? on Transmission Filling on a 4Runner that is Lifted and Leveled

[Franken4Runner]

I have a 4Runner with Bilstein 5100 and OME springs, its level and does not have the rake that is present with factory parts. I had it in a shop to have an alignment (custom alignment spec due to OME upper CAs) and they brought up when filling the transmission fluid of vehicles that are lifted they pump in an extra 6 oz of ATF after doing the standard factory fluid level check using the overflow plug.

Has anyone ever heard of doing this?

Also isn't 6 oz of extra fluid basically within the margin of error depending on how quick you put the overflow plug back in anyway?

The shop does a great deal of work on lifted vehicles and appears to be knowledgeable about them but I have read the various transmission service directions on here and elsewhere on the net and no one has mentioned this.

 

[1000MPH]

I mean, a shop lifts from the frame, no? 6oz should not cause you an issue.

 

[gordonp]

I added a transmission cooler, and not only needed to add more due to capacity, but I lost a bit of fluid during the install.

I hummed and hawed about this very question.

As @100MPH suggests, some shops will lift from the frame, and the frame will be "level". The tail of the transmission therefore slopes down, slightly (I measured, once-upon-a-time, while dialling-in my pinion-angle. Couple of degrees???).

Other shops will have drive-on platforms, and thus the original rake will be present - perhaps accounting nicely for the slight tail-down slope of the transmission?

In the end, I put a magnetic level-finder on the transmission-pan flange, and used this as my "transmission is level". I filled until it ran out the standpipe, just like they say. And, that standpipe location is near-ish to the middle (as far as front-to-back goes), so front / rear tilt or level won't actually matter very much.

Annoyingly, Toyota's A750E/F Transmission Overview document tells me simply "ATF filling procedures are different for models with an ATF cooler and without" but doesn't elaborate if I needed to add more, or less, or the same amount of fluid. I added until the standpipe overflowed, which amounted to ~1qt additional for my cooler capacity.

SUMMARY: I don't think front-to-back "level" matters a whole lot, whether you "level" by the frame, or on-the-wheels. I also don't think 6oz will matter much, in part because there is a temperature-range (which has varied slightly over the years) for checking fluid-level and this brings variation.

If your knowledgeable shop suggests an extra 6oz, based on their experience, I think I'd be inclined to go with their recommendation.

My $0.02 worth

 

[Franken4Runner]

Thanks for the replies, they are very helpful.

I believe they must use a drive on lift so the vehicle will be angled as it does when on the ground.

 

[MDFI29]

Good info