Help: does 1999 camry xle v6 have separate differential filling inlet?

[fengleim]

I had my transmission and differential fluid changed today for my 1999 camry xle v6 ( 70K miles now) , and the mechanic did not find the filling inlet for differential. we looked around the differential , did not find the similar thing as the outlet.

he drained both transmission and differential ( they have different drain outlet). He was not sure about whether the differential should have its own filling inlet.

my car was a little overfilled ( 1 cm above hot line) previously. This time the mechanic drained total about 4 quarts of old fluid (differential fluid still reddish , but transmission fluid is kind of brown), and put in about 3.7-3.8 ( he estimated) and reached the hot mark.

did he fill the differential ? I am a little worried. Is the differential empty or not?

thank you very much for your help.

[pmesfun]

The differential and transmission share the same chamber. So any fluid that goes into the transmission fills the differential also.

[fengleim]

I am still confused: if that is the case, why the differential has a separtate drain outlet? and obvioiusly draining from transmission outlet did not get rid of the fluid in the differential

Originally Posted by pmesfun

The differential and transmission share the same chamber. So any fluid that goes into the transmission fills the differential also.

[JohnGD]

Originally the A540 series had separate drains/fills for the transmission and differential portions. In later A541s for some reason Toyota decided to do away with the differential fill and make the dipstick tube the common fill tube for both the transmission and differential. Just like the two chambers of the master cylinder reservoir, they're still separate internally.

It's a silly design that's all. Newer Aisin U-series clunkers use single fill/single drain like they're supposed to.

Originally Posted by fengleim

I am still confused: if that is the case, why the differential has a separtate drain outlet? and obvioiusly draining from transmission outlet did not get rid of the fluid in the differential

[cf99]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

...and make the dipstick tube the common fill tube for both the transmission and differential. Just like the two chambers of the master cylinder reservoir, they're still separate internally.

I guess that explains why fengleim's diff fluid was still red but the tranny fluid was dark (i.e. they are connected for filling, but they don't intermix during operation because they are separate "reservoirs" (right?))

So, when draining the tranny fluid (pan only) multiple times, at say 500 mile intervals (if it was slightly dark on the first drain), there's no point draining the diff fluid (if it was red to start with) except the first time. Is that right?

[JohnGD]

Right on.

Depending on driving condition, you can even drain/refill the differential every other transmission drain.

For OP - instead of using dino fluid (unless you want to), do consider Walmart's SuperTech Mercon-V that's more shear stable. Or Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF. Of course there is always Mobil-1 fully synthetic or other boutique ATFs. All these are D-III suitable.

Originally Posted by cf99

I guess that explains why fengleim's diff fluid was still red but the tranny fluid was dark (i.e. they are connected for filling, but they don't intermix during operation because they are separate "reservoirs" (right?))

So, when draining the tranny fluid (pan only) multiple times, at say 500 mile intervals (if it was slightly dark on the first drain), there's no point draining the diff fluid (if it was red to start with) except the first time. Is that right?

[deadrx7conv]

You drain the diff EVERY time to get more old ATF out of the system. The V6 diff shares ATF with the transmission. They DO intermix.

The 4-cyl has a fill plug and diff is independent.

[LynchburgCSI]

I always have trouble remembering with auto trannies are which setup. None the less, I always do my differential and transmission (and transfer case, in the case of the big red beast in my sig) at the same time. You're already under the car, so you might as well.

[fenixus]

well, as far as I know, the common fill for trans and differential on A541E ends just after filling. The fluids are not supposed to intermix much (or at all with proper level) during operation.

I had old dark red fluid in transmission on first drain after purchase, however the differential drain was crystal clear red.

[deadrx7conv]

Common fill? That means they share the same fluid.

How do you not overfill the differential?

What happens when you goose the gas pedal or stomp on the brakes? Fluid move around a bit?

What happens when hot fluid expand or cold ATF contracts?

There is no magic valve keeping the diff and trans separate.