HELP - Accidentally added T-IV to Dexron III

[staghv1]

I just bought a 96 4runner with 178K Miles. Tranny works great. I decided to change the ATF.

I dropped the plug 3 times and added T-IV (so far added about 9 quarts of T-IV), I just found out that I can't mix T-IV with Dexron III which the vehicle came with. I've driven about 500 miles with the mixed oil already...

Should I drop plug a few times again and add Dexron III or should I flush it with Dexron III, (as much as I hate flushing, with all the horror stories I've heard about flusing...)? Also, will my tranny be ok or have I pretty much killed it half way already?

Please help!

 

[004Gunner]

I doubt you did any damage at all but I'm not an expert on any automotive fluids. You can flush it yourself using a bucket and the trans cooler send line at the radiator. If it were mine, I would get the right fluid in there unless I could find solid data proving that the T IV is compatible or better. I found this which I thought was interesting

 

[BTO]

You can flush it yourself using a bucket and the trans cooler send line at the radiator.

Have you used this method yourself? Are you saying you can idle the engine, pump out the old fluid and the tranny will suck the proper amount with the return line in a bucket of new fluid?

 

[quicksilvr]

Have you used this method yourself? Are you saying you can idle the engine, pump out the old fluid and the tranny will suck the proper amount with the return line in a bucket of new fluid?

No, I doubt it would suck the correct amount at the correct rate, since you lose the pressure of the system by opening it up. But you can still do it, you just let it pump out about a quart at a time, then stop and pour in a new quart through the dipstick.

Step 39: Flush The Transmission
This is a two man job; get a friend to perform the starting and stopping of the rig, while you monitor the amount of ATF coming out of the drain line. Start the rig, this will start the flow of ATF out of the hose at a rate of about (1) quart per 22 seconds. Let your bucket fill up (1) quart and then turn off the rig; you might be able to go (2) quarts, but I played it safe and went (1) quart at a time. Add a quart of fluid through the dipstick tube. Repeat this process until new ATF is coming out of the drain line, a white bucket will help you determine when the ATF color changes; my orange bucket didn't do so good. If you can't tell the color difference, just make sure you go through about (16) quarts of new fluid (refilling of the pan and the flush).

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

unfortunately type T will make the tranny slip and shift funny i had a customer long time ago do this to his taco.

 

[staghv1]

unfortunately type T will make the tranny slip and shift funny i had a customer long time ago do this to his taco.

So if I drop the plug a few times and dilute the oil with Dexron III, do you think I may be ok after lets say 12 quarts? Or should I consider flush? Thanks.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

So if I drop the plug a few times and dilute the oil with Dexron III, do you think I may be ok after lets say 12 quarts? Or should I consider flush? Thanks.

i would presume so as they guy with the taco drove it like that for 15k before we swaped tranny fluid.

 

[brian2sun]

So if I drop the plug a few times and dilute the oil with Dexron III, do you think I may be ok after lets say 12 quarts? Or should I consider flush? Thanks.

Consider the flush. Better yet, do the flush. I absolutely would. And IMO and experience the MYTH that flushing will destroy your tranny is horse sh!t. That's only true if the tranny is on the verge of breaking before you flush it. There would be no question whether to flush or not if it were mine. Actually I did a complete flush at 185K and it's never shifted smoother. Here's the write-up: Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

 

[staghv1]

i would presume so as they guy with the taco drove it like that for 15k before we swaped tranny fluid.

Did it actually take 15K miles on the new fluid for the tranny to slip? And once he changed the fluid, did it help the slip?

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

Did it actually take 15K miles on the new fluid for the tranny to slip? And once he changed the fluid, did it help the slip?

well im not to sure he brought it in to the dealer when it started to slip and shift really bad. it was done by a mom and pop shop so we told him to go back to the place he got it done at.

 

[runrunner]

Why is it that Valvoline Maxlife ATF (Which I added when I did a D&F) is compatible with Dex III and T-IV?

Valvoline.com > Products > Automatic Transmission Products > Automatic Transmission Fluid > MaxLife® DEX/MERC ATF

If you read under the overview it notes a lot of applications including Dex II and III and T-IV.

 

[staghv1]

I am going to flush the tranny myself tomorrow, I bought Penzoil ATF that is compatible with Dexron II, I'm assuming Penzoil is probably a good brand. Any thoughts on Penzoil ATF? Thanks.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

i honestly would only use toyota trans fluid.

 

[BROOKLYN]

its ok in fact T-IV is a better fluid, on my 2000 solara it takes dex III and i flushed it out for T-IV. I worked for toyota for years and we did it to all our cars. In fact toyota suggest you flush out and switch to T-IV.
the only tranny fluid you cant mess with is WS.

 

[brian2sun]

i honestly would only use toyota trans fluid.

Toyota doesn't make Dexron, it's a GM product and that's what Toyota chose to use and that's what they specify in the manual. Aisin developed the A340 trannies around Dexron, and the letters "D-II" are cast into the drain plug on the tranny. Take that as you will, but to me that means don't put fluid in there that's not Dexron II or higher (because all the higher #s of Dexron are backwards-compatible).

 

[brian2sun]

I am going to flush the tranny myself tomorrow, I bought Penzoil ATF that is compatible with Dexron II, I'm assuming Penzoil is probably a good brand. Any thoughts on Penzoil ATF? Thanks.

There's nothing wrong with Penzoil.

 

[ryani]

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pds_ImportMV.pdf

Here's the stuff I used when I changed mine out. Check out the compatibility.
It's good for dexIII also. Like was stated before, it's backwards compatible. I'm having great results with it too.

 

[004Gunner]

Have you used this method yourself? Are you saying you can idle the engine, pump out the old fluid and the tranny will suck the proper amount with the return line in a bucket of new fluid?

What Quicksilvr said is right. You use the transmissions pump to get the fluid out and just pour new fluid in through the dipstick as the old fluid is coming out.

Consider the flush. Better yet, do the flush. I absolutely would. And IMO and experience the MYTH that flushing will destroy your tranny is horse sh!t. That's only true if the tranny is on the verge of breaking before you flush it. There would be no question whether to flush or not if it were mine. Actually I did a complete flush at 185K and it's never shifted smoother. Here's the write-up: Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

I agree. A flush isn't harmful and you should do it as part of regular maintenance. The walk through linked above is really thorough and includes a filter change with the flush. If you do just the flush portion it will take a little longer to get the fluid out but the whole process will be much simpler and faster.

 

[BROOKLYN]

No they don't.

staghv1 flush that out.

that tsb is from may 2002,alot as change from then and toyota stop selling dexIII. T-IV is a upgrade, i was having minor shifting issues with my solara i switched over to T-IV problem solved. its been 60k and 1 flush, 1 drain and refill with T-IV no issues in fact improvemnt.

 

[BROOKLYN]

when you guys say flush do you mean with the machine.