High transmission fluid

[TCam01]

ok so i finally recently checked my transmissions fluid the correct way and it was filled way past the hot line as is suspected i have noticed some odd transmission shifting which is scaring me. The funny part is that it was the dealership that did the fluid change Does anyone know how i could drain it to the hot line? there is no reason to replace it because the fluid has only about 5k miles on it? thanks everyone

[93celicaconv]

I don't know about yours, but some automatics have drain plugs in the transaxle pan. You should look if you have this. That would make it pretty easy to do. Otherwise, the only opion I can think of, besides dropping the pan, would be to remove the fluid line going to the radiator, and start the engine for a couple of seconds to pump some out.

But if I were you, I would take it back to the dealer and advise them that you found they overfilled the transmission and ask them to correct it. It won't cost you anything (their mistake), and you won't even have to get dirty!

[uibalnme]

Did you check the level with the engine running? You have to check the level with the engine running, and after a few miles of driving so the fluid is at operating temp.

[flyeri]

Put a clean clear container under the drain plug. clean the entire drain area and loosen the drain plug with a 10mm allen wrench. Do not remove it but loosen it enough to get a small stream running out and drain about 1/2 quart into the container. Tighten the plug, start the engine, and check the fluid again. If you need to drain more do so and if you find you drained a little too much add some back. If you completely drain the pan it will take only about 3 qts to refill. Check you specs for exact amount. My 1995 I4 auto takes about 2.6 qts to refill after a drain.

[zq_frank]

Originally Posted by TCam01

ok so i finally recently checked my transmissions fluid the correct way and it was filled way past the hot line as is suspected i have noticed some odd transmission shifting which is scaring me. The funny part is that it was the dealership that did the fluid change Does anyone know how i could drain it to the hot line? there is no reason to replace it because the fluid has only about 5k miles on it? thanks everyone

I am really confused this part. My car is 99 camry v6. The mark on the trans fluid stick seems not correct.
I found it is strange. If you fill the trans fluid according the mark on stick, it is really not enough.
In my user manual, it says the drain and refill should take 4.75 liter trans fluid, but if you did that, the fluid level will much higher than max hot level on the stick. I asked so many people and technicians, but still can not get a clear answer. Based on my experience, the 4.75 liter drain and refill is correct, you can fill the trans goes much better and smoother.

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by zq_frank

I asked so many people and technicians, but still can not get a clear answer.

Really? Because it's very simple, the fluid in the torque converter doesn't drain out, so you will never be able to do a complete drain of the unit, plus the drain plug is higher than the lowest point in the pan, so not all the fluid comes out. Depending on the car, the fluid specs may be listed as total capacity, and drain and fill capacity.

But the correct amount of fluid is what the dipstick tells you. If it was me and a shop put in too much fluid, I would inform them but not go back, such a basic thing to get right and they can't do it? Some shops will drain from the pan, and fill the "recommended" amount which is not 100% accurate. It takes more time to do it the proper way, fill and check the level, not just fill and forget.

The mark on the trans fluid stick seems not correct.

The dipstick is 100% correct.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by TCam01

ok so i finally recently checked my transmissions fluid the correct way and it was filled way past the hot line as is suspected i have noticed some odd transmission shifting which is scaring me. The funny part is that it was the dealership that did the fluid change Does anyone know how i could drain it to the hot line? there is no reason to replace it because the fluid has only about 5k miles on it? thanks everyone

honestly ... i think techs at the dealership are ass holes in most cases. i just checked tranny fluid level in mine after local driving and then shifting gears in parking lot and found the fluid level to be above the HIGH HOT mark as well by around 4/5 of an inch (don't ask me how i come up with this number LOL).
they did the complete flush (including diff drain & refill) in Sep '09 10k miles ago... somehow i never checked on them... anyways i was planning to drain both and refill soon regardless, so will fix it soon.

there is a drain plug in the transaxle pan, you can use a hex bit ratchet on that (or allen wrench) to drain from there or as suggested above you can unplug the return tranny cooler line from radiator and let some flush out after starting the engine. either one is a little messy hehe in its own way

[flyeri]

I put in too much when I first changed mine. I drained it into a tank at my friends shop so I had no idea how mcuh came out. I put in the 4 qts or whatever it call for in the owners manual. Much to my surprise it was way too much. By this time it had run for a few minutes to warm up. I simply drained it all again. Then I added 2 qts, cranked it up and let it warm up. When I saw it was low I added about 1/2 qt and then just a few more ounces and it was at the top of the "hot " range. Go by the stick, not the owners manual.

[fenixus]

one thing worries me (again). when i was checking fluid level i noticed it got almost colorless, looking like it was transparent instead of red, WTF ? did the dealer used different kind of ATF or my tranny causes somehow fluid to loose color in as little as 10k miles ?

TCam01, what color is your tranny fluid after recent flush at the dealer ? did they use red one or something clean & clear ?

[ajkalian]

Well, FWIW, here's how I do it. I've got a 2000 LE cyl. I drain the motor oil every 3,000 miles. Every 15,000 miles, or every 5 oil changes, I drain the transmission fluid since I'm under there draining the oil. Just slide the container over a foot or so, and drain the transmission. Many thanks to the Toyota engineers that put a drain plug in the transmission, so you don't have to drop the pan to drain the oil.

While I'm at it, I use a turkey baster to suck out the power steering fluid (really transmission fluid) out of the plastic reservoir and refill it with transmission fluid.

For the trans drain and fill, I buy 3 quarts of Castrol Multi Import Transmission fluid. After I drain the trans fluid out, I put in 2 of the 3 quarts. Then I put the funnel and a rag in the trunk and head off to lunch. I get lunch, find a flat spot to park, and leave the motor running. When I'm done with lunch, I open the hood, pull the transmission dipstick, wipe it off and stick it back in, pull it out and check the level. Add more transmission oil as necessary.

One of the problems in getting an accurate reading is you have to have the transmission running. Well the oil gets all over the dip stick tube, and some dumbo at Toyota thought it would be a good idea to put a bend in the tube as it goes into the transmission so it would be impossible to insert and remove the dipstick without getting some oil on it, and screwing up the readings. So by parking it for a while and leaving the motor running the oil will drain out of the dipstick tube, and then you can get a clear and accurate reading when you insert and remove the dipstick.

You can do it in your driveway, but if you do it while you eat lunch, you can wipe off the dipstick with one of the napkins they give you with lunch and you can get a pretty good visual of the condition of the transmission fluid. White napkins are lots better visually than old greasy shop towels for sure.

[fenixus]

you know, checking trans fluid color at night with flashlight and on blue shop towel was not the best idea
will check again in morning on white paper napkin ... haha

i think i will drain that crap out of there tomorrow anyways. dip stick was not lying, i triple checked it on idling engine, always above hot high notch.

just in case anybody needs, always a good source of knowledge:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/atf.htm

[TCam01]

ill have to recheck the fluid again tommorrow i cant remeber 100% but im pretty sure it was red

[fenixus]

heh, lucky you

i can't understand why my tranny turns the red fluid into clear one ... everything works good (i think).
changing fluid tomorrow. will keep observing, if it does it again, i'm dropping the pan.

in case anybody needs a color & odor diagnosis on tranny fluid, interesting info here:
http://dstransauto.com/2009/07/16/re...mission-fluid/

[JohnGD]

So did you ever take it back to the dealer and let them fix it? It's too bad you paid dealership rates for shoddy work, but it happens all too often.

Originally Posted by TCam01

ill have to recheck the fluid again tommorrow i cant remeber 100% but im pretty sure it was red