Oops... added Dextron III to power steering - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***HomeGrown*** · 03-09-2007, 07:38 PM

I'm a moron. I was SURE I had Dextron II in my hands when I grabbed it off the shelf. I dumped a bunch of it (nearly 1/2 qt.) into my power steering resevoir on the wagon, whicn has a leak somewhere in the system. Then I look at the bottle and it says Dextron III. Manual says to use Dextron II.
The pump was making the typical loud whining noise. It did stop when I added the fluid, and it seems to work ok now. What peril lies ahead for having done this?
I'm just glad it was the beater wagon and not my "good" Camry.

Side note: I got the wagon insured yesterday and transfered into my name today. I drove it to work yesterday (70 miles one-way) and it did alright. Seems to have an exhaust leak somewhere up front, the power steering leaks, and the suspension (?) has a clunking noise in the rear. Horn doesn't work, radio sucks, and could use a new battery. Seems to start, run, drive, and stop good though. I'm not sure if I'm up to putting a lot of work & $$ into this car though, with 363k on the clock.

Mike Gerber · 03-09-2007, 07:49 PM

I believe Dextron III will be fine in all Dextron II applications. I encountered this when I first wanted to do a transmission drain and refill on my 94 Camry. The manual specified Dextron II, which was no longer available. Only Dextron III was now being sold. I called Toyota corporate and talked to customer service and they said it was ok to use Dextron III.

Mike

white90dx · 03-09-2007, 08:13 PM

Dexron III is superior to Dexron II in every way shape and form.

You did the RIGHT thing by putting the Dexron III in there.

Odd little tidbit: The stock Camry 4-cylinder 5-speed transmission uses Dexron II/III fluid. Very odd...

-Charlie

atobe · 03-09-2007, 08:15 PM

you had to put in dexon3 since they don't make dexon2 anymore

***HomeGrown*** · 03-09-2007, 08:17 PM

Whew!! Glad to hear that! Thanks for the good news.
Dextron II/III in a manual tranny?? I thought most manuals used some type of heavier gear lube.

Zandro · 03-10-2007, 06:58 AM

Yes most manual tranny's use normal (heavy) gear oil, but most Toyota's use ATF oil. I know first hand what happens if you put normal gear oil in a Camry tranny. I did an engine swap last winter and since i didn't have the right equipment to change the gearoil myself i got the local gas station to do it since they had a tranny flusher, i *specifically* told them that they where to use ATF oil, they probably thougt i was crazy and put normal tranny oil in anyways. I picked up my car later that day and drove home but noticed that the changing gears was a bit more difficult then before. The next morning i i started the car as usual and was about to drive to work, but it was almost impossible to get it in gear, i had to try 10 times before i actually got it in 1. gear, then i just knew that the bastards had put normal gearoil in it, i went right back to the gas station and personally watched them flush the tranny with ATF oil, and the tranny has been working like clockwork ever since (they had to do it free of charge)

Oops Little OT there

timebuilder · 03-10-2007, 07:51 AM

It's becoming commonplace to find oils other than gear oil in manual transmissions. I found this the first time I worked on a New Process brand transmission about 15 years ago. The reasoning may be that fluids like Dexron are so much better than they used to be, and are now capable of doing the job of gear oil while offering a lower viscosity.

Special note for those with Chryslers in the family: do not use anything but the Chrysler-specified, Chrysler-approved fluid. Talk to the dealer and get the spec number for the best practices fluid for your application, and put nothing else in that trans.

Mike Gerber · 03-10-2007, 09:03 PM

My 86 Camry DX 5 speed used Dextron II in the manual tranny, so Toyota has been using ATF in their manual transmissions for some time.

Mike

***HomeGrown*** · 03-10-2007, 09:22 PM

Wow, I've never heard of that before now. Seems to me that a low viscosity synthetic motor oil would offer better lubricating properties than ATF, which is primarily a hydraulic fluid that doesn't necessarily have good lubricating properties.

touringcamry · 03-10-2007, 10:30 PM

FYI, the newer Camry manual transmissions use 75W-90 gear oil , IIRC. I don't know when this change took place, but the 2AZ-FE Camrys (Gen 5 & 6 I4) use 75W-90.

Just thought I'd note this in case any of you have change the gear oil in newer Camry manual transmissions for some reason - ie helping a friend.

white90dx · 03-11-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringcamry

FYI, the newer Camry manual transmissions use 75W-90 gear oil , IIRC. I don't know when this change took place, but the 2AZ-FE Camrys (Gen 5 & 6 I4) use 75W-90.

Just thought I'd note this in case any of you have change the gear oil in newer Camry manual transmissions for some reason - ie helping a friend.

Yup. Same with the V6 manual transmission on the gen2 Camry, and the E153 tranny that is in my Camry now... (they use 75W90)

This is mostly a warning to check the owners manual before you change any fluids.

-Charlie

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-12-2007, 04:33 PM

Yes, checking the manual is always a good thing...when I first bought my Camry I was driving it home (with the temp permit on it) and I noticed a whine in the power steering...not having a manual handy I simply put power steering fluid in. Imagine my surprise when I later read that ATF was called for! It took about six months, but the leak that developed due to my error finally closed-up.