Toyota Corolla Determining Proper Transmission Fluid Level

[kschachn]

I’m so confused as to why you don’t just do this.

 

[ToyotaLover67]

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I’m so confused as to why you don’t just do this.

Read my prior post. I said that I have no way to check the temperature of the transmission fluid.

Please, read a reply before you reply.

 

[ToyotaLover67]

View attachment 203248

I’m so confused as to why you don’t just do this.

I'm just going to drive it around, and read the trans fluid level as best I can, as I've no way to check the trans fluid temp.

 

[kschachn]

I'm just going to drive it around, and read the trans fluid level as best I can, as I've no way to check the trans fluid temp.

You don’t have to. Just do what the chart says and drive it like you’re saying. Forget the temperature.

 

[The Critic]

You don’t have to. Just do what the chart says and drive it like you’re saying. Forget the temperature.

No, that is not what the chart says. Read the instructions again. The OK range only applies if the fluid temp fits within the parameters of the hot range.

 

[kschachn]

No, that is not what the chart says. Read the instructions again. The OK range only applies if the fluid temp fits within the parameters of the hot range.

Are you serious? As long as he gets the engine up to operating temperature and the fluid level is within the “OK” range he’s going to be fine. Just like many people have done in the past. He does not have to measure the temperature. Just get the engine up to normal operating temperature on a reasonable drive and he will be fine if the fluid level falls within the indicated area on the dipstick.

The poster does not have to be jerked around any more than has already been done.

 

[The Critic]

Are you serious? As long as he gets the engine up to operating temperature and the fluid level is within the “OK” range he’s going to be fine. Just like many people have done in the past. He does not have to measure the temperature. Just get the engine up to normal operating temperature on a reasonable drive and he will be fine if the fluid level falls within the indicated area on the dipstick.

The poster does not have to be jerked around any more than has already been done.

I am dead serious. Depending on the fluid temp, the fluid level can vary significantly.

For example, if someone went for a short drive in cold weather, and found fluid level to be at the top of the OK range, the trans may actually be grossly overfilled.

A lot of the recent transmissions are extremely sensitive to fluid level; even 1/4-1/3 qt over can cause foaming or shift quality issues. There is a reason why the dipsticks were ditched - because people are unable to use the dipstick correctly.

 

[kschachn]

Sure OK. This transmission? I don’t think so.

However if you do, then at least explain to him how he’s going to measure his transmission fluid temperature.

 

[The Critic]

Sure OK. This transmission? I don’t think so.

How are you so certain of that?

However if you do, then at least explain to him how he’s going to measure his transmission fluid temperature.

Scan tool is the correct answer. If he isn’t properly tooled to handle the job, maybe he should take it to someone who can…or invest in the equipment himself? Sometimes, it isn’t possible to perform the job correctly without proper tooling; telling someone to cut corners and that “it’ll be ok” is doing them a disservice.

 

[ToyotaLover67]

How are you so certain of that?


Scan tool is the correct answer. If he isn’t properly tooled to handle the job, maybe he should take it to someone who can…or invest in the equipment himself? Sometimes, it isn’t possible to perform the job correctly without proper tooling; telling someone to cut corners and that “it’ll be ok” is doing them a disservice.

Hi. Yes, the level of fluid an change significantly with just a little temp variation.

That said, do you know if the 2012 Corolla LE has a temp sensor for the trans fluid?

I've no problem getting a relatively inexpensive scan tool, if it has a trans fluid temp function on it.

Beyond that I'd just be checking the dipstick during random driving.

 

[ToyotaLover67]

How are you so certain of that?


Scan tool is the correct answer. If he isn’t properly tooled to handle the job, maybe he should take it to someone who can…or invest in the equipment himself? Sometimes, it isn’t possible to perform the job correctly without proper tooling; telling someone to cut corners and that “it’ll be ok” is doing them a disservice.

I have a Fixd OBD2 reader I bought back in 2021. Just downloaded the Torque app. Will see if it will interface with the reader. If not I'll simply go online and buy a universal OBD2 reader that will interface.

I am wondering though. After driving it, and parking it, am I still supposed to run through all the gears while in idle before I check the fluid level?

 

[The Critic]

Hi. Yes, the level of fluid an change significantly with just a little temp variation.

That said, do you know if the 2012 Corolla LE has a temp sensor for the trans fluid?

I've no problem getting a relatively inexpensive scan tool, if it has a trans fluid temp function on it.

Beyond that I'd just be checking the dipstick during random driving.

It should be there. Even the Toyota/Lexus vehicles from the late 2000's had one.
Question is - will your scanner have the PID? A lot of lower end scanners have barebones functionality and the full data list may not be available.

 

[ToyotaLover67]

It should be there. Even the Toyota/Lexus vehicles from the late 2000's had one.
Question is - will your scanner have the PID? A lot of lower end scanners have barebones functionality and the full data list may not be available.

I bought the torque pro app, but it won't connect to the Fixd OBD2 device. It's likely set to only work with the Fixd app, so I'll purchase a decent OBD2 scanner that I know is made to function with the torque app. In the meantime I took my car out, and stopped after 15 minutes of stop and go city driving. Ambient tempt about 53F. Took the dipstick reading after stopping, was between the low, and high Hot indicators, a little above the low hot by 20 to 25%, so in the correct range.

Checked again when I got home, but this time I cycled through all the gears manually once, then shifted back into park, and checked. Was a bit below the lower hot indicator. By about 25%

Seems the level is in the safe operating range, but not quite dialed in. Seems to be very close though.

 

[Nesterenko]

Hello. I drive a 2012 Toyota Corolla LE.

I'm having some difficulty sussing out the correct level for my transmission fluid.

I've read online that you want to fill it, and check the level when the car is warm, not hot. Meaning you start it, and let it idle for 5-10 minutes.

Others say they simply drive it around for same amount of time, park, and check the level that way.

Both are markedly different in terms of the readings I get.

Idling for 10 minutes gets me a reading at the high cold mark.

Driving it around for a bit, parking, and then checking even after 20 seconds yields Full, while a minute or two, or five yields a reading of low high, which makes more sense in this regard, but is still far from the high to low cold point on the dipstick.

I need to know which method I should be relying on.

Checking it after 5 to 10 minute idling, or after 5 to 10 minutes driving it around.

Both yield drastically different readings.

Get it nice and hot by driving it around and make sure you run through the whole gammet of gears and reverse also. Park on level ground and engage P and handbrake. If you're not consistent with how long the stick stays in the filler tube then you'll get varied readings. I've found that in and out real quick does the trick. It works for me. P.S, watch your hands near the fan, engine is running and everything should be hot. Add fluid a little at a time, you don't want to Overfill! Good luck.