Easy Peasy transmission fluid exchange V6

[firebirdguy]

Just to verify if I'm filling through the trans fill plug: I'm disconnecting the top cooler line and connecting my hose to the hose (not the cooler) to catch the old oil. Correct? What size OD or ID hose and hose clamp do I need to connect to the exhisting hose? 3/8" OD since the inlet fitting is requiring a 3/8" ID hose?

Trying to verify because now I'm a little more confused after reading some people talking about the fittings/top/bottom, etc.

2WD V6 2008

Thanks.

for draining its easiest to undo the bottom cooler line at the radiator, its just a single clamp you undo with pliers, that will leave the metal nipple that you connect a short piece of the clear tube to & run straight down to a drain pan marked with qts to know when you reach ~2qts for each cycle. no need for adapters to connect a drain hose to the cooler hose.

the fill hole is on the upper pass side of the trans, you just undo the plug & its a big hole you stick the end of the tube into, then run it right up on the passenger side engine bay area to connect a funnel & pour in the fluid. doesnt get any easier or faster than that. the hose size is 3/8 clear tubing available at any home store like home depot or menards etc, costs just a few bucks for 10ft.

ive seen many vids of doing this & they all will work ok, the way i describe it is just the more efficient way to do it using the shortest runs of hose & not requiring a hand pump. i see some like the vid above running a hose from the fill hole on pass side all the way around to the drivers side & a very long hose tapped into the cooler line from somewhere, i see no benefit to doing it that way. no offense to anyone that chooses to do it like that, just trying to keep it simple for those that will be doing this.

 

[4r-4ever]

All you have to do is disconnect the hose from the upper radiator hose.

1. connect a 3/8 O.D hard hose to the black hose. - this is where the oil is coming out when you start the engine to pump the old oil out.
2. connect another 3/8 I.D. flexible hose to the radiator (where you disconnected the black hose). This is where you will be pumping in a new ATF oil using a pump. I've shown it on my video.

Just to verify if I'm filling through the trans fill plug: I'm disconnecting the top cooler line and connecting my hose to the hose (not the cooler) to catch the old oil. Correct? What size OD or ID hose and hose clamp do I need to connect to the exhisting hose? 3/8" OD since the inlet fitting is requiring a 3/8" ID hose?

Trying to verify because now I'm a little more confused after reading some people talking about the fittings/top/bottom, etc.

2WD V6 2008

Thanks.

 

[firebirdguy]

All you have to do is disconnect the hose from the upper radiator hose.

1. connect a 3/8 O.D hard hose to the black hose. - this is where the oil is coming out when you start the engine to pump the old oil out.
2. connect another 3/8 I.D. flexible hose to the radiator (where you disconnected the black hose). This is where you will be pumping in a new ATF oil using a pump. I've shown it on my video.

that way works too but you dont need to use an adapter (3/8 hard hose) when you disconnect the bottom line at the radiator. but more important is when doing it at the bottom of the radiator you are getting all the old dirty fluid thats in the internal trans cooler out. that location is the true outlet of the fluid.

& filling at the top of teh radiator pushes all the old dirty fluid in the trans cooler & lines back into the transmission. again, this way works but is not the best way to do it, the fill hole on the trans is there for a reason & does not require pumping a hand pump 20-30+ times per qt... its so much faster & easier to use a funnel & straight shot of tubing to the fill hole & let gravity do the work.

just trying to make it easy on guys attempting to do this. but either way works & the important thing is to get the correct type of new fluid into the trans.

 

[RunnerFanTenn]

would like to know your thots/Firebird

Car Care Nut (does alot of excellent youtubes on Toyota--10 year master mechanic with Toyota), has a youtube on changing trans fluid in toyota trucks. His opinion is that due to the fine balance between debris helping fortify the clutch pads and too much debris clogging the small valves.....the right decision is to just do "drain and fill" every 50,000 miles. So, say 4 quarts of new fluid each 50,000 miles to mix with the old fluid, instead of 12 quarts of new fluid (and he would say, all those new detergents can break everything loose, including what has built up and helping clutch, .....so could do more harm than good.) Your thoughts? Thanks

 

[rwh963]

my 4runner had not had a tranny service by the time it reached 207k miles (WS baby!). considered the conversations floating out there regarding the right course of action. decide to roll the dice and have the dealer do a full exchange (do not say FLUSH, there is no flushing involved). zero problems as off 233k miles.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I like Car Care Nut and respect his opinion, but my experience is the same as [MENTION=164944]rwh963[/MENTION] - 2 full drain & fills, at ~114K & ~218K miles, and no issues at all as of 232K miles.

 

[Drcoffee]

Its so much easier and faster to fill using the transmission fill hole. Get some 1/2” ID clear hose at the hardware store and run it down to the the tranny avoiding the exhaust pipe and hook the funnel up to the hood. Whereas pouring ATF into the radiator port which is only 3/8” nipple and an even smaller opening. Now this is important also for when you go to set the level later on. If you get to the correct temp and open the level plug on the trans pan and no ATF comes out, you need to move quick to add more fluid before the tranny temp gets too hot.

What I do is try to overfill by 1/2 Qt. When the temp gets to 100* I open the level plug. If no fluid comes out, I simply dump in more ATF until it pours out. Then wait for 110* and cap the drain off at a trickle. Using the radiator will make you stop everything, add fluid then restart the process.

This pic is of my kids rav4 getting the ATF exchange. Same process, different vehicle. The 1/2” hose is a snug fit in the fill hole. Push it in only as far as the threads are deep so you dont touch any moving internal parts.

 

[Desert Donkey]

Well, after reading this thread, I decided to take the plunge and do a full fluid exchange on my 2007 Limited 4WD, and it went a lot easier than I expected.

I disconnected the lower trans cooler hose, attached a 3/8” clear tube, ran that to a graduated catch bottle with clear markings, then ran a 1/2” clear hose to the fill port on the side of the transmission, with a funnel attached, hanging from the hood latch.

I pumped out two quarts and it was black as night, and added two quarts of Valvoline MaxLife synthetic fluid, then repeated the process until I had cycled 16 quarts through the transmission.

I had planned to stop at 12 quarts and fill the remainder, but it wasn’t quite clear red yet, so I ran four more quarts through, two at a time, until I got clear red fluid coming out, making sure not to over fill.

She drives like a new truck now, and the shudder between 40-50 MPH is gone.

I changed the oil, filter and air filter while I was at it, and now she’s rocking fresh Mobil 1 synthetic 5W30.

All in all, it was a very productive day, and I’m glad to have that black, nasty fluid out of my transmission!

Thanks to all for the very useful input and guidance about this process!