Does A541E Transaxle Exchange Fluid with Differential?

[Techniker]

I have heard conflicting reports that the A541E transmission on my 1995 Camry V6 XLE (1MZ-FE engine) exchanges fluid with the differential. However, the FSM states that the differential should be drained and filled separately. I am going to attempt this tomorrow. Do these units share fluid or not? Should I even bother to drain and refill the differential since I did a shadetree flush about a week ago?

Thank you in advance,
Techniker

[jon1000]

I know my 2000 V6 LE has separate drain plugs for both, but there is no place to put fluid in the differential. The Toyota dealer told me they are shared, but they drain from both plugs.

If your differential has a location to fill it, I would drain some of the fluid and check the condition. If you just drained and refilled the Tranny, it will be pretty apparent if the fluid is new or not.

[chronoti]

yes the differential is separate, then gen 1 a541e trans doesnt have a passage to the main trans the gen2 (97+) does but it needs to drained as well but fills off the main trans, yours will have to be filled through the same drain hole.

[73sport]

95 V6 1MZ A541E:
Did a trans flush yesterday and YES, "IT" rapidly exchanged fluid. If you want the fluid out of the diff, you need to pull the diff plug!

In my case, I dumped the tranny fluid, then pulled the diff plug and dumped it. Started engine for 15 seconds let more out of trans. Added two qts to the trans, started it for a min, added two more qts (forgot to start it). Then pulled the fill plug on the DiFF. Oppsee, not starting it - it poured about 1.5qts out the top of the Diff FILL hole as I fumbled to get the plug in! . Topped off the tranny.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by Techniker

I have heard conflicting reports that the A541E transmission on my 1995 Camry V6 XLE (1MZ-FE engine) exchanges fluid with the differential. However, the FSM states that the differential should be drained and filled separately. I am going to attempt this tomorrow. Do these units share fluid or not? Should I even bother to drain and refill the differential since I did a shadetree flush about a week ago?

Thank you in advance,
Techniker

Off topic, but why do you have log-on names?

[Techniker]

Thanks 73sport. So I suppose, armed with this new information now, that there is no reason to drain the differential now since I flushed the transmission several hundred miles ago. I am willing to bet that simple diffusion alone should be enough to exchange most of that old fluid with the new fluid I put in the transmission. The only reason I can imagine to drain it now would be if there were any sludge/varnish/metal scrapings that have settled to the bottom, but not finding any of this when I dropped the transaxle pan, I don't see the reason to do so. What do you think?

I don't quite understand your question.

Thanks again!

[73sport]

Originally Posted by Techniker

Thanks 73sport. So I suppose, armed with this new information now, that there is no reason to drain the differential now since I flushed the transmission several hundred miles ago. I am willing to bet that simple diffusion alone should be enough to exchange most of that old fluid with the new fluid I put in the transmission. The only reason I can imagine to drain it now would be if there were any sludge/varnish/metal scrapings that have settled to the bottom, but not finding any of this when I dropped the transaxle pan, I don't see the reason to do so. What do you think?

I don't quite understand your question.

Thanks again!

This post from:
CCMphysician
New TN User

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 19

Originally Posted by CCMphysician

I am inclined to just give up on the car, if it weren't for the problem that I have no other choice. Here is the most recent history of my vehicle:

-2 CV boot replacements (separate axles)
-Water pump had to be replaced
-Rack and pinion had to be replaced

And now, it looks like this transmission is on its final leg. The problem used to only appear every 400-500 miles, now it appears every 150 miles. We tried a "heroic" intervention with a DIY transmission flush, but I think ultimately it was in vain. Now I am off to plead with my grandparents to buy a new transmission...

Thank you for your help,
Techniker

On the trans issue, I figure if your're there, I'd dump it. Its just a plug.

[TierOneSupplier]

Here's a post from a Toyota Tundra site I'd stumbled across when researching the transmission in our '98 Sienna. In the linked post, note that they're discussing the A541E transmission.

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...al-drain-fill/

The A541E was installed in V6 Camrys. It does have a separate drain for the differential, but the fresh fluid is poured into the dipstick tube. In other words, and addressing your question directly, the transmission does exchange fluid with the differential. This is in contrast to the 4-cylinder Camrys of that time period; those cars' differentials are drained and filled separately.

[73sport]

Too Funny. I posted this same question in 2006 in this thread.

10-08-2006, 12:04 PM
Neep Your Opinion, Diff to Full, trans Low A541E
Neep Your Opinion, Diff to Full, trans Low A541E

[Techniker]

Interesting. I guess I will not fool with it then. Since the differential has never been drained before, I am afraid of the condition of the drain plug.

To answer your question about two different usernames: I was having internet trouble last night and used a different computer which had an old username that I had forgotten the password to.

[TierOneSupplier]

Originally Posted by 73sport

Too Funny. I posted this same question in 2006 in this thread.

10-08-2006, 12:04 PM
Neep Your Opinion, Diff to Full, trans Low A541E
Neep Your Opinion, Diff to Full, trans Low A541E

That is funny! And did you notice that Chronoti chimed in on both posts, too?

Techniker--I agree with your decision to not bother draining via the differential's drain plug. I vaguely remember reading where someone had trouble getting that baby to let loose and he'd wished he'd left it alone. And while I know our '98 has a different transmission (the '98 Sienna has the A540E), less than a quart is left in the differential after the main drain plug is opened. Since the fluid circulates throughout the entire assembly, you won't be hurting much if you don't open the differential drain plug. At least that's the path I took when I did a drain & fill (with filter replacement) last winter.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by Techniker

Interesting. I guess I will not fool with it then. Since the differential has never been drained before, I am afraid of the condition of the drain plug.

To answer your question about two different usernames: I was having internet trouble last night and used a different computer which had an old username that I had forgotten the password to.

Its like 10mm hex. Why not dump it if its never been done before? It'll fill itself from the trans , but CHECK the level for peice of mind. Its 17mm hex cap.. Remove that little air cube from the intake air hose and you plenty of room to move wrench or rachet on the fill plug.

FWIW: If you can't get enough leverage on it, simply put a 10mm wrench on hex driver.

[islandboy57]

I've never drained the differential, not sure if the shop my mom used to take the gen 3.5 to before ever did. I started maintaining her car a while ago and have stuck to draining and refilling the ATF ever year or two just like mine.

[73sport]

I could be mistaken here, but it seems the only time it fills the differential is when the trans gets overfilled. So my thinking is the fluid is likely trapped and remains mostly independent (stagnent once in the diff).

I'd pull the plug and drain the differential fluid. Any small particals will jeopardize the life of the bearings and seals resulting in fluid leaks if nothing else. It does have a magnet so this reduces the chance of those happening, but if your trans fluid is burned or contaminated, this gets more of it out.

[fenixus]

sad truth is that most shops (even dealers) will not even touch the differential when doing tranny drain & refill or flush. happened to me (A140E tranny) at local dealership even though i paid $200 for a complete tranny flush and diff fluid change - asked them twice (before and after) to make sure they did, both times i was lied about it. all they did to diff was rounding the 10mm bit part of filler plug (had to use 17mm socket to remove it myself).

truth surfaced when i drained diff myself a few weeks ago, was black at first then dark brown and stinky, the magnet plug was showing lots of metal particles. funny to say, but i also noticed after the diff fluid change now my car accelerates faster.