ATF and Diff

[ghost111]

I have a 1999 Camry LE V6 Auto.
I want to change the diff. fluid. Is this a matter of draining the diff. and refilling it from the auto trans filler tube and somehow by magic the new fluid finds it's way into the differential? Sorry to ask but the logistics here has me a little bit puzzled. THX

[Nervous]

If transmission on 99 V6 is the same (A541E) as on my 96 V6 (and I am 99% sure this is true) then NO. Diff has separate fill hole and you need to use something like a pump or big syringe to put 1 qt of ATF there. AdvanceAutoParts carries those syringes.

[ghost111]

Originally Posted by Nervous

If transmission on 99 V6 is the same (A541E) as on my 96 V6 (and I am 99% sure this is true) then NO. Diff has separate fill hole and you need to use something like a pump or big syringe to put 1 qt of ATF there. AdvanceAutoParts carries those syringes.

Judging from what I have read here the 99 is different from the 96

[Hajoca]

Two different drains.

Same filler.

If you plan on just changing the diff fluid, check fill level on trans dip stick, drain diff, clean magnet while your at it.
Refill trans, turn engine on and move shifter from P to L and back to P. Turn off and recheck level.

[73sport]

What ^ He said - well almost. . .

Let me say I've been there and seen that myself.

That is, I think the seal is shot between the diff and the trans and fluid goes where it wants to!

Why? When I drained the diff, it drained the trans too (I left the plug out for an hour). I filled the diff to spec and later the trans sucked it down. It is a A541E on 95 V6 machine.

IT SHOULD be two seperate holes with seperate drains and seperate levels. But mine are linked (the car people, not me) and f'g with one fluid level changes the other. So be advised that a low trans could burn up your diff!

I don't think toyo designed it this way, but thats how its been since 140,000 when I scratched my head the first time. Apparently just as you are doing now!

Cool undocumented feature, eh?

[bronzemaxell]

V6 1MZ-FE auto tranny has ATF filler tube, and ATF drain plug, it also has differential filler plug and differential drain plug.
ATF fluid and differential fluid are shared, my guess it is improvement over previous generation,
if you drain differential, you basically drain the ATF and differential together.
and just simply use atf filler tube to refill differential (which also includes ATF)

[JohnGD]

That's why I said this is the stupidest design I've ever seen. Just look at what confusion it's causing people. Then guess what, in newer transmissions no more separate differential drain plugs. However, IMO the newer Aisin U-series seem to be clunkers compared to the older A-series.

What happened was Toyota had a separate differential drain and fill. Then they decided to get rid of the fill plug on newer Aisin-Warner A541E transmissions. So the last years of production you'll use the dipstick tube to fill both the transmission and differential. But there are separate drains for the transmission and the differential.

[JohnGD]

So what kind of ATF are you using? Dino, blends, synthetic?

More and more D-III are synthetic blends these days. Walmart seems to be phasing out the quart-bottle dino D-III (~$2.77) and start going with synthetic blends (~$3.77). No more separate licensed Mercon-V that's also suitable for D-III and T-IV applications.

[ghost111]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

So what kind of ATF are you using? Dino, blends, synthetic?

More and more D-III are synthetic blends these days. Walmart seems to be phasing out the quart-bottle dino D-III (~$2.77) and start going with synthetic blends (~$3.77). No more separate licensed Mercon-V that's also suitable for D-III and T-IV applications.

Is it OK to mix the new ATF fluids with the old as long as they are both
D-111 compatible?

[cjchapar]

I'm going to replace my ATF with some royal purple stuff (Gabe's recommendation along w/ a trans cooler b/c I just put in a s/c).

Will mixing the royal purple ATF along with whats in there already cause any problems? or should I do that drain/flush thing in the DIY section where you unplug the inlet line to the radiator and drain the fluid from there.

If mixing them wont matter, I would gladly do that b/c this stuff is crazy expensive.

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by ghost111

Is it OK to mix the new ATF fluids with the old as long as they are both D-111 compatible?

Mixing in a blend, no problem...blends are already part dino, part synth. Mixing in straight synth will work, but you lose a good chunk of the benefit of a synth (better heat breakdown characteristics, mostly) if you blend it with a dino that's already in the tranny. Personally, I don't see a whole lot of benefit of running synth in a Camry tranny, unless you know you'll be doing something that might overheat the tranny more than normal. Heck, I've heard stories of shifting issues when going to straight synth, because the viscosity isn't close enough to the old Dex-III dino. Guess you can try it, 'tho -- each old tranny has it's own personality -- some are pickier than others.

[Nervous]

I use Mobil1 Synth ATF for 6 years already and have no a single issue with it.

[cjchapar]

Originally Posted by hill8570

Mixing in a blend, no problem...blends are already part dino, part synth. Mixing in straight synth will work, but you lose a good chunk of the benefit of a synth (better heat breakdown characteristics, mostly) if you blend it with a dino that's already in the tranny. Personally, I don't see a whole lot of benefit of running synth in a Camry tranny, unless you know you'll be doing something that might overheat the tranny more than normal. Heck, I've heard stories of shifting issues when going to straight synth, because the viscosity isn't close enough to the old Dex-III dino. Guess you can try it, 'tho -- each old tranny has it's own personality -- some are pickier than others.

Cool thanks , I guess I might go buy a few more quarts then...since i've already spent a lot, whats 2-3 more quarts. Don't wanna defeat the purpose of putting in the royal purple. Sorry for thread jacking, the OP had many similar questions that I had.....but yea I'm pretty sure the s/c on 5psi will put a lot more heat into the tranny.

[boochi101]

I am plannng to do Diff/Trans drain and refill on my 1999 CAMRY LE 4-CYL.

I know the drain plug washer for transmission fluid drain plug is M18 so I got one (synthetic M18 sold at Advance, no aluminium available).

Is there a washer required fro Diff fill and drain plugs? If so what is the size?

This is my first trans fluid drain/refill attempt. Do not wanted to waste lot of money on fluids so I got the Walmart Supertech D-III fluid. Is this OK fluid?

The Valvoline Maxlife trans fluid is about $20 for a 1 gal can. But I was scared to use it in 99 camry as it seems the fluid is compatible with a lot of specs one of which is off course D-III. There is a Castrol DEX/MERC also but the features seems nothing better then the SUpertech fluid.

How about using Mobil 1 ATF in the Diff alone as it is not shared with Transmission for this vehicle?

The transmission fluid has been changed regularly the last one being at 140K miles. The car has now 180K miles. No problems with trans. but I think it is engaging slightly hardly it seems to me.

TIA

[Hajoca]

Smear a dab of RTV is what I do.