ATF in new 15 Avalon

[acmesupply]

This 2013 Lexus does not even have a dipstick. I have searched everywhere for a add-on dipstick with no results. You can only drain from the bottom and fill from the side mounted 18mm hole which has a 24mm socket on it, that's unless you spend hundreds on the fancy tools. This car(SUV) is rated the best overall from Consumer Reports. The 6 speed transmission is fantastic and long lasting. I just like to drive my cars till they totally die. 2 have 130,000 with not a single repair besides the battery or tires and those are the old 4 speed autos trans. I just like to tinker around and fix my own stuff, but this is the first auto with 1000 plus pages in a manual and you cant check the atf level nor does it even mention it.
And yes the Highlander has the same chassis and transmission but I don't know about the engine but most likely it is.

 

[hattaresguy]

The two Toyota's and a Lexus in our family have never had a transmission service, and never will. No issues, shift fine. OTOH one is about to get traded in for oil burning.


The last thing I would worry about on a brand new car with a long power train warranty is screwing with the gear box. Run 100k miles on it and revisit this topic.

 

[Tones]

Yes thanks Acmesupply for mentioning the red overfill tube. You have to remove it to get the 2 quarts out. Use the same allen wrench you used to remove the plug.

I guess never servicing your vehicle is an option, but it does shift better with clean fluid in it.

 

[SumpChump]

WS is an average performing fluid at best and the additive pack is done by 30k.

Not sure if the OP car has the 6 speed auto transmission the U760E, might have the very similar U660E but here are the official factory instructions on a fluid change and leveling. In a nutshell, they replaced a simple dipstick with a 13 page procedure two plugs two gaskets a wire jumper a magical shift pattern to engage an idle control mode and other [censored]. Well done Toyota, making maintainence easy so that "runs forever" mantra can continue. Not so much.

LINK >>> Toyota ATF change Procedure

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
WS is an average performing fluid at best and the additive pack is done by 30k.

Not sure if the OP car has the 6 speed auto transmission the U760E, might have the very similar U660E but here are the official factory instructions on a fluid change and leveling. In a nutshell, they replaced a simple dipstick with a 13 page procedure two plugs two gaskets a wire jumper a magical shift pattern to engage an idle control mode and other [censored]. Well done Toyota, making maintainence easy so that "runs forever" mantra can continue. Not so much.

LINK >>> Toyota ATF change Procedure



(sigh) what a pain in the [censored]! thanks for posting this though. its all about going to them if you want it serviced i suppose. although some have done it themselves with supposedly no issues. too much involved for me right now.no time for all of that.

 

[Tones]

It's not that bad, you just put in the same amount that came out.

 

[mcrn]

Exactly. I do not know why you cant just measure how much out and put exact amount back in?

 

[lexus114]

right, i thought the same thing tones and mcrn? but they claim you still need to go through all of this extra nonsense? for what? btw, i still never got an accurate answer on what the pans on these things hold. i got any where from 2.5- 4.5 qts.

 

[baranbaran]

I totally agree with OrO-o about that.....well done

 

[MaximaGuy]

Does anyone know the total capacity of the unit, I intend to do a flush my unit this summer

 

[Oro_O]

Originally Posted By: MaximaGuy
Does anyone know the total capacity of the unit, I intend to do a flush my unit this summer


Which transmission are you talking about?

Most of these run about 10 qts. You want a few more quarts on hand, plus an extra to do your PS system at the same time (convenient reminder in my opinion). So you could likely get by with buying 3 gallons of MaxLife at Walmart. Maybe an extra quart of a Dex VI equivalent, or some III/multi vehicle for the PS system. You can usually google the name of your transmission and find it's capacity quickly, e.g. - "capacity Aisin U660E transmission" or whatever you are referring to. It won't be exact because there will be fluid left behind, in hoses, etc. Basically you pump/flush until it comes out clean and red, and you'll end up with a quart or two going back in than the stated capacity.

When I do the overflow check, you'll recapture 1/2 to 1 quart of overfill (I put that in a clean rebottle and re-used it today in my transfer case).

I copied a ToyotaNation member who bought an inexpensive ($13 at home depot for me) drill pump and used it as a fluid pump at the front cooler lines. I did this last month on my SLX and it was so much easier than hand pumps or gravity feeding (which does work ok, though) that I have done in the past on various vehicles w/o dipstick tubes. Here's what it looked like rigged up:



$20 for the pump and some brass adapters, tubing etc. was well worth it since I have a few vehicles I maintain. I used it on the transfer case of that same vehicle just today.

Here is a close-up of the pump arrangement.

 

[MaximaGuy]

The U760E transmission in my Lexus, it is sealed but a return line flush is doable. I have 40K on my Lexus and the first flush is the most important IMO and I postponed it too long now. Time to get under and get it done!!

 

[Oro_O]

Amsoil says the total capacitty is 6.9 qts for both the 660 and 760. I'd add 3 qts to that, 2 for possible spillage and mixing when pumping out until clean, and 1 more for the PS system.

Here is a clear DIY on the PS proceedure if you are unfamiliar:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/107-ca...ice-needed.html

 

[Virtus_Probi]

This thread really rung a bell for me because my RAV4 with the same V6 as the Avalon was also supposed to have "lifetime" ATF...my transmission started to leak a bit just after the warranty period and I was told that the fluid was BLACK. That Toyota specialist (not a dealer) recommended changing it every 30k no matter what the company said.
Also ended up with a major repair for a transmission crack in the vehicle later, but that's a different story...