drain n filling my tranny oil... help.

[hungryeddy]

So i'm doing the drain and fill as shown here 4Runners.org - Changing Your Front, Rear, Tranny & Transfer Case Fluids

it says i should have 2.3 quarts of tranny oil but only about 1.8 came out. should i put in 2.3 anyway?

 

[HCurphy]

typically you want to put in as much as you take out. So, start by doing that.

If your level was low to start with, you may need to put more back in.

Put 1.8 back in then check the level.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

To start, put in the amount that came out... 1.8.

Take a short drive to get the engine/trans to operating temp.

Go home, park the truck, but don't turn the engine off.

Put it in Nuetral, and set the parking brake.

Pop the hood and check the fluid level in the trans.

If you're low, add some more fluid.

The difference of 0.5 quart isn't going to cause you any problems during the warm up drive. Checking the fluid before you add more will ensure you don't overfill. Overfilling is bad.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Also, run through the gears (P to L and back to P) at normal temps before pulling out the Trans stick. It is always easier to add ATF than to drain it.

 

[IanB]

Also, run through the gears (P to L and back to P) at normal temps before pulling out the Trans stick. It is always easier to add ATF than to drain it.

That's how I do it as well, you're supposed to slowly row through the gears and then check the level. Does it make a difference if the tranny is in P or N? I've heard both.

 

[LittleCaesar]

IanB,

In twenty years of driving, I have always run through the gears and ended up at P, then checked the stick.

Knocking on wood, never one transmission problem yet.

Either way though works just fine IMO.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Ian, LC... you guys are both correct.

I usually rely on the test drive to cycle the gears, but as LC said, both methods work the same. P or N shoudln't matter. I go w/N because the owners manual recommends checking the trans fluid w/the engine hot, idling, and vehicle in nuetral.