Transmission Flush Questions

[Jayzero911]

Sorry if this has all been asked before ahead of time. I read the guide to Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission and was talking to someone about the trany fluid was a few quarts low and I needed to get some. He then said its measured in pints not quarts. I then told him that with it running and at OT the stick showed it was just below the bottom HOT mark and must be 1.5-2 quarts low. he told me something along the lines of that's way too much, your only a half pint or pint low. Then I said that I think the trany holds somewhere around 16-20 quarts. He instantly said thats not possible, but he is known for blowing smoke out his a$$. After he left I went back to the guide. I read he drained 6.5 quarts and said to run at least 16 throw the flush. so my question now is. Dose the trany hold 23 quarts? or is the 16 just to be sure it cleans all the old stuff out? I plan to this flush in the next few months and also plan on adding a trany cooler (mostly to avoid pink milkshake) so would I need like 25 quarts of ATF to get the job done? Its the only car so I MUST have everything before hand. Sorry its such a dragged out story and all, Thank you.

I forgot the say I did notice the write up was on a 4x4 and I'm running 2WD. Much difference in trany capacity?

 

[LittleCaesar]

No, not 23, not even close. I THINK that the technical data sheet on the A340s say it holds close to 10 qts. It could be 12~14qt. Most use 16qts to get all the old fluid out.

To CORRECTLY check the level of your fluid, push down on the brake while the engine is running at normal temps and run through the gears from P to L and back to P. Make sure the 4runner is level at this time. With the engine still running, pull the dipstick and check to see that the fluid is somewhere in the HOT range. Add more if needed.

Castrol Transmax Import ATF has worked well for me in the past.

With 53k miles on the fluid, it has to look rather clean.

 

[Jayzero911]

Yeah it looks fairly clean, but I have been have nightmares about pink milkshakes and want to add a trany cooler. With a now 11 year old radiator I am pushing for it soon. I figured I would do the flush at that time just because. One thing tho, how often is it recommended to change it? I'm sure its still the same fluid it drove off the lot with.


and thank you for pointing out how to correctly check the level.... I skipped the "run throw the gears" part -facepalm-

 

[LittleCaesar]

Usually just a drain and refill at 60,000 miles, then again every 30,000 from there on out. That should keep your tranny running well.

Given the newness of your ATF so to speak, I'd skip the flushing and just drain and refill, which usually is around 4qts. But check the dipstick to make sure of the level so not to overfill.

 

[Jayzero911]

Sounds like a plan, far cheaper that my original plan lol. I mite be able to get to this next month and put off the round of belts and hoses. I know back to its only got 53k on it... its the years its got on it, or at least the rubber parts that I am worried about. I do live in AZ and as much as I wish it could be garaged, I only got a car port. I did just recently have to change out some vacuum lines cuz it was throwing a code out at me. -is getting off track again- anyway thank you for your input.