Originally Posted By: JethroBodine
Originally Posted By: supton
Oh come now. What's the point of using a filter element that can only be gotten to under the vehicle?
You mean like 90% of the vehicles out there? Like I said. I get a kick out of people who should never be working on cars and then think it is "unfair" when they have to get the proper tools for the job. However, most all trades require specialized tools. Plus, checking the ATF level on a Toyota trans is simple...if you have the correct tools and know what you are doing.
What can I say? The last 9 years I've been doing top-side oil changes on my VW. Once I started doing that, I've dreaded going back to having to crawl in the dirt.
Is checking the level that simple? Been a week or two since I read the proceedure. Off the top of my head:
-jumper two pins on the OBDII port together *OR* get a scan tool to monitor ATF temp.
-when the ATF is at 115F or thereabouts, and as long as the temperature is within a 7 degree F window (otherwise, let engine idle or cool until w/in this window):
-crawl under vehicle, remove check level bolt
-if the oil drips out, it is too low
-if it streams out, it is too high
-if the flow coming out is just right, then all is good.
-if you need to add oil, go find a hand pump to add via the fill hole, or find a tube to snake up into the engine bay, and of course watch out for hot exhaust.
I understand why Toyota did away with the dipstick, but that doesn't mean I agree with their decision to do so. Would any of us agree to no longer have an engine oil dipstick?