need help with transmission oil change - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

iidestined · 08-23-2007, 07:54 PM

Hi. I haven't posted in awhile. I need some help with changing the transmission foil. I drive an 05 camry le automatic. The engine has about 50k on it so I figured that it was time to change the transmission oil. I can't seem to find the spot where i refill the oil under the hood and i haven't tried to look where to drain it. so i came to ask for some help before i tried to do it on my own. Any help would be appreciated.

TRD VVTi · 08-23-2007, 08:03 PM

Drain it from the drain in the transmission pan. Fill it through the dipstick tube.

It's super easy. Just as easy as changing oil.

rt1jones · 08-24-2007, 01:01 AM

I wasn't paying too much attention when my dealer mentioned that there are some models where the tranny fluid is not supposed to be changed- it's supposed to be good for the life of the car. Can't remember which models though. Something to look into.

LNGasMan · 08-24-2007, 01:03 AM

I wouldn't drop the oil in the tranny at 50k. What was the reason you wanted to change it? Let it go til 90-120K unless you notice it's really dirty or has metal flakes in it.

liquidi3ladz · 08-24-2007, 02:49 AM

Whats the color of your tranny fluid?

ghettosled · 08-24-2007, 07:25 AM

i would change it after 50k miles.

drunken_panda · 08-24-2007, 08:53 AM

I waited until 150K miles on my 04, drained and filled, but it was still very dark so I ended up doing it again. Now it is nice and light.

As a side, why the hell is the dip stick dark color? Whats wrong with silver stainless steel? Same with the oil dip stick and the yellow plastic.

iidestined · 08-24-2007, 10:03 AM

thanks guys. you guys are a big help. i really didn't know what i was going to do. Ill check the dipstick and ill let you guys know

marc780 · 08-24-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

I can't seem to find the spot where i refill the oil under the hood and i haven't tried to look where to drain it. so i came to ask for some help before i tried to do it on my own. Any help would be appreciated.

Mine is a 2002 and has a dipstick so im just going by other peoples posts - but i think on the newer ones, haven't they eliminated the dipstick tube? (Good move, toyota

)
you were very smart not to drain the fluid before you found the refill point! You CAN change your fluid but theres an intricate process whereby the engine is run and the ATF fluid temp is measured and the level is determined by a second hole on the trans with some sort of instrument or tool.

I dont know the details, but its possible on your car there might not BE a dipstick. Please do a search for someones post that has done this to their car already -

Quote:

I wasn't paying too much attention when my dealer mentioned that there are some models where the tranny fluid is not supposed to be changed- it's supposed to be good for the life of the car. Can't remember which models though.

I dont believe em for a minute on this. The dealer, and toyota want to sell you another car. You and me, on the other hand, want to make our cars last forever. These goals kind of contradict each other, dont they? Which might explain the no-atf-change recomendation.
I have always changed the ATF in every car i owned that had one. And i've never had any trans repairs nor replaced a transmission. I change the ATF at 30,000 miles or so, regardless of what the dealer or even manufacturer says.

Mike Murrell · 08-24-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghettosled

i would change it after 50k miles.

I would change it at 20K.

The 100K BS that Toyota spouts is designed to sell cars. Popel lve heraing about reduced-cost-of-ownership.

If you buy a new car every 3-5 yeras - fine. Forget about changing it.

If you want to keep it for many years, a better maint. regime than what's in the owners manual will be required.

gdanaher · 08-24-2007, 03:49 PM

Just draining atf from the pan doesn't begin to address the volume of fluid in the torque converter and cooler. My old solution prior to 07 was to note when the fluid was beginning to turn. It was easy to disconnect one of the hoses connecting the AT to its cooler. Start the engine and let it pump out into a pan. Always looks nasty no matter what the dip stick looks like. Put the hose back and add a quart so it will pump and let it run for a few seconds so the new mixes with the old. Stop it and repeat the process. Run through the gears. Do this until the fluid coming out looks pretty red and clear, then fill it up. Took about three gallons to get it clean, but it did the job. Never had a hint of tranny problems.

marc780 · 08-24-2007, 04:10 PM

I wish to point that that you still gotta find the fill point before you try any of this. A Haynes manual (for your model year only, not an older one)might be of help.

iidestined · 08-24-2007, 04:46 PM

i found the atf dipstick so thats out of the way. i think this weekend, ill look under the car for the drain point. wish me luck.

edit: I think I forgot to mention that I already have some Mobil 1 synthetic atf. That would be fine right?

TRD VVTi · 08-24-2007, 10:01 PM

Does the dipstick say Type IV? If so, no you can't use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF because it's not Type IV approved.

Read your manual and the fluid container.

iidestined · 08-25-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

Does the dipstick say Type IV? If so, no you can't use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF because it's not Type IV approved.

Read your manual and the fluid container.

I looked in the manual and it doesn't tell me anything about the ATF. It only mentions the motor oil. But it did say on the dipstick that it doesn't need to be changed. I doubt that. The dipstick doesn't say anything about type, probably because "it doesn't have to be changed". So would it be save to use the mobil 1 synthetic ATF?