ATF Exchange (using the cooling line)

[AuSeeker]

The tube stays in hole Correct?
When the engine is started, it won't splash out ?[/QUOTE

if you mean the fill tube, yes it should stay in place. it goes in enough to hold it. be sure that you fill the fluid with engine off & wait until its all drained back to the trans. then start the engine to pump out 2 qts in the jug on the ground. wasnt sure if you meant the engine ran while you filled the new fluid. :

What he's asking I think is, do you have to put the fill plug back in when you run the engine to pump out more fluid to keep fluid from coming out of the fill plug hole.

 

[Jrrrrr]

Thank you very much

 

[firebirdguy]

What he's asking I think is, do you have to put the fill plug back in when you run the engine to pump out more fluid to keep fluid from coming out of the fill plug hole.

maybe, but i didnt read it that way.

he was asking if the fill tube will stay in the hole when the engine is started & not splash out fluid. the answer is yes it will stay in the hole, providing you insert it all the way in. & no fluid splashes out when starting the engine to do the drain cycle.

 

[gigajoe]

Well, after a month or so after reading this procedure and gathering materials to perform the task, I completed it. I have an 09 Trail Edition that I wanted to upgrade its ability to tow more safely. So I upgraded to the V8 OEM hitch, installed a Hayden 699 Transmission cooler, and bought the appropriate AMSOIL transmission fluid rated for WS.

Only thing I did different than OP is I used the cooler outlet for the drain line into the gallon jug, was much easier to access. I also used a bluetooth OBD2 reader for the AT Temp check which cut out some steps. Other than that I am very pleased. The fluid that came out was the original @125K but it looked great coming out. With the cooler and amsoil I dropped 40* in op temps at 75* ambient outside temps. I cruise now around 135* instead of 175*. It also shifts soooo much smoother, I thought I'd be subject to a placebo effect but it is a highly noticeable difference. I had no issues prior, I just bought this thing in February and have been catching up on all the maintenance so that I know where it is at. Great write up OP.

thanks!

 

[DougEFresh2]

hey, I'm coming from the 5th gen side, but I noticed that we share the same transmission (A750F). In the 5th gen repair manual (in signature) on page 2491, everything you mention here seems to be exactly the same. This is my 1rst time doing this and I just wanted to say THANK YOU for doing this!
I mentioned this post in my post here:
Beginner Fluid Maintenance

My only question is, on other vehicles, how would I identify which cooler tube is the outlet and which one is the inlet? My gf has a 2016 GMC Terrain I plan on doing this same basic same thing to.

THANK YOU!

 

[Mike07SE]

hey, I'm coming from the 5th gen side, but I noticed that we share the same transmission (A750F). In the 5th gen repair manual (in signature) on page 2491, everything you mention here seems to be exactly the same. This is my 1rst time doing this and I just wanted to say THANK YOU for doing this!
I mentioned this post in my post here:
Beginner Fluid Maintenance

My only question is, on other vehicles, how would I identify which cooler tube is the outlet and which one is the inlet? My gf has a 2016 GMC Terrain I plan on doing this same basic same thing to.

THANK YOU!

Without disconnecting lines to determine how the fluid is flowing, there's one basic principle that can be followed if possible. Transmission lines going into the radiator should be the HOT line in from transmission is up higher while the cooled fluid comes out low. This works for a 4th Gen, but for a 5th Gen, the lines are on the same level entering on the driver's side and exiting on the pass. Not sure how the Terrain will be.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

hey, I'm coming from the 5th gen side, but I noticed that we share the same transmission (A750F). In the 5th gen repair manual (in signature) on page 2491, everything you mention here seems to be exactly the same. This is my 1rst time doing this and I just wanted to say THANK YOU for doing this!
I mentioned this post in my post here:
Beginner Fluid Maintenance

My only question is, on other vehicles, how would I identify which cooler tube is the outlet and which one is the inlet? My gf has a 2016 GMC Terrain I plan on doing this same basic same thing to.

