Uneek
Super Moderator
Can't you guarantee proper filling by doing a drain and then refilling exactly the amount that came out? In other words, no need to worry about the proper Toyota checking procedure. (Providing theres no leaks of course).
Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
You don't really need to do the Toyota procedure for checking the level when you are done. There is a level check screw pretty close to the drain screw. I measured the amount that came out and refilled that exact amount and did this 3 or 4 times. On my last refill I put in about a half quart more just to make sure I measured right.
I drove the vehicle around the block a couple times to make sure the tranny was up to temp, parked it with the engine running in park and crawled under and removed the level check screw and drained out whatever extra was in there, it comes out under pressure. Done.
On a side note, if you are going to refill using one of those cheapie bottle pumps from the auto parts store, it will not fit the opening of the WS bottles. The opening of the WS bottles is an odd size.
I changed mine at 60K and wished I'd changed it sooner. The ATF was dark.
All in all it wasn't too difficult a procedure.
Also, if you have the V8 you can remove the top hose from the tranny cooler in front of the radiator to drain. Disconnect the top hose and connect some clear tubing and put the end in a gallon bottle, start the engine and it will drain out pretty quick.
That has long been my thinking as well. But when I read the proper procedure on another forum and a few members there said the same thing, the OP of that thread said, the above method would work assuming that the transmission had the correct fill level from the factory.