Changing Tranny Fluid on '04 Camry 4cyl

[i_am_jim]

Does anybody use this procedure

this

this

for replacing your transmission fluid? If so, I have some questions.

Which of =>these is the supply (from the pump) and which the return (to the pump)?

Since you must continuously add fluid during this procedure, how do you know you're adding enough so you don't starve the transmission and not too much so it begins foaming or causing other problems?

Do you use the Toyota fluid? It's so expensive.

Any tips not covered by the video?

[gdanaher]

All of your questions are answered either by the video you directed us to watch or by the thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago. Query the history for this topic.

[i_am_jim]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

All of your questions are answered either by the video you directed us to watch or by the thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago.

I don't believe it does answer all of my questions or I wouldn't have posted them.

He just says add fluid so the tranny doesn't run dry. He doesn't address how you regulate the fluid in -- fluid out.

The video does say you can figure out which line is supply and return by opening them both and squirting fluid everywhere. I was hoping to avoid this mess.

He doesn't address fluid brands at all.

[ScrooYoo]

^ yes it does.

the thread adresses the different brands of oil as well as how to regulate how much goes in/comes out. re-read it. And even if it didn't answer your questions (which it does), you could have just posted in that thread instead of making a new one.

[i_am_jim]

Originally Posted by ScrooYoo

^ yes it does.

the thread adresses the different brands of oil as well as how to regulate how much goes in/comes out. re-read it. And even if it didn't answer your questions (which it does), you could have just posted in that thread instead of making a new one.

I think we're talking past each other. I'm asking about the video and your answering about a thread I just now found.

[i_am_jim]

After reading the other thread (I guess I found the one mentioned), I can't find where it says which of the lines in the picture is the supply and which the return.

And, I didn't find where it explained how to regulate the fluid in vs out. It was suggested to stop occasionally and add fluid, but that's not the continuous method shown in the video.

[gdanaher]

a) remove one of the two hoses from the transmission.
b) crank the engine for a couple seconds.
c) look to see if fluid splashed out of the hose or the trans connection
d) if from hose, then the trans connection open is the return. if fluid came from the trans connection, it is the pressure side.

Some of these can be eyeballed and figure it out.

Regulation is non existent beyond gravity feed. Stop the engine when the fluid begins to sputter. Personally, I would do it the way I described in the other thread.

[i_am_jim]

I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I saw a suggestion on the web on how to do this. Feel the two lines soon after stopping the car with the engine still hot. The cooler line will be the return.

[JohnGD]

Just don't splash ATF onto the hot manifold. It can catch fire.

Have you considered drain/refill first? I'd recommend Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF (a synthetic blend), or the Walmart Supertech Mercon-V (suitable for T-IV). Of course you can always buy the dino Mobil-3309 re-labeled as Toyota T-IV.

Originally Posted by i_am_jim

I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I saw a suggestion on the web on how to do this. Feel the two lines soon after stopping the car with the engine still hot. The cooler line will be the return.

[i_am_jim]

Since I couldn't understand how to regulate the flow-