how many folks just drop the transmission pan, and refill with what came out? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter 185
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
If you do not replace all the fluid you can, you're wasting your money.
Think about it this way: if your transmission were a swimming pool, would you take a bucketful of water out of one end and replace it with a bucketful in the other end? That's what you're doing when you replace what's in the pan.
Think about it this way: if your transmission were a swimming pool, would you take a bucketful of water out of one end and replace it with a bucketful in the other end? That's what you're doing when you replace what's in the pan.
When you replace what you took out, you're trusting that whoever did it last did it right.
Checking the level properly isn't difficult. Mostly you need the car to be level and a way to measure the trans oil temp.
Checking the level properly isn't difficult. Mostly you need the car to be level and a way to measure the trans oil temp.
The easiest method to drain and fill are to :
1. Pin the thermostat
2. Drain from the pan
3.Refill the pan
4. Use a pan and the metering jug
5. Disconnect return cooler lines from radiator
6. Put a short hose from raditor to the metring jug. I use the oil container itself.
7. Start engine.
8. Watch metering jug and shut off engines when it gets to 2.5 quarts
9. Refill
10. Repeat step 7 to 9 till fluid is all shows like new fluid.
11. Follow the transmission fluid level check procedure.
1. Pin the thermostat
2. Drain from the pan
3.Refill the pan
4. Use a pan and the metering jug
5. Disconnect return cooler lines from radiator
6. Put a short hose from raditor to the metring jug. I use the oil container itself.
7. Start engine.
8. Watch metering jug and shut off engines when it gets to 2.5 quarts
9. Refill
10. Repeat step 7 to 9 till fluid is all shows like new fluid.
11. Follow the transmission fluid level check procedure.
Honestly I paid a shop that specializes in Toyota/Lexus/Japanese vehicles to do it at the same time as a coolant and brake fluid job. $600 for all 3. I could have done them all on my own, but I felt $600 was a good trade for my time and effort.
r2m
Richard
Ideally, one would want to get any particulate from the bottom of the pan if possible before filling with fresh fluids.
- Thread starter
- #8
I prefer avoiding shocking the transmission by doing forced flushes which does a 100% fluid replacement. Just preference.
True, and this was what I am trying to better address. The current fill is factory filled. I am trying to gauge whether original owners with no history of transmission service, when they did their first fluid service have they seen any incorrect fluid volumes from the factory?
Yup. Pan removal does seem optimal for particulate removal.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
What exactly is shocking a transmission? FWIW, my last automotive industry job was working for Dana Off-highway in the transmission and axle division. I've never heard the term before.
The method I use doesn't "force" any fluid any more than the pump already moves fluid through the system. I'd be very interested to know how this is detrimental to the transmission as a whole or any of its components.
The method I use doesn't "force" any fluid any more than the pump already moves fluid through the system. I'd be very interested to know how this is detrimental to the transmission as a whole or any of its components.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
That's fine, but you should allow others to know exactly why you advise doing or not doing something that may be in their interest.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
I'm all for opnions, that's what this forum is for, after all.
I did the pan drop with the filter change and refilled. I too thought I needed to treat it like an oil change and get nearly all the fluid out.
However, my research shows that the new ATF fluid you add will have enough detergents and friction modifiers to rejuvenate the overall quality of all the ATF fluid. And this is why Toyota recommends servicing the transmission in this manner.
However, my research shows that the new ATF fluid you add will have enough detergents and friction modifiers to rejuvenate the overall quality of all the ATF fluid. And this is why Toyota recommends servicing the transmission in this manner.
Mixing fluid is never a good idea. You never know what kind of fluid the old fluid is and how the new fluid may react to it. I personally consider a pan drop akin to taking a glass of muddy water, pouring out 1/3 of it, topping it off with clean water, and drinking it. Sure, it's slightly more clean than it was before, but you just contaminated the new fluid with whatever junk is in the old fluid.
A pan drop/clean and full fluid replacement from the trans cooler is the right way to do this job. Then you get everything. I've done 2 fluid replacements on my rig and also did one on a 1st gen Tundra. Both shifted much better afterwards. If you transmission is "shocked" by putting in fresh fluid it was going to die anyway.
A pan drop/clean and full fluid replacement from the trans cooler is the right way to do this job. Then you get everything. I've done 2 fluid replacements on my rig and also did one on a 1st gen Tundra. Both shifted much better afterwards. If you transmission is "shocked" by putting in fresh fluid it was going to die anyway.
