time.
in my whole life I would not have thought I had to go looking instructional video just to check the level of my transmission fluid
A professionally done educational video. Thanks.
I want to take your class. You are a great teacher.
+Billy Mitchell Thank you!
My ATF fluid research has led me to discover the following information. I document it here as well as on several Wikipedia pages I created/modified on Mercon, Dexron, Mopar, and Toyota automatic transmission fluids.
Lifetime Fluids and Dipstick-less Transmissions:
The 1967 Ford Type-F fluid specification was intended to produce a “lifetime” fluid which would never need to be changed. This is the first of many Ford “lifetime” fluids. The 1974 Ford Car Shop Manual reads "The automatic transmission is filled at the factory with "lifetime" fluid. If it is necessary to add or replace fluid, use only fluids which meet Ford Specification M2C33F. Many other transmission manufacturers have followed with their own "Lifetime" automatic transmission fluids".
To understand how a fluid can last a "lifetime", a study of the 1939 Chrysler Fluid Drive Fluid is needed. The November 1954 edition of Lubrication Magazine (Published by The Texas Company, later known as Texaco) featured a story called "Evolution of the Chrysler PowerFlite Automatic Transmission". This article described the fluid used in the 1939 Chrysler Fluid Drive and its subsequent revisions and enhancements through 1954.
A section of the feature described the lubrication of the Fluid Drive's fluid coupling, it reads "The fluid drive fluid coupling is partially filled with Mopar Fluid Drive Fluid, a special highly refined straight mineral oil with a viscosity of about 185 SUS at 100° F., excellent inherent oxidation stability, high viscosity index (100), excellent ability to rapidly reject air, very low natural pour point ( -25° F.) , ability to adequately lubricate the pilot ball bearing and seal surface, and neutrality towards the seal bellows.
The fluid operates under almost ideal conditions in what is essentially a hermetically sealed case, the small amount of atmospheric oxygen initially present being removed by harmless reaction with the fluid so as to leave a residual inert (nitrogen) atmosphere. As a consequence it has not been necessary to drain and replace the fluid, and the level-check recommendation has been successively extended from the original 2,500 miles to 15,500 miles and finally to "never" - or the life of the car.
Since drains and level checks were not only unnecessary but frequently harmful ( through the introduction of more air, and seal-destroying dirt) Chrysler eventually left off the tempting level inspection plugs. This mechanism is therefore one of the very few that is actually lubricated for the life of the car. There are now myriad examples of couplings that have operated well over 100,000 miles without any attention whatsoever and were still in perfect condition when the car was retired."
Umbrella Style Automatic Transmission Air Breathing Suppressor (TABS) from a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Any automatic transmission fluid will last longer if the transmission case could be hermetically sealed, but transmissions have several potential entry points for air:
1. The Dipstick Tube. Any transmission with a dipstick tube has the potential to let additional oxygen into the transmission through a dipstick or dipstick tube plug that is not fully seated in the tube, or through the process of using the dipstick to check the fluid level. Many modern transmissions do not have a dipstick, they have sealed transmission fluid level check plugs. By removing the dipstick, the transmission manufacturer has also removed a potential entry point for oxygen; this reduces the potential for fluid oxidation. A sealed transmission will have longer transmission fluid life than a non-sealed transmission.
2. The Transmission Vent. Transmissions need vents to compensate for internal pressure changes that occur with temperature changes. Without those vents, pressure could build resulting in seal and gasket leaks. Older transmissions had large vents with not much more than a steel wool filter to keep out larger contaminates. The large vents allowed for easy inlet and outlet of air which results in additional oxygen being introduced into the transmission. Oxygen reacts with transmission fluid and can cause oxidation, rust, and corrosion. Ford, and other transmission manufacturers have learned to use smaller vents with one-way Transmission Air Breathing Suppressor (TABS) valves in them to prevent oxygen entry into their transmissions.
Any automatic transmission fluid will last longer if it comes from an unopened container
1. Containers storing automatic transmission fluid (ATF) should always be sealed; if exposed to the atmosphere, ATF may absorb moisture and potentially cause shift concerns.
2. When performing repairs on ATF equipped transmissions, it is important to use only new, clean ATF when refilling the transmission. Never reuse ATF.
Lifetime automatic transmission fluids made from higher quality base oil and an additive package are more chemically stabile, less reactive, and do not experience oxidation as easily as lower quality fluids made from lower quality base oil and an additive package. Therefore, higher quality transmission fluids can last a long time in normal driving conditions (Typically 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or more).