THANK YOU!

You could disconnect both hoses from the trans and run them into separate containers and start the truck and quickly turn it off. Whichever has fluid in it will be the outlet of the trans.

 

[JShipps]

Props to the OP (46Runner)

Shout out to the OP for this post! I followed it almost exactly. The only thing I did differently was I used a funnel and some tubing to fill the tranny instead of a hand pump. But, the pics and step-by-step instructions were spot-on and super helpful! The old fluid I got out of my 2007 (V6) with 167k miles on it was disgusting! It was basically like hot fudge or chocolate soup coming out. I exchanged a total of 13qts out with the same amount of Valvoline Maxlife ATF. I'll be taking it out for a test drive today to see how it feels. I've also got one more problem, when I went to finish the job and torque the drain plug, it wouldn't torque, it just kept spinning. It was snug, so nothing is leaking, but it would never fully tighten down. So, either the bolt, the crush washer, or the threads in the pan are messed up. The only way I can think of to fix this is to do a basic drain & fill to fix the issue. It certainly won't hurt to do this and basically get another 3 or 4 quarts of new fluid in there!

 

[firebirdguy]

Shout out to the OP for this post! I followed it almost exactly. The only thing I did differently was I used a funnel and some tubing to fill the tranny instead of a hand pump. But, the pics and step-by-step instructions were spot-on and super helpful! The old fluid I got out of my 2007 (V6) with 167k miles on it was disgusting! It was basically like hot fudge or chocolate soup coming out. I exchanged a total of 13qts out with the same amount of Valvoline Maxlife ATF. I'll be taking it out for a test drive today to see how it feels. I've also got one more problem, when I went to finish the job and torque the drain plug, it wouldn't torque, it just kept spinning. It was snug, so nothing is leaking, but it would never fully tighten down. So, either the bolt, the crush washer, or the threads in the pan are messed up. The only way I can think of to fix this is to do a basic drain & fill to fix the issue. It certainly won't hurt to do this and basically get another 3 or 4 quarts of new fluid in there!

good to hear you used a funnel & hose via the fill hole on the, filled nice & easy didnt it? you will be happy with the maxlife fluid & knowing its full synthetic.

how did you check the fluid level? if you used a new crush washer the bolt will keep turning until its fully crushed but as you found it doesnt need to be that tight to seal... i would just leave it be since i dont think anything is wrong with the bolt. & cant hurt to do another pan drain & fill after a little while.

your trans will be much happier with the new fluid!

 

[Shiftless Joe]

Swapped out the transmission fluid today via the trans cooler lines, took a couple hours going slow but steady. The new fluid drains back into the tranny fairly fast when it's hot out, not sure why some are against that method. I performed 7 two quart swaps total till new clean fluid was coming out using my custom pitcher holder by the battery. Plan on installing a Magnefine 3/8" Magnetic Inline Transmission/Power Steering Filter next time I place an Amazon order.

 

[DougEFresh2]

You could disconnect both hoses from the trans and run them into separate containers and start the truck and quickly turn it off. Whichever has fluid in it will be the outlet of the trans.

I think that's what I'm going to do. Where the 5th gen's "return cooler line" connects on the metal piping to the radiator is NOT on the bottom, like the 4th gen's apparently are. For my 5th gen, it almost looks easier to just access and disconnect it from under hood! I'm not thrilled with the location of this.:mmph:

 

[volpe30]

Did this today for the second time. All went smoothly. First time I did it, a few years ago, I didn’t put enough new fluid in and nothing came out during the temp check. So this time I added extra to make sure I put enough in and over corrected as two quarts came out during the temp check! But the whole process is really quite easy.


