5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I just purchased a new 2010 Toyota with the new 2.5L engine and the 6 speed Auto Transmission. It runs great, and certainly has enough power from the I4 engine. My question is this. How do you check the oil level in the transmission? There is no dipstick that I can find. The owners and the Warranty & Maintenance Guide do not show any way to check the oil level. However, it does say in the Warranty & Maintenance Guide to check the Transmission oil every 30,000 miles, without saying how to do it. I hope it is a servicable transmission, and not a throw away if something goes wrong with it. It is a very smooth shifting transmission. When in the 6th speed, the tac is at 2,000 when going just over 65 mph. Thanks for your input on this question.
Last edited by siennavan; 03-16-2009 at 11:27 AM.
Reason: Spelling error
Thanks for your reply about the transmission oil. I also found out today the new 2.5L engine in my 2010 Toyota has to use 0W-20 Synthetic Only oil. The parts assistant manager called Toyota to ask what oil had to be used, because they did not carry conventional 0W-20 oil. That's when he was told about the 0W-20 Fully Synthetic oil requirement. The dealer does carry the fully synthetic oil under their own Toyota brand name for about $7.50 / Qt. Walmart carries Mobil 1 0W-20 for about $6.50 a quart.
I find it interesting the dealers know so little about the fluid requirements for their new 2010 vehicles, even as they are starting to appear for sale.
be wary of any "lifetime fill" fluid, i.e. toyotas' new ATF-WS transmission fluid. i have owned BMW's and Audi's in the past with lifetime fill tranny fluids which "do not need to be changed for the life of the vehicle" according to the manufacturers. a curious thing happens when you ask them what "lifetime" translates to in the way of mileage. they'll tell you it's 100k miles. for me, lifetime is driving the thing till it cost more to fix than buy a new one. what does it mean to you?
if you're in doubt just do an internet search about transmission failures in BMW and Audi vehicles with "lifetime fill" fluids.
personally i'll be changing the ATF in my 08 Camry 3.5 at about 50k intervals, it's cheap insurance for me. and the procedure is akin to draining and filling a manual tranny. fluid is $7 a quart from toyota.
as for oil change intervals, i use full synthetic 0w-30 or 5w-30 and change the oil at 10k and the oil filter at 5k intervals. 5w or 0w-20 is a pain to find and only gives you MARGINAL (at best) fuel economy gains at the expense of decreased engine life. the only reason these oils are used by toyota and other manufacturers is to comply with govt. CAFE standards.
the oil change interval per toyota is 5k/6mo
the reason toyota specifies synthetic 0w-20 is because you cannot make dino juice ( conventional oil ) a zero weight oil: 5w is about as thin as you can go with regular oil and have it remain stable for thousands of miles. check the shelves yourself and you will see that only full synthetics offer the option of a zero weight oil.
i second your sentiment on the smothness of the transmission and the low rpms at freeway speeds.
my V6 does 90mph at a little over 2,500 rpm and is giving me 28mpg average fuel economy with mostly highway driving.
Axxis makes a good point. Regardless of what the manufacturer states, "lifetime" claims don't circumvent the laws of physics. Sure you can go longer intervals with sythetic, but it's still going to break down over time. Just insist that the dealer do a trans fluid change at 60k. There is no law stating that you can over maintain your car. I'm still waiting for those pics btw.
I just purchased a new 2010 Toyota with the new 2.5L engine and the 6 speed Auto Transmission. It runs great, and certainly has enough power from the I4 engine. My question is this. How do you check the oil level in the transmission? There is no dipstick that I can find. The owners and the Warranty & Maintenance Guide do not show any way to check the oil level. However, it does say in the Warranty & Maintenance Guide to check the Transmission oil every 30,000 miles, without saying how to do it. I hope it is a servicable transmission, and not a throw away if something goes wrong with it. It is a very smooth shifting transmission. When in the 6th speed, the tac is at 2,000 when going just over 65 mph. Thanks for your input on this question.
I also just got a 2010 Camry LE with the new 6 speed tranny...the tranny is smooth in normal acceleration but I have a lot of downshifting when I am in stop and go or slow driving...have you noticed the erratic shifting when coasting or in stop and go driving? Otherwise, you are right it is very smooth on the open road and quiet...
I talked with the guy at the Toyota place about that...he said the new transmissions are totally "sealed" and don't have any owner servicable parts....including no "dipstick" to check the fluid level...they have to check it by putting it up on the rack I guess....sure hope it has a warning light or something if it were to get low on fluid or else it would suck to not know that and have no way to check it!!
I talked with the guy at the Toyota place about that...he said the new transmissions are totally "sealed" and don't have any owner servicable parts....including no "dipstick" to check the fluid level...they have to check it by putting it up on the rack I guess....sure hope it has a warning light or something if it were to get low on fluid or else it would suck to not know that and have no way to check it!!
Thanks for your effort. I do have a lift and there is a filler plug and the fluid can be checked through the same hole you replace the fluid. They just want you to bring it back to the dealer to be checked. Somebody out there knows where the plug is.
be wary of any "lifetime fill" fluid, i.e. toyotas' new ATF-WS transmission fluid. i have owned BMW's and Audi's in the past with lifetime fill tranny fluids which "do not need to be changed for the life of the vehicle" according to the manufacturers. a curious thing happens when you ask them what "lifetime" translates to in the way of mileage. they'll tell you it's 100k miles. for me, lifetime is driving the thing till it cost more to fix than buy a new one. what does it mean to you?
if you're in doubt just do an internet search about transmission failures in BMW and Audi vehicles with "lifetime fill" fluids.
personally i'll be changing the ATF in my 08 Camry 3.5 at about 50k intervals, it's cheap insurance for me. and the procedure is akin to draining and filling a manual tranny. fluid is $7 a quart from toyota.
as for oil change intervals, i use full synthetic 0w-30 or 5w-30 and change the oil at 10k and the oil filter at 5k intervals. 5w or 0w-20 is a pain to find and only gives you MARGINAL (at best) fuel economy gains at the expense of decreased engine life. the only reason these oils are used by toyota and other manufacturers is to comply with govt. CAFE standards.
the oil change interval per toyota is 5k/6mo
the reason toyota specifies synthetic 0w-20 is because you cannot make dino juice ( conventional oil ) a zero weight oil: 5w is about as thin as you can go with regular oil and have it remain stable for thousands of miles. check the shelves yourself and you will see that only full synthetics offer the option of a zero weight oil.
i second your sentiment on the smothness of the transmission and the low rpms at freeway speeds.
my V6 does 90mph at a little over 2,500 rpm and is giving me 28mpg average fuel economy with mostly highway driving.
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