The definition of 'Lifetime Fluid" differs from transmission manufacturer to transmission manufacturer. Always consult the vehicle maintenance guide for the proper service interval for the fluid in your transmission and your driving conditions. Example: A 2018 Ford F-150 with "Lifetime Fluid" could have three different fluid service intervals depending upon how the vehicle is driven:
1. Normal Driving - Normal commuting with highway driving, No, or moderate, load or towing, Flat to moderately hilly roads, No extended idling. Replace automatic transmission fluid every 150,000 mi (240,000 km)
2. Severe Driving - Moderate to heavy load or towing, Mountainous or off-road conditions, Extended idling, Extended hot or cold operation. Replace automatic transmission fluid every 30,000 mi (48,000 km)
3. Extreme Driving - Maximum load or towing, Extreme hot or cold operation. Replace automatic transmission fluid every 30,000 mi (48,000 km)
Ok so it is not a lifetime fluid. You said all that to say what people instinctively knew. It's called lifetime transmission fluid because the day that the car dies is when the transmission fails. What a joke.
Your explanation should end the debate but it won't. I have a 2002 Mercedes SLK 320 with 139,000 miles on it. The transmission is sealed and I will leave it that way.
@@Justnn that's not extreme unless you're doing it for hours on end in heavy stop and go traffic, like if you were using your car for Uber or something, that awful company.
Excellent explanation of the Toyota sealed transmission system.
Very in depth. Your students are lucky.
Thanks for sharing. Seems like the process of a drain-and-fill would be much simpler and less time consuming than a fluid check.
True, I guess as long as it's when the transmission has cooled overnight the volume out could be measured and replaced. Since it is a sealed system I don't think the level would be low unless there was an obvious leak.
Nice video! For this back yard mechanic I am using a non contact laser thermometer on the pan. Stop at the lower temp range. Let it dribble or add. Repeat. Would love to compare my method with expensive tools. Just put in a used transmission so not ultra concerned with perfection.
A decent OBDII Scan-Tool should talk to the computer in your vehicle as well. you don't need an expensive one, just one that will look at "live data". A basic "code reader" won't do. Should be able to monitor live transmission Temp', using the sensor Toyota put in your transmission for that reason.
A decent Scan-Tool is a good thing to keep around if you do a lot of your own work anyway.
I use a method similar to yours after a filter change, haven't had any problems yet.
Thank You So Much! i have the same transmission with a leak! ive found the fill plug previously but now i know how to check fluid levels. wish me luck!
Wow. That’s crazy procedures. All dip stick matters!!!
What a great, detailed instructional video on this procedure so thank you for taking the time and effort in presenting us all with this information. However, I live in an apt complex where I can't even wash my car (2007 LexusES350) so my question now is: How do I find and verify that a shop in my area will perform this procedure as you outlined here? Transmissions are way more expensive than the cost of having this done correctly so needless to say, I want to be sure that it's done correctly. Thank you once again!
If anyone here thinks ANY shop is doing all this to service your transmission I'll sell you a building lot on the moon for half price.....video is well done and explained though.
Amen, they will remove the drain plug, unscrew the straw and here you go done, refill the tranny, done, That will be $560 please because I did all this engineering stuff for you sir/mam, lies. I love Toyota but this is totally unacceptable.
@Mr. Morningstar If you ask a shop to check your fluid level you will know they are an honest shop if they come to you and explain that it will be 100-200$ charge since they have to use special equipment, or if they simply refuse to do it, or if they tell you you will need to leave the vehicle overnight for the fluid to be at ambient temp. If non of this happens and they say they checked it then they did not or they removed fluid when they did not need to.
Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how to do my son's Toyota truck fairly properly, I don't think the local dealership would do all this, I really really doubt that a transmission place would do anything but mess it up.
Yep - was at Toyota this week asking for a level check. When I asked them how they do it, specifically waiting to hear about the bottom straw ya da yada....service manager says " oh we just stick a pinky in the fill hole. Feel fluid? Your good." Ummm thanks..
All this bullshit to change fluid. Why can't I just remove the drain plug then remove the straw? . let all the fluids land in a 5gallon bucket. Let fluids get to the air temperature which would be the same as whatever fluid has been purchased sitting around waiting to go in, take exact measurement of what's in the bucket and add the exact same back in......simple.
Nice video, thanks for the all explanation very clear, very easy to understand, nice tools and nice camera too, I am learning with you too, thanks.
Primer vez que veo tu video señor Kelly, todo muy excelente, gracias.
