** Tundra spill & fill trans-service update
:
Did it last weekend! As previously mentioned, I had no service history on my '05 Tundra that was purchased used (now w/133K). But, when I pulled the drain plug, I was pleasantly surprised by the fluid still being quite pink and translucent. After it drained, I reinstalled the drain plug with a new aluminum washer and pulled the pan. The 4 magnets had very little ferrous "fuzz" - almost non existent - and virtually no metallic particles were on the "floor".
Using a bright flashlight, I peered inside the filter screen and saw that it was clean as a whistle - so I didn't even bother taking it off. So far so good!! I reused the old pan gasket and carefully torqued it in place with a small palm ratchet and prepared for the refill. Unlike what I had read on
toyotanation.com, the fill plug on my '05 Tundra 4x4 was on the
passenger side of the trans - in the
tailshaft, barely aft of the main case and centered vertically. It had a 22mm hex head and was o-ring sealed.
Next, I removed the "stand-pipe" (over-flow) plug from the bottom of the pan with a 5mm Allen wrench and then pumped in the entire gallon of MaxLife Dex/Merc full-synthetic ATF thru the fill port! I had read that it would take less than a gallon, but dropping the pan probably accounted for perhaps 1/2-quart more. So I got another gallon of ML (gonna do my Camry Hybrid's CVT tranny soon) and pumped in probably another 1/2 quart until the fluid began dribbling outta the overflow. I then reinstalled the fill plug.
Finally, I started the engine to warm up the trans fluid to the recommended 46°C (115°F). But, after about 15-20 mins, the temp stabilized at around 108° - as measured on the pan's surface with my infrared temp gun - and looked like it wasn't gonna go any higher. So, I pinched off one of the cooler hoses at the radiator with a pair of needle-nose ViseGrips and, before I knew it.....
VOILA - the temp had risen to 118°. Meanwhile, the fluid had begun expanding and probably about 1/4-1/2 cup had been expelled by the time the proper temp was reached. I then reinstalled the over-flow plug with a new aluminum gasket, removed the ViseGrips and I was done!
Total cost? About $20 (not counting the $9 I spent on the "gallon-jug" fluid pump), altho next time I'll probably pop for a new pan gasket. That's a pretty hefty savings over what I woulda paid for a
full flush at the local Toyota stealership (about $250-$300). I'll probably do one of these "ghetto flushes" about ever 30K from now on. I'm happy to report that the trans shifts exactly the same as it has since I purchased it.....which is to say, firm and precise. After reading the good results of many here who have used the MaxLife ATF ($16.97/gal @ Walmart) in place of the Toyota WS, I'm confident that my tranny will continue to
"Live Long & Prosper", lol.
C'ya - RAY