Epic Fail - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JediCheese · 11-06-2010, 10:05 PM

I think (ok, I know) that I put about half a quart of engine oil into the transmission.

I then drove home for about 30 minutes and when I got home I checked online to see I did it right and it would seem I didn't.

So a few questions:
1) How do I solve my newly made problem? Will having the transmission fluid changed at the shop work?
2) How immediately do I need to have this solved? Do I need to claim car trouble, miss part of work, and have this done immediately or will it hold until Monday (after I commute on Sunday)?

Chris Crash · 11-06-2010, 10:20 PM

I would flush it immediately. It might be ok, but I wouldn't risk it...

JediCheese · 11-06-2010, 10:34 PM

I was planning on going to a place like Valvoline, but it would seem they flush it just pressing transmission fluid through the lines. Is that enough or should I go find a transmission place (or go to the dealer?).

***Zembonez*** · 11-06-2010, 10:35 PM

A flush should be good enough.

ycartf · 11-06-2010, 10:35 PM

I would change it out immediately. You can pick some ATF up and do it yourself. I drain out whatever will come out of the drain plug every time I change the oil (which keeps it relatively new all the time). Our Camry usually drains out about 2 qts when I remove the drain plug (10mm Allen/hex head bolt). It holds about 6 qts, so each time you drained - refilled - ran it a few minutes through all gears - and repeated, it would renew 33% of the fluid. Each time you do it, you diminish the persentage of old fluid (and engine oil) in it. Since you only put 1/2 qt in it, you only have about 8% "oil" in it right now. Draining - refilling - running will give you the following percentages for each time you do it:

1st - 33% "new" ATF - 62% "old" ATF - 5% "oil"
2nd - 55% "new" ATF - 41.4% "old" ATF - 3.6% "oil"
3rd - 70% "new" ATF - 27.6% "old" ATF - 2.4% "oil"
4th - 80% "new" ATF - 18.4% "old" ATF - 1.6% "oil"
5th - 87% "new" ATF - 12% "old" ATF - 1% "oil"

So with 5 changes you can get almost all of the engine oil out without popping the pan. Removing the pan will yield a higher drain amount and faster removal percentages, but requires a lot more work if you're unfamiliar with car repairs/maintenance.

HTH

Edit - A small percentage of oil remaining should not be a big problem.

***fenixus*** · 11-06-2010, 10:39 PM

I would go to a local reputable shop for a power flush, they will use a pressure machine connected to cooler lines and pressure flush the transmission with like 12qts of fresh fluid. one hour and done. it will cost you though.

JediCheese · 11-06-2010, 10:43 PM

Just to make sure I did this wrong and am not going to spend $100-150 on something I don't need, the dipstick in the front part of the engine is for the transmission? The engine oil dipstick is hidden behind the top of the engine and off to the left side?

***fenixus*** · 11-06-2010, 10:46 PM

tranmission dipstick is red and on right from engine (it's veeery long) while engine oil dipstick is yellow and usually on left (when standing in front of hood) and is relatively short.

besides the tranny dipstick says Dexron-II (or Dexron-III) on the back, it's the name of generic fluid type Toyota factory used.

where did you pour that engine oil, through the transmission filler neck (where the dipstick goes) ?

JediCheese · 11-06-2010, 10:56 PM

Yep, I definitely poured it into the transmission filler neck for the transmission.

*sigh*

71Corolla · 11-07-2010, 12:44 AM

The amount you put in is not enough to do any damage IMO, you didn't drive the car enough. But you absolutely must flush out the transmission properly to get all the engine oil out.

SexieWASD · 11-07-2010, 05:59 AM

Just for future reference, you do not fill the engine oil through the dip stick, there is an oil cap on the valve cover for doing that.

I'm not sure which motor you have, but this should help you.

reluctantmechanic · 11-07-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediCheese

Yep, I definitely poured it into the transmission filler neck for the transmission.

*sigh*

don't beat yourself up, you made an honest mistake. A friend I go to the track with once poured coolant into his crankcase of his M3...destroying the engine immediately.

please keep us posted on how it turns out, and good luck!

94PrizmDD · 11-07-2010, 06:13 AM

Do it yourself and while your at it just replace your transmission filter and gasket. Ive heard alot of bad things about those machines that cycle new transmission fluid into the tranny, they move metal particles already in your tranny and move it thru your transmission causing it to potentially cause more damage in the future. I just drain and fill but everyone has their opinion. (That's how the transmission kit looks) Clean out those magnets retaining all the metal particles and put them back into the pan. The way i see it might as well do the job all the way, now that you have the chance.

http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/...ek+Google+Base

JediCheese · 11-07-2010, 09:28 AM

Thanks for all the help. I think I'll most likely end up having the transmission flushed at Valvoline today before work. I have a feeling that Valvoline won't be able to drop the pan and do everything that is required so I may have to take it into the dealership tomorrow (or talk to a coworker that does auto repairs and see if eh can do it).

I hope I didn't bork the car. I just put $2000 worth of repairs into it a few months ago in the hopes I would get another 50k miles out of it (I have 195k on it already so I figure 250k miles isn't a bad goal).

ycartf · 11-07-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediCheese

I just put $2000 worth of repairs into it a few months ago in the hopes I would get another 50k miles out of it (I have 195k on it already so I figure 250k miles isn't a bad goal).

That is a reasonable expectation. Our 1997 Camry has 195K mi on it and she shows no signs of being "over the hill" by any means. I fully expect at LEAST another 100K mi out of her without anything big coming up. But I do maintain it well too lol.