Toyota WS fluid

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Does anybody know or link to the real instructions on correct fill procedure for a a Toyota sealed tranny using the fill plug/overflow plug/operating temp technique???
It has been described for Tacomas but never for a Camry (2012-2014) such as mine. I am approaching 15k but would not want to do it unless I have real instructions.
 
I think I'll do a few drain and fills on the 2006 Lexus LS430 tranny this Spring with Maxlife... The dealer says its a sealed tranny and I know that is correct but does not mean that it does not need fresh fluid. I just think some new Maxlife syn ATF fluid will keep it working like it should. Smooth as silk. LOL...
 
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** 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.
cheers3.gif


C'ya - RAY
 
Hey, Burny - I didn't buy the washers from Toyota, I had 'em in my "washer drawer" (probably left over from some kinda gasket "kit").....SORRY! BTW - unlike at least one previous poster, I suggest NOT using copper washers. They're much harder and less-likely to seal well than the soft/malleable aluminum drain-plug washers used by Toyota, Honda and several other mfrs.
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C'ya - RAY
 
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Does anybody know or link to the real instructions on correct fill procedure for a a Toyota sealed tranny using the fill plug/overflow plug/operating temp technique???
It has been described for Tacomas but never for a Camry (2012-2014) such as mine. I am approaching 15k but would not want to do it unless I have real instructions.


I found this while going through the process of deciding if I wanted to do this myself or not...

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/104-5t...flush-pics.html

It doesn't appear to be a terribly difficult procedure, and if you use MaxLife it might cost $30 total to exchange all the fluid.

However, I'm juggling a few things right now and am choosing the convenience of dealership servicing to exchange the fluid in my 93k mile Camry which I assume has the original fluid. Shifting is a touch abrupt and there's an occasional flare (usually only when its cold). Cost will be $225, which I feel is reasonable. I'll report any difference in shift quality after the fluid exchange.
 
So I made the incorrect assumption that because I was at a Toyota dealership, they were going to use the house fluid. When I got my receipt I saw that they used BG universal ATF. BG says it's compatible, and as far as I can tell from searching it's good quality stuff. I think the biggest complaint I've read is that it's expensive... since I thought I was paying for the house fluid this is a wash for me. It looks like they gave me a better quality product for the same price.

The tech noted that the fluid coming out was tired looking, but nothing to be alarmed about.

Upshifts are improved, but nothing dramatic. Downshifts are very noticeably improved, when it kicks down on the highway for acceleration it's almost imperceptibly smooth. The torque converter also feels happier, starting from a stop is easier and smoother.

The one quirk I've noticed with this car is one noted by many others, which is a 3-4 shift flare when cold. Mine does this, but only once after putting the car in gear and driving off, it's not enough to cause worry and it only does it once. It's a quirk I can live with.

Also, I watched the tech working... it looked like he was basically performing the procedure as outlined in the URL I just posted. I assume he used a scan tool to pull fluid temp to set the level, but the actual draining and filling was the same process.
 
A taxicab owner buddy just replaced his ATF for the first time. Sienna 2013 at 192k miles. Runs fine as it did before. Bought new. One of those sealed AT units with no dipstick. He decided to go to a dealer for that. JFYI
 
Originally Posted By: Y_K
A taxicab owner buddy just replaced his ATF for the first time. Sienna 2013 at 192k miles. Runs fine as it did before. Bought new. One of those sealed AT units with no dipstick. He decided to go to a dealer for that. JFYI


Insane 192K in < 2yrs even for cabby -- is he still alive putting so many hours behind the wheel
 
Originally Posted By: MaximaGuy
Insane 192K in < 2yrs even for cabby -- is he still alive putting so many hours behind the wheel

He and his FIL operate it around the clock. And good cabbies don't sit in downtowns and airports, they are on the move.
 
I was at the Lexus dealership today, asked the Product Specialist ( who was a former Lexus Certified Master Tech for 8 years ) about having the transmission fluid changed in my '08 Lexus RX 350 with 81,000 miles. His response was " no need to change it until 100,00 miles, it's a full synthetic". I responded by telling him I was old school and didn't buy that. He called the service manager on speakerphone and asked about changing the fluid, the response, " no need to change until 120,000 miles, it's a full synthetic". I thanked him for his help and left ( I did check out the new RX before I left ). My RX has a complete service history by Lexus, the ATF has been changed 3 times already. One of the main reasons I bought the RX was the service history.

I spoke to the owner of a local independent transmission shop, he does T-Tech tranny flushes, is familiar with Lexus and Amsoil. Sounded very knowledgable, just laughed when I told him what the dealership said. He uses Amsoil in his personal vehicles and told me he would get some of the new Amsoil OE fuel efficient ATF for my RX. So that's where I'll have the ATF changed.

________________________________________________
2008 Lexus RX 350 Flint Mica/blk 81,000 miles
1998 Lexus SC 300 DWP/beige 144,000 miles
 
Originally Posted By: StevenR
I was at the Lexus dealership today, asked the Product Specialist ( who was a former Lexus Certified Master Tech for 8 years ) about having the transmission fluid changed in my '08 Lexus RX 350 with 81,000 miles. His response was " no need to change it until 100,00 miles, it's a full synthetic". I responded by telling him I was old school and didn't buy that. He called the service manager on speakerphone and asked about changing the fluid, the response, " no need to change until 120,000 miles, it's a full synthetic". I thanked him for his help and left ( I did check out the new RX before I left ). My RX has a complete service history by Lexus, the ATF has been changed 3 times already. One of the main reasons I bought the RX was the service history.

I spoke to the owner of a local independent transmission shop, he does T-Tech tranny flushes, is familiar with Lexus and Amsoil. Sounded very knowledgable, just laughed when I told him what the dealership said. He uses Amsoil in his personal vehicles and told me he would get some of the new Amsoil OE fuel efficient ATF for my RX. So that's where I'll have the ATF changed.



The advisor at the Toyota dealership I went to had also been a master tech prior to taking that job. He told a different story... I said "I have 93k miles and I want to get this done now" and his response was "good idea." After getting the fluid changed I asked him what his recommendation for change interval was and he said 80k at most, preferably closer to 50k than that.

That might be on the aggressive side, but the recommendation might be born from living in south Texas, a very hot environment that probably isn't too easy on transmission fluid.
 
LOL, probably those guys at StevenR $tealership are hoping that by delaying the change of fluid will contribute to a earlier failure so they can sell him a new car. Wouldn't surprise me in the least that is how most $tealerhips operate today. They don't give a [censored] about the customer.

When a customer inquires about fluid changes on a luxury car even if the manufacturer says longer intervals, the SW and manager should have explained the mfr's recommendations but then been more than happy to have the customer pay good cash to have that work done. What a stupid $tealership!!!!
 
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