Love this channel and Carecarenut. Got everything I want to know about Toyotas!
OOOOOh what a feeling!!!! idiot Toyota engineering/Aisin
no no no sir!!! they are not an idiots. they did it in purpose: you can't control now color and level of your transmission fluid. You also can't control toyota's service quality, if they didn't add enough fluid in your transmission. pul out the plug and no drips: can be ok or can be not enough fluid and AT will go bad soon.
+Yuriy Lenevich- Agreed sir.
Thanks for posting! This is just insane to think its really this complicated,cause its not.
This will allow Toyota/ Lexus Service departments to fleece the clients. Why not a simple dipstick??
good morning .thank for all your videos we really appreciate your time to make this videos ....
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he explain very well ,I love it the way he explain . thanks
The video is excellent and very detailed. However one could use the 104-113° method at home but plan a whole morning or afternoon. I see the benifits is sealing the transmission more but it sure takes some ease out of routine maintenance for the do it yourself owner.
Nissan has a fill and check procedure on their CVTs too, but a service advisor explained that the service techs drain the fluid and replace it with the same amount of fluid that was taken out.
Very informative. Thank you. I own a Lexus RX 350 with the same drive train.
nice video bud ,i drive a 2015 camry that's going to toyota dealer here for transmission and coolant drain (165km) sure glad i did not go to local garages for this ,thanks again
I always had trouble reaching my a/t dipstick. This method seems much simpler!
All my life I was Called A Dipstick but after watching this Video (feeling Ill!) Im The Man!
Thank you very much! I was planning to do a drain and fill on my Highlander. After watching this video, I realize that im not equipped for this. I'm not even going to take the car to my independent shop for this, I'll be going to the dealership.
Thanks again!!!
The dealer will not recommend this or any procedure for this sealed “lifetime” transmission fluid. But the tranny should last to 100k maybe.
Thanks for detailed explanation,👍
99 % Toyota dealerships won’t even spend the time to do this the correct way time in money
My brother-in-law has a 4Runner and I had just done a transmission service on my truck. He started to tell me about this procedure and what he had to go through just to check his fluid level. I didn't believe him. I figured that's just too ridiculous to be true. Lmao , I guess not. He went to a few different lube places and they didn't know how to even check it. He had to go to a Toyota dealership and they told him he would have to come back because he didn't want to wait for it to cool down, lol. He ended up going to a different dealership and they took care of it. After seeing this and talking to him I still have a hard time believing that this is what you have to do. I like doing things myself as much as I can, mainly because I know it's being done right. Hell, I like doing it myself just to make sure it's being done at all. Some places rip you off and you won't even know it. with this situation you are totally at their mercy and have to take their word for it. You can't even go home and verified for yourself unless you get an engineering degree, 😂😂. Then again, they are pushing that lifetime fluid crap anyway. Yeah, they last lifetime all right - it's just a very short lifetime. Lol
Thanks for your feedback
My respects to you for sharing your knowledge
Very nice sir i watch most of ur teachings sir its all well worth a lessons. I have been doing automatics since 1990 i am still learning every day thank you my name is Alan Atputharajah i live in london.may God bless ur work
Thank you!
It was stated that the correct level of fluid is to the top of the red straw with a fluid temperature of 104 to 113* F.
Instead of having all of these special equipment to change the fluid, why not change the fluid as follows. It will only work if you can keep the car overnight.
1. Drive car to normal operating temperature to allow the foreign particles to float around instead of having them settled on the pan floor.
2. Put car on level rack and immediately drain the fluid (hot) to pull out the foreign particles.
3. Leave overnight to cool
4. Insert the red tube only and refill with fluid until it flows out of red straw, and then install drain plug.
5. Run car until transmission temperature reaches desired temperature, 104-113*F
6. Remove drain plug, leaving red straw intact. Excess fluid should come out. Re-install drain plug.
7. Done.
At step 6, should the car be running when you remove the drain plug?
@@mserica6487 I'm thinking that's probably not a good idea at all - the importan t thing here is the temperature of the fluid, the only way you can read THAT is with a tool called "Scanguage", its an ODB code reader that costs $160 ( in 2022).that plugs in the OBD II port. Unfortunately you can't use just any OBD reader since most don't have the ATF temp function.
@@mserica6487 yes the car must be running. according to a toyota master tech. 3 main things: the car must be level, the temp must be 105-113, and the car must be running during the drain/check. When the fluid starts "trickling" that means you have the proper level.
