Toyota 4runner Sealed Transmission DIY Flush

[Streetfighter]

Searched and Searched.

on T4r there was no Clear write up of the Full flush of changing of the 4th gen toyota 4runner sealed transmission


Finally found, Just wanted to Share.

DIY: Full Flush for Automatic Transmission - Tacoma World Forums



He uses Amsoil but WS is cheap on Ebay in cases of 12 for $79.

 

[CookieRoe]

Cool ! Thanks! The DIY on this forum is good, but this one seems to be better. Never would've found it.
:thumb3:

 

[Streetfighter]

Thanks, I started this hardcore search because the Dealer wants $350!!

Im going with WS oil from Ebay (genuine Toyota) Not Amsoil.

Don't have to worry about it for another 100k miles!

 

[00328]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/58013-advice-drop-pan-dealer-flush.html

This thread may help also. I have 60K on mine and am getting ready to do this also. Will be using WS too.
Wish there was a more concise DIY.

 

[klennop]

It is super simple to do guys. I was apprehensive at first but I read over tons of the threads. This is the easiest way to explain it.

Every time I took fluid out, I added the same amount back in. Just keep track of it. Bought some 3/8" clear hose from Home Depot and 13 Quarts of WS fluid, I got mine on Ebay but I found out later my dealer would match it. I bought a fluid transfer pump, it worked way easier and was much faster than the normal bottle pump

Drain fluid from transmission.

Add new fluid to transmission, the same amount your drained. You can leave the fill hole open.

Add the hose you bought to the transmission cooler return line. Put the bottom of the hose in a container to catch the fluid. It will not come out right away.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/58013-advice-drop-pan-dealer-flush-2.html#post617746

Start the truck you will see the fluid pump out from the front cooler line. Once you hear bubbles or any gurgle shut off the truck. Take note of the amount of fluid. Add that amount back into the transmission.

Repeat until the fluid looks like new coming out the front.

Put all hoses back on, tighten plugs, and you are on your way.

It is really simple.

 

[00328]

This is exactly the way I intend to do it.
Did you use a jumper wire to the pins in the OBD port to put the trans in 'temp mode'?
I would think if you just drive the vehicle around the block a couple times to get the trans up to temp and then open the overflow drain, that would probably work just fine.
Was the fill hole difficult to get to?

 

[klennop]

This is exactly the way I intend to do it.
Did you use a jumper wire to the pins in the OBD port to put the trans in 'temp mode'?
I would think if you just drive the vehicle around the block a couple times to get the trans up to temp and then open the overflow drain, that would probably work just fine.
Was the fill hole difficult to get to?

I didn't want to deal with the OBD port temp check, fluid check, etc. That is what scared me off doing this myself. It is just easier to do the however much you take out, you put back in method.

I drove my truck around a bit just to get it to operating temp.

I didn't mess with the overflow/check plug. I used the actual drain plug on the transmission for the first drain and fill. Check some of the other threads for the pictures of the correct drain plug.

The fill hole isn't difficult to get at. There are pictures in some of the other threads.

I just wrote down how much I took out and filled as I was doing the drain and fill because I wasn't sure how bad it is to overfill.

 

[klennop]

By the way 00328, I keep getting distracted by your picture....which is totally fine!!:keyboard:

 

[00328]

LOL.....I just added that. Think I picked a good one. :tongue:

 

[K.C.]

Subscribed

 

[klennop]

By the way here is the pump I bought, it is WAY faster than the normal bottle pumps.

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

 

[00328]

Yeah, that seems like a good way to do it. I've also used a drill pump to transfer liquids and it works pretty good too.

klennop - did you need to remove the skid plate to do the ATF change?
I still need to crawl under there and get a good look at it, haven't done that yet.

 

[klennop]

Yeah, that seems like a good way to do it. I've also used a drill pump to transfer liquids and it works pretty good too.

klennop - did you need to remove the skid plate to do the ATF change?
I still need to crawl under there and get a good look at it, haven't done that yet.

Drill Pumps have issues with Gear Oil so I wasn't going to try it with the WS fluid. I was really surprised how fast this pumped the fluid!

Nope, no need to remove the skid plates.

