04 V-8 w/ 5- Speed Auto Just serviced Incorrectly. Now What......

[gkallen]

I took my 2004 Toyota 4 Runner to have the tranny serviced today. They said they could hook it to the flush/fill machine that cleans it and then fills it. The guy came in and told me that he couldn't do that after looking at it and would just have to drain it by the plug and then refill. He even said he called Toyota to ask them.

He said that my tranny doesn't have a dipstick for checking the level which is also where they put their tube for flushing. He said that he was told by Yota to fill it back up until it overflowed after draining!

I then found this forum and specificallyTHIS THREAD that explained how this is a sealed tranny that you service at 100,000 miles with the same stuff you took out.

The guys at the lube place filled it with conventional fluid I am sure.

Since it was refilled w/ incorrect fluid and mixed with what was left of the old stuff, should I be overly concerned or should I take it to the stealership like I should have to begin with? I broke my own personal rule to never use quick lube joints and now I am ticked a little. I am not a gearhead, but I wish I would have found this place before wasting my money there.

 

[Methodical]

The new fluid is very different. The tranny was designed for the fluid, as it's lower viscosity to increase mileage. They are incompatible, and I believe that the reason toyota eliminated the dipstick is to keep brainless lube joints from putting T-IV in them.



Get on them.

 

[gkallen]

The new fluid is very different. The tranny was designed for the fluid, as it's lower viscosity to increase mileage. They are incompatible, and I believe that the reason toyota eliminated the dipstick is to keep brainless lube joints from putting T-IV in them.



Get on them.

Yikes! So in your opinion should I go ask for my money back and take it to the dealer? Is it that big of an issue? Should I be weary of even driving it?

The bad thing is is that I haven't visited a quick lube in over 5 years. You'd think they'd know better. I take the blame though for breaking my own personal rule.

 

[Methodical]

I dont think it'll blow up. Does it drive fine? It's probably okay for now.

But it's a for-sure warrantee voider, and long term bad idea.

I would ask for my money back, and get that stuff out of there, unless they can prove they actually put the right stuff in...

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I dont think it'll blow up. Does it drive fine? It's probably okay for now.

But it's a for-sure warrantee voider, and long term bad idea.

I would ask for my money back, and get that stuff out of there, unless they can prove they actually put the right stuff in...

:iagree:
I would suggest reading this post. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36489

Make them pay for the dealer to do it right or give you something in writing that says thier fluid is WS Fluid compatable. If they want to do it again with Toyota WS or the Redline WS compatable fluid I'd still print some of the pages from the above link(s) offers so they get the fluid level set properly.

As far as will it hurt to drive it a few weeks while all this is sorted out, probably not. If you were way up north during the dead of winter maybe. WS Fluid is a lighter viscosity fluid.
:cheers:

 

[wagesgt903]

I would go ahead and try to get it sorted out. Dealers will look for any reason to void warranties if yours is even still under one. Alot of times if you have tranny issues they can send a fluid sample to see if you have done anything other than what they recommend.

 

[Koz]

No other fluid can be mixed with the Toyota "WS" fluid (it has a different viscosity). You must get the fluid changed back. I would suggest getting it to a Toyota Stealer and have it replaced. You should call the Stealer and ask if it can be driven.

Koz

 

[TheBlueWave]

I agree. The only place to have this type of service done is at a dealer, or a close friend mechanic, never a lube joint. I brought some Toyota WS to a good friend who is an awesome mechanic and he did the work for me to save me a few bucks over the stealer.