@@robertmaybeth3434 Measure temperature with a $20 "Infrared Thermometer gun", I got mine from Amazon, aimed directly at the middle of the steel oil pan. Excellent heat conduction through the steel oil pan matches fluid temperature in the pan.
@@softwaresignals Was gonna comment the same thing, and those guns are super useful (if not super precise.) It should be slightly warm, not hot, if you just put your palm to it.
I'm rather glad I have a 2004 Camry with a dipstick. This method seems like a Mercedes over-engineered method for the benefit of the stealership.
+scott l Thanks for the feedback!
+scott l Just greed! You either pay them $$$$$ to check it, or roll the dice DIY and run the risk of needing a new transmission. This reminds me if the rubber timing belt. While they have it pulled apart for a new belt how about $500 more stuff to replace while we have it apart!
yip
At the Toyota tranny deep stick you can read this , NO NEED TO CHANGE FLUID or something like that, and the only reason for that notice is to derail you to forget about transmission until its too late.
Even 2005 I got has dip stick I think untill 2006 has dip stick..
Awesome info! Currently having service maintenance done on my Lexus ES 300h hybrid car which includes the transmission flush and refill.
The car currently has 151,000 miles and hasn't been changed in a good while like 60,000 miles. Hope I'm doing the right thing by having it flushed!
Was it shifting just fine before this latest flush? Doesn’t that have a CVT transmission with the hybrid system?
Great Video and much appreciated. Very well explained.
So I am driving through Baja and my transmission develops a leak. I guess I will just have to tow it home. Thanks for making my vehicle reliable and worry free.
No, you're suppose to tow it to the nearest Toyota dealer.
Great video and well explained. IMHO Toyota makes this transmission fluid check/replacement very cumbersome!!! As technology advances, things should get simpler and easy; what's the use of newer technology that's not accessible.......!?
Thanks for your feedback
Great job in being thorough!
You are the greatest sir. You are why I don't disrespect the highly developed. You rock sir.
Yes fluid expands when hot. Wouldn’t it be easier if the fluid straw was set at the cold (contracted) level and the fluid checked at the cold non-expanded level? This may mean that the car set overnight to completely cool before checking and the fluid level. Compensating tools would not be necessary. Too easy?
Hi John, this is very informative video, at it was mentioned before this is one of the best channels in youtube for technical information.
I think it is stupidity from manufactures to take the dipsticks away so we have to pay one hour of labor on the dealer to have the ATF checked.
What I think will happen, people will neglect this fluid level specially when the car gets older and fluid will leak eventually resulting in a total transmission failure.
I have this transmission in our 2014 Highlander, so now I know that cold procedure can be done with no tools.
Thanks for the video!!!
gianfrancoa Thanks, yes, it can be done properly with the cold procedure. As I said in the video, most vehicles are much hotter than that when they are having their vehicle serviced.
very good video contains a lot of very useful information thanks Mr JOHN for post it
Me parece increíble de una casa sería como Toyota complique tanto las mediciones correctas en sus cajas , con lo fácil seria poner una varilla de nivel con medida en frio y en caliente !!
Un saludo y gracias por sus videos tan claros y haciéndolo que no es lo mismo hablar que hacer !!
¡Gracias!
Thank you for the superb video. One question I have is in regards to proper leveling: Where do you measure that? Use a level on the unibody rail underneath? Also, it appeared that you did not re-install the original red straw before putting the plug back in the pan. This video got my subscription. Please keep up the good work!
The red straw was installed at all times other than the first demonstration. Yes, unibody rail or pinch seam underneath. Thanks for your feedback!
Thank you for informative videos. I have a question for you professor. The volume of the fluid changes depending on temperature but the weight remains the same therefore, if we know the exact amount of fluid, are these complicated processes really necessary? I want to hear your thoughts on this.
great point
Well done and great details. Much appreciated.
What an excellent video Sir. Thanks for taking the time to educate us on this subject so many people get wrong.
Is there an O-ring on the straw or does it just fit snug with out one ?
I have heard it should have one, but some report that there isn't one in theirs when performing the service.
what is the tolerance of the transmission fluid level, +/- 4 oz, or 8 oz ?
What are the consequence of over/under-fill the correct level?
A simple fix is to replace the straw with a length corresponding to 185 degrees.
John Lloyd That is true, but getting burned by hot fluid is a concern. Thanks for watching!