 

[00328]

I've never had a problem with ATF or engine oil, but it does not do well with the thicker oils.
Thanks klennop for the info.

Sorry for the thread hijack streetfighter, but it's all good info if you are going to undertake this task.

 

[jeober]

Couple of suggestions

I have done the sealed trans "flush" three times now - at 50K, 100k, and 150K. The first was done with Toyota WS fluid, the next two were with Dexron VI from Walmart (about $4/quart x 12).

The linked instructions in this thread are very good. I do things a little different:

I drain and fill from the top trans fitting on the radiator side tank (v-6 here). The hose side is ATF coming from the trans. The 3/8" barbed fitting on the side tank is the return side. I also use an in-line electric fuel pump to return ATF back after each 4 quart drain "session". I pump out directly from the 1 quart ATF bottles. I don't know if you can manually pump in from this point. I know it won't gravity feed or even using a squeeze bottle approach.

The first drain session uses the engine-on to pump out until the instant of the trans pump cavitation, AND then I drain out the remaining cup or so of remaining ATF in the sump using the drain bolt provision. This gets the max amount of old fluid out in the first session.

I use scales to weigh the fluid in and out - I find this easier than volume. Just subtract out the weight (tare) of the empty containers used. All this tracking works great until you have a spill I had a hose come loose from a plastic fitting I was using during a drain session: And I'm in the 4runner shifting through gears and not immediately aware of this.

 

[00328]

I just got done with my flush couple hours ago. The procedure wasn't too bad. I have 61K on it and the fluid was dark. A lot darker than I expected it to be. I don't tow and pretty much drive normal so I was a little surprised at the level of contamination. I realize color dosen't have a whole lot to do with the fluid being able to do its job, but still.

BE ADVISED: if you are going to use the WS fluid and one of the cheap bottle pumps, DO NOT get the "Quart & Gallon Fluid Pump" by Performance Tool. It is a white pump. It will not fit the 'wide mouth' Toyota quart bottles.
Surprised no one else ran into this problem.
Anyway, it's done and I've only driven it about 5 or 6 miles, might just be my imagination, but it seems to shift a little smoother.

 

[klennop]

I just got done with my flush couple hours ago. The procedure wasn't too bad. I have 61K on it and the fluid was dark. A lot darker than I expected it to be. I don't tow and pretty much drive normal so I was a little surprised at the level of contamination. I realize color dosen't have a whole lot to do with the fluid being able to do its job, but still.

BE ADVISED: if you are going to use the WS fluid and one of the cheap bottle pumps, DO NOT get the "Quart & Gallon Fluid Pump" by Performance Tool. It is a white pump. It will not fit the 'wide mouth' Toyota quart bottles.
Surprised no one else ran into this problem.
Anyway, it's done and I've only driven it about 5 or 6 miles, might just be my imagination, but it seems to shift a little smoother.

I thought the same thing about fluid color...sure looked darker than expected when I did mine at 60K, especially when it is supposed to be "lifetime". See it isn't that hard, once you have done it once you think, hey that isn't bad at all.

Hmmm...usually when the pump says gallon pump it is wide mouth. Most gallon containers of fluid do not have the smaller mouth on them.

Mine shifted smoother also.

 

[00328]

Hmmm...usually when the pump says gallon pump it is wide mouth. Most gallon containers of fluid do not have the smaller mouth on them.
Mine shifted smoother also.

The WS containers openings were in between the regular quart size and the gallon size. Go figure.
I just happened to have a regular size empty quart container as I was doing the ATF on my sons car too. Just took a little more time and was a little more messy transferring the fluid from the WS bottles to the regular quart bottles.
Next time I will either dump the fluid into a gallon size jug and pump from that
or use a different kind of pump.
Damn that heat shield is SHARP!

 

[Streetfighter]

I have done the sealed trans "flush" three times now - at 50K, 100k, and 150K. The first was done with Toyota WS fluid, the next two were with Dexron VI from Walmart (about $4/quart x 12).

Wait, you went through 100k miles with WALMART oil?

Please let me know what exact trans fluid you are using from walmart.

100k miles should prove its okay to use.

 

[Streetfighter]

ha, pretty funny how im about to do this after posting a link on a DIY back in April!

Wish me luck!