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[zparsons]

Just did this as well today. A couple of notes:

- 3.5 quarts came out of the pan for me
- The pumping volume was much faster for me - it would pump out 2 quarts in about 10-15 seconds.
- Rather than pump fill, I just took the rest of my tubing and ran it up through the engine bay from the fill hole. Stuck a funnel on the end and it filled much faster than pumping.
- When I picked up the Toyota ATF WS from the dealer, they quoted transmission flush at around $350. Between 14qts of fluid and the tools I needed but didn't have yet, I'm sitting at around $175. Not bad for a few hours of work.

Taking it out for a test drive in a bit but thanks to OP and everyone else who added to this!

 

[Tironeous]

Am I thinking about this correctly? 2005 V8 with trans-cooler and no dipstick.

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[firebirdguy]

Am I thinking about this correctly? 2005 V8 with trans-cooler and no dipstick.

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you can use whatever location is easiest for draining... im not sure on v8's but for v6's the bottom port on teh radiator is the output for the trans fluid, very easy to just pull the rubber hose off that port & attach a piece of tubing down to the drain pan.

but by far the easiest & fastest way to add fluid is via the fill hole on the side of the trans, its whats its designed for. as [MENTION=404409]zparsons[/MENTION] mentions in the post above yours, just run a tube up from the trans fill hole in the engine bay on pass side & attach a large funnel, you can hang the funnel from the hood or have a helper just hold it near the top of the fender & you can refill the ~2qts & it will take about 2 minutes to add 2 qts. will take much much longer to try & refill via the trans cooler lines. ive done this twice on my 4runner in the last year & it works so fast & easy with a 3/8 clear hose for the drain that fits to the radiator port perfectly & attached to the funnel for filling, no leaks & quick & easy process.

 

[Tironeous]

Yea I think I’ll just fill via fill hole on the transmission. I have a small hand pump I used for the diff fluids so I’ll just extend the tube to the top of the truck so I don’t need to lay beneath it.

I guess I’m still curious if I have identified the correct spot to drain the old fluid. I think so and I guess I’ll find out when turning on the truck on.


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[Lester Lugnut]

crawling around the underside of a vehicle with a hand pump makes no sense when it's so much easier to fill from above with a length of clear vinyl tubing and a funnel. Let gravity do the work.

 

[firebirdguy]

Yea I think I’ll just fill via fill hole on the transmission. I have a small hand pump I used for the diff fluids so I’ll just extend the tube to the top of the truck so I don’t need to lay beneath it.

I guess I’m still curious if I have identified the correct spot to drain the old fluid. I think so and I guess I’ll find out when turning in the truck on.


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yes the fill hole is the best way to fill fluid on these trans, its what its designed for, people who mess with using the trans cooler line or hand pumps are just making things harder than they need to be. look at the pic posted by lester lugnut, that is exactly how to do it using a funnel & let gravity do the work... except i suggest to use as big of a funnel as you can fit in the end of the 3/8 tube, it will add 2 qts in 2-3 minutes.

& look at & try the bottom port of the radiator that the trans cooling lines connect to for draining, the port fits 3/8 tubing perfectly & is a nice straight shot to a pan on the ground underneath the port, i used about a 1.5-2ft piece of tube.

crawling around the underside of a vehicle with a hand pump makes no sense when it's so much easier to fill from above with a length of clear vinyl tubing and a funnel. Let gravity do the work.

thank you for posting that pic, that is exactly how i did it but i had a helper hold the funnel for me above the fender while i filled it. easiest way there is to do this aside from conjuring up an elect pump that has been mentioned on other threads.

 

[81runner]

crawling around the underside of a vehicle with a hand pump makes no sense when it's so much easier to fill from above with a length of clear vinyl tubing and a funnel. Let gravity do the work.

That's how I did mine last year, even looks like the same size funnel, also blue lol

 

[Tironeous]

So what's the point of draining from the drain plug if the subsequent fluid is then being drained from a transmission cooler line? Am I missing out on something if I only drain 2 qts from cooler line and then refill 2 qts until clean fluid comes out?

Also, what's wrong with filling via trans cooler lines? Seems a few have done it.