WeberAuto this is brilliant John and just what I was thinking. If I run my Highlander 2016 at idle for 20 minutes and the temperature goes to 185 and stays fairly steady, a straw at that height would allow you to add fluid and get it at the proper level every time. I ill take the risk of burns any day. Appears that the temperature in this controlled environment stays fairly steady. Now the question is where can I get a straw made to that specification? Maybe the existing one could be modified/extended to the new height? This is one of those million dollar (maybe not that much) ideas!
condor5635, there are a simple way of changing Toyota ws atf. Let me know if you are interested and I will point you to the video.
John Lloyd, this is the best answer to a complex situation. I wonder if we could find the length required?
With a Scangauge2 my 2016 Highlander V6 temps typically run in the 125-145 range. Never seen them north of 155-160. That is just normal driving without fast accelerating (no hills where I live either)
Great video, reminds me why older cars are simpler to work on.
Anyone else caught the "charge accordingly" line.. that's all i remember
This video is good over explained and going to scare anyone from doing it on their own. I did my 17 camry, drove it backwards onto ramps and jacked the front onto jack stands with same level I had measuredd under the unibody. Removed the filler plug and then level straw to drain it on a washer fluid bottle I spilled probably .25 oz on the floor. Drained it on an empty engine oil bottle and measured 2.25qts. Installed straw hand tight and then drain bolt with washe. Had spare 4' hose which I attached to a funnel which I zip tied to the strut and filled the trans 2.25 qts plus .25oz I spilled. I never checked transmission fluid level ecause there were zero signs of leaks. When I removed the green straw in my case it was quite loose which got me to believe when checking the level the drain plug should be installed as soon as its starts dripping since fluid can pass through the loose threads if you wait for a long time. You can also ruin a very expensive engine by not adding the correct amount of oil but if it asks for 6 qts and you add 6 qts you should be fine not checking level afterwards.
James Schrumm, when we added the fluid in this video it dropped the trans fluid temperature by 1 degree F, it was still in the temperature window for proper fluid level setting. Thanks for watching1
ITS NOT THE DEALER SILLY, ITS THE MANUFACTURE. WELCOME TO TOYOTA/MERCEDES BENZ.
HE'S MAKING A DEMONSTRATION THAT TAKES ONLY 5 MINUTES TO DEMONSTRATE MAYBE 10, HE TOOK 25 AND USED ENTIRELY TOO MANY WORDS.
Hey, I may be slow and wordy, but I make up for it by being old and handicapped ;) Seriously, I am a school teacher. It is my job to teach and demonstrate the proper methods of doing service work like this. I am not interested in showing shortcuts. It only takes 5-10 minutes to do this work AFTER you know how. Best wishes.
Understand what time it is it is important these days 25 minutes for 8 minute video is too long I was just giving a comment or suggestion I'm a teacher myself and when we are looking for answers we don't have 30 minutes to watch every video for example 5 videos 30 minutes is too much time when you can only pick one
you do all this with the car running
Impressive video explaining the whole process of checking transmission fluids on the damn Toyota vehicles. You've done a great job but it comes back n to simplicity and the whole processes is so complicated so you'll have not choice but bring the car back to the dealer and they'll keep sucking you dry.
+Tom Shong Thank you for watching!
@@WeberAuto What! No respect for the dealers that are charging $150.00 an hour and hire these young kids with little to no experience straight out of school and maybe pay them $10.00 an hour with one team leader in charge of the four kiddo's he is the only one making a decent living. The car manufactures are already seeing a sever shortage of decent mechanics OOPS sorry (quick change technicians), soon there will be no more slave laborers. What then will the poor dealers do???
Appreciate thorough explanation.
I love this video ,prop to the man teaching
Great informative videos.
My question is, assuming the level is correct in the transmission to start of with, would there be any issue in simply draining and replacing exactly what came out? All while at room temperature so it was correct volume etc.
No, but that is a big assumption. Also, that only drains the oil on the pan, not the torque converter or the fluid cooler or lines.
I agree it's not the proper way but might be ok for myself if done often enough; so the fluid is always somewhat new. Thanks for the reply. Cheers.
@@starstar5657 - I think that’s a fine practice, assuming the level is correct (checked before the service for example, at the recommended 104F)
I did that. Changed transmission fluid on my 2018 Toyota RAV4. Alittle over 2 qts came out. So I put alittle less than 2.5 qts. The car hadn’t had its transmission fluid changed before. It’s been 4,000 miles so far and no problems.
Very informative video, thank you.
Corporate greed and stupidity caused this, no engineer in their right mind would fubar this.
Thank you!
Check with " The Car Care Nut ", it's lot practical with simplified procedures and no fancy tools
I get how this is done. Thank you for the video.