Can engine be cranked and run without axles installed? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Rattlin_Steele · 04-22-2010, 02:44 PM

Would be keeping the transmission in park of course. Have searched on the subject without finding anything.

Vehicle is 97 Camry 5FSE 4cyl, automatic trans. Doing a motor swap and would like to crank up and run replacement engine a little to check things out before putting the axles in if possible. Pulling axles seemed to be one of the hardest things to do so far.

I know its not a very optimistic attitude, but I'm trying to make it easier if I end up having to pull the motor back out.

I'm pretty sure the transaxle has separate differential and transmission compartments. The transmission fluild level did not go down when I drained the differential.

Nervous · 04-22-2010, 02:52 PM

It will crank and run but it will pump out ATF from the axles' holes. Ask me how I know. If you run it for a few seconds it is not a problem, otherwise you might be at risk ruining your A/T or diff.

73sport · 04-22-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlin_Steele

Would be keeping the transmission in park of course.

I'm pretty sure the transaxle has separate differential and transmission compartments. The transmission fluild level did not go down when I drained the differential.

Having said they are seperate it should be OK. If it stays in park and the fluid level in the trans is at level. Should be OK.

I mean, I personally wouldn't like this. Lets say it gets in some kind of "engine rpm runaway" condition. With axles and brakes you can thow it into gear and control some of it! Even a bad dieseling condition could allow it sit and cough for an undertemined amount of time.

Do you have a big gun like 0.50 Cal? That should stop it! lol You might wanna stand back a bit. A good block or so....

But honestly, you should be fine. . .

73sport · 04-22-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous

It will crank and run but it will pump out ATF from the axles' holes. Ask me how I know. If you run it for a few seconds it is not a problem, otherwise you might be at risk ruining your A/T or diff.

Yes, I know our 1Mz's with the A541E's are connected. I don't know about the others. . . Mine would make a big @ss mess! but then again, it has stub axles too (no problammmo!)

Rattlin_Steele · 04-22-2010, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the input fellas.

I wouldn't mind understanding how there is fluid crossover if they're supposedly two separate compartments.

But I think the bigger issue is the one I wasn't thinking about... safety. Yes, there's a lot that could go wrong with car up on jack stands, the transmission being newly hooked back up, etc.

Thanks for those points and keeping me from doing something potentially stupid.

73sport · 04-22-2010, 05:10 PM

The 1mz A541E has seperate fills and seperate drains but I think the transaxel share a common vent in the differential area. I mean you can't seal a diff and not give it a vent as the pressure changes at different temperature and elavations plus fluid expands and contracts so they both need a vent.

The drawings I have don't show this well enough to give a solid answer so that is simply my best guess.

What I do know is I pulled the plug on the diff and it drained for like a day!

I thought. . . So I plugged it, filled it. Life is good right? Wrong! Chekced the dipper on the tranzzzzzz and sure as sheep jump fences it was low! They be connected either via vent, a bad seal, or desgin. It ainn't leaked any or burned up so who cares???