Need help quick

[dodgetruck]

Hey guys, well we were changing the oil today on the 99 4runner and one thing led to another and now were changing the tranny fluid too (and running out of daylight where the truck is located). Is it basically just a matter of draining the old stuff and putting the new fluid in? What kind, and how much of the new tranny fluid should I put in?

Thanks!

 

[DC runner]

One thing lead to another? Be honest, did you drain the wrong thing and not realize it until too late?

So.... about 70percent of the physical fluid is held in the torque converter; which cannot be drained from the plug without using some powered method to push the fluid through.


So. You need to get whatever spec fluid your truck uses. ATF IV or whatever, and fill it up. Read your owners manual for spec fluid type. I don't own a 3rd, so I don't know off the top of my head. You will fill it through the check pout, where the tranny dipstick is... so get a narrow funnel.


Someone else chime in.. Do you check level at cold or warm?? I don't remember. Someone will chime in. But you probably only drained a few quarts.. 3 or 4? Replace, slowly, checking often; unless you can tell exactly how much you drained. Auto tranny's respond to different levels.. and you need to be right on the money for your transmission to by happy.

 

[dodgetruck]

Yeah... I thought I was draining the oil whoops hahaha. You don't know how much new tranny fluid I need though? And I don't need to drain the rest?

 

[Mellow77]

DC runner has the gist of it. Here is a write-up taken from the 3rd Gen Maintenance section.

Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

Beginning at step # 38 it cover flushing the old fluid out of the torque converter.

 

[dodgetruck]

So I only need a few quarts of new tranny fluid then? My understanding is I only drained about 30%. It's okay to just add some of the new fluid?

 

[DC runner]

Yes. Most of the time, people will do several "drain and fills" over a couple of months to get to essentially NEW fluid.

I don't know when it was last done, so you may be do for a filter change. But.. short response is this: If you transmission is is good working order and the fluid is NOT BURNT, then yes, you can just replace what you drained with the spec'ed fluid type.


However. if you tranny fluid was burnt.. you should consider replacing all of it, as burnt fluid (like any oil product) will have degraded and no longer offer the lub/protection/movement protection of new fluid.

The best way to check is this: The fluid should be a reddish color. If you notice a darkish tinge, almost a brownish tinge, that is a pretty clear indicator your fluid is burnt. If it looks nice and pinkish red, then your transmission is probably in good running order and not a lot of gunk is clogging the filter.



EDIT: Def follow the MAINT guide posted above. My advice is general advice applicable to just about every auto tranny out there. I don't and have not owned a 3rd gen, so the above guide will have model specifics that you might need. Fluid Type and amount.. etc, etc, etc.


Edit: You would probably be shocked to know how often this happens... to experienced people, not paying enough attention.. or a couple of beers too many into the weekend.

Happened to me once... ole sam adams was helping me fix stuff.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I just did a drain and fill myself for my tranny. You'll need to get a new crush washer for your tranny drain and your oil drain. I have been known to reuse these but it is not advised especialy since transmission fluid is on the expensive side and if you have a leak then you'll have to swap out that washer and lose more fluid $$$$

5 quarts on the dot came out of my tranny when I drained it and several others have said the same.

 

[jacktahoe]

I have a 98 4Runner.

Every 10k I drain the transmission fluid via the plug on the transmission.

I think it takes around 4 quarts to refill, but I just put in what volume I took out, and check the dip stick often.

Buy the right stuff, check your owners manual.

I never had one of those power flushes done. No problem with Transmission so far...

 

[dodgetruck]

Update: We put 2 quarts of ATF 3 back in it, the owners manual only says like 2.1 quarts. Do you think I should put more back in? It looks like more that 2 quarts came out.

 

[DC runner]

You have a dipstick. Look.

Seriously. We have no idea of knowing how much exactly came out.... follow the dipstick. If it is low, it is low.

Are you supposed to measure cold? OR does the tranny need to be warmed up? Not sure, but check.

EDIT: You do need to check FINAL level with truck on.. http://home.centurytel.net/stevenjackie/transmission flush/tranny.html

Look down at step 41. I figured, but you need to start the car and cycle through the drive potions; with foot on brake obviously. This cycles the fluid around and opens up the torque converter; to make sure you have the proper amount. Follow that procedure and do a final level check with the dipstick.


The dipstick will have a "cool" and "warm" level. If you truck has been off and you only turned it on to cycle the drive positions, consider it cool and fill to that mark.

 

[the great him]

the tranny needs to be warm. and i can almost assure that if you only put 2 or 3qts back in you are still low.

 

[02SE]

Update: We put 2 quarts of ATF 3 back in it, the owners manual only says like 2.1 quarts. Do you think I s arehould put more back in? It looks like more that 2 quarts came out.

Why are you putting Chrysler specific ATF +3 in a transmission that specifies Dexron II or compatible such as Dexron III?

 

[dodgetruck]

Why are you putting Chrysler specific ATF +3 in a transmission that specifies Dexron II or compatible such as Dexron III?

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I put Castrol Import Multi-vehicle automatic transmission fluid in. That's all the local auto parts place had for imports it says it's a Dexron III substitute on the back. The Dexron III they had was for GM and/or Ford only.

And another update: I am completely baffled now. I only put about 2.5 quarts in at this point, and it's reading about 2 inches above the upper "hot" mark. Also noteworthy is that it is slipping into first gear, but only from a full and complete stop.

 

[DC runner]

WOW.

Do NOT drive around with the incorrect amount of fluid in there. Also, you need to make sure you put the correct fluid in there.

If you must, drain and repeat. You can do some serious damage to a transmission by driving around with too little or too much fluid.

 

[dodgetruck]

WOW.

Do NOT drive around with the incorrect amount of fluid in there. Also, you need to make sure you put the correct fluid in there.

If you must, drain and repeat. You can do some serious damage to a transmission by driving around with too little or too much fluid.

But why would so much fluid come out, and then when I put not nearly the amount that came out back in it shows overfilled on the dipstick? It's going to have to be driven until tomorrow, but he is going to drive slowly and avoid making it slip into first. All other gears shift up and down fine. And he won't drive it much, just home and back here.

On a sidenote, this forum is great, and you guys respond quickly.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Do you remember how many qts you put in there (good choice on ATF BTW)?

I have driven around with the incorrect fluid level in there; the tranny did not like it too much but it did not grenade on me. If it is reading too high when HOT, drain again and refill beginning with 2.5 qts and slowly top off from there.

 

[Dous]

When I drained it with that plug I got a hair under 4 quarts out of it, so IMO you need to add more. The dipstick has never once read right for me.

 

[dodgetruck]

ALRIGHT... It's all better.

Here's what happened: The manual says 2.1 quarts of tranny fluid should be used when you are doing just a change like I did. However, there was apparently an error in printing or somewhere else along the line, and the correct amount is actually 4 to 5 quarts. The reason for the high reading on the dipstick is just due to the fact that all of the fluid had not yet settled back down out of the tube. So the moral of the story here: First of all, take out the right bolt when changing the oil. Secondly, if it's running good when you're changing fluids, always put the amount back in that you took out (I realize that may be poorly worded, I just can't think of a better way to put it). So it came out to be about 4 quarts, and it's shifting nicely again.

Thank you all for your patience, I am so glad it's resolved.