Differential oil change

[whoisthis]

i need t change differential oil change on my 05 camry l4.
Does this car drain differential fluid with transmission? or do they drain separately? what differential oil is good for this car? synthetic??

thx

[johnfrisco]

Me thinks it is way too soon to change differential oil. How many miles you got?

[whoisthis]

Originally Posted by johnfrisco

Me thinks it is way too soon to change differential oil. How many miles you got?

around 90000 miles. i Bought this car used. i dunno if the previous owners changed the oil or not but even if they DID right before they sold the car to us, it's like 10000 miles ago. i think...

[iconman]

I know for a fact that 2002-04 2AZ-FE Camry doesn't have a separate differential oil housing, it drain with the transmission. I'm sure your 05 is the same.

[whoisthis]

Originally Posted by iconman

I know for a fact that 2002-04 2AZ-FE Camry doesn't have a separate differential oil housing, it drain with the transmission. I'm sure your 05 is the same.

o..no..lol.

so i'm guessing there's 2 drain plugs and 1 filling on the front differential.
what kinda oil do i have to put in?? and how much?

thx

[johnfrisco]

Originally Posted by whoisthis

o..no..lol.

so i'm guessing there's 2 drain plugs and 1 filling on the front differential.
what kinda oil do i have to put in?? and how much?

thx

No it's the same drain plug. You replace your trannsy fluid--you replace your differential fluid. Even on cars with a separate drain you always fill with transmission fluid.

Your Camry takes Type 4 Toyota transmission fluid.

[whoisthis]

Originally Posted by johnfrisco

No it's the same drain plug. You replace your trannsy fluid--you replace your differential fluid. Even on cars with a separate drain you always fill with transmission fluid.

Your Camry takes Type 4 Toyota transmission fluid.

how come u don't use gear oil. i didn't know differential can take transmission oil. how much do i have to put in for both transmission and differential?
i heard someone saying dextron lll(?) is used for oil.

[Asteroid]

As it's a fwd auto transaxle, it's designed to have a common fluid for both the transmission section and the differential. Using auto trans fluid in gearboxes is nothing unusual, you'll find most power steering racks also use auto trans fluid. Even some manual transmissions specify auto fluid (old Land Rovers come to mind).

Have your auto serviced.

[whoisthis]

Originally Posted by Asteroid

As it's a fwd auto transaxle, it's designed to have a common fluid for both the transmission section and the differential. Using auto trans fluid in gearboxes is nothing unusual, you'll find most power steering racks also use auto trans fluid. Even some manual transmissions specify auto fluid (old Land Rovers come to mind).

Have your auto serviced.

could u give me a few brands of trans oils?

[JohnGD]

The 07+ Aisin U-250E transmission requires Toyota Type WS ATF. So no real choice. The pre-2007 U-250E can use Toyota T-IV, which is dino Mobil 3309 ATF. I'd change out the filter with a pan drop. Cleanliness and fluid accuracy are important.

Double check your manual for ATF type. But these should be good choices:

Mobil-1 Fully Synthetic ATF (new formulation suitable for Mobil 3309, aka Toyota T-IV).

Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic ATF (T-IV, WS)

Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF (T-IV).

Walmart SuperTech synthetic blend Mercon-V (T-IV). Not all Mercon-V can be used.



Just don't put anything unless the bottle says "suitable for".

[whoisthis]

[quote=JohnGD;3069316]The 07+ Aisin U-250E transmission requires Toyota Type WS ATF. So no real choice. The pre-2007 U-250E can use Toyota T-IV, which is dino Mobil 3309 ATF. I'd change out the filter with a pan drop. Cleanliness and fluid accuracy are important.

quote]

wait...what do u mean by change out the filter with a pan drop. I thought all you have to do for changing gear oil is drain and refill. My car is 05 camry l4.

Is there no gear oil that suits for ATF instead of ATF suiting for gear oil also?

[JohnGD]

A lightbulb went on at Toyota, and they realized a strainer is not enough. So they put in a filter that looks like the following. A $20 kit:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=478465

No, drain/refill is not going to wipe the pan and change out the filter. I'd do it every 30K miles, or 15K miles if you're mechanically inclined and can do it yourself.

Toyota started using ATF to lube both the transmission and differential like everyone else has done. Some say to avoid cross contamination with gear oil.

2005 Aisin U-250E stills specs T-IV (relabeled dino Mobil-3309). Don't know if a TSB switch them to WS however. So besides the T-IV or Mobil-3309, a synthetic blend like the Castrol Import or Supertech Mercon-V would be better alternatives you can consider other then OEM dino fluids. Of course you can always go fully synthetic with Mobil-1 (new formulation only) or Valvoline MaxLife.

I think Toyota realized they needed a synthetic replacement (not sure if WS is a syn-blend or not) for the dino T-IV. Most aftermarket WS-suitable ATFs (for 2007+) will have thicker viscosity at the low temp end. But in warmer regions that shouldn't be a problem.

Originally Posted by whoisthis

wait...what do u mean by change out the filter with a pan drop. I thought all you have to do for changing gear oil is drain and refill. My car is 05 camry l4.

Is there no gear oil that suits for ATF instead of ATF suiting for gear oil also?

[whoisthis]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

A lightbulb went on at Toyota, and they realized a strainer is not enough. So they put in a filter that looks like the following. A $20 kit:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=478465

No, drain/refill is not going to wipe the pan and change out the filter. I'd do it every 30K miles, or 15K miles if you're mechanically inclined and can do it yourself.

Toyota started using ATF to lube both the transmission and differential like everyone else has done. Some say to avoid cross contamination with gear oil.

2005 Aisin U-250E stills specs T-IV (relabeled dino Mobil-3309). Don't know if a TSB switch them to WS however. So besides the T-IV or Mobil-3309, a synthetic blend like the Castrol Import or Supertech Mercon-V would be better alternatives you can consider other then OEM dino fluids. Of course you can always go fully synthetic with Mobil-1 (new formulation only) or Valvoline MaxLife.

I think Toyota realized they needed a synthetic replacement (not sure if WS is a syn-blend or not) for the dino T-IV. Most aftermarket WS-suitable ATFs (for 2007+) will have thicker viscosity at the low temp end. But in warmer regions that shouldn't be a problem.

o god... is this really necessary... after draining the ATF, where do u fill the fluid? to where the ATF dipstick is, or through the differential?

[iconman]

to where the ATF dipstick is, or through the differential?

You fill through the dipstick.

Option 1.
You drain out the ATF from the transmission pan with a 10mm socket hex bit and then fill it up through the dipstick. This will only get about 1/3 of the transmission fluid out as the rest are still in the torque converter and radiator.

Option 2.
Drain out the ATF and drop the transmission pan. Clean off the pan and the two magnets inside the pan. Then you want to take out the strainer or some like to called it filter and replace it (although you can skip this step as it's not necessary). Then close back the pan and make sure to replace it with a new pan gasket.

Now you pull out the cooler return hose and flush the rest of the ATF from the torque converter and radiator. This will get all of the old transmission fluid out.

[JohnGD]

Well, according to Toyota that's not necessary. It's "lifetime" fill. You don't even need to change the ATF. That's for those leasing the car for a few years and getting rid of it.

But if you drop the pan to clean things up and looking at the filter right in your face, then might as well change it while you're there.

I do use an inch-pound torque wrench for transmission work, on sale for about $19 often. Some claimed calibrated elbow works too YMMV.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2696

Originally Posted by whoisthis

o god... is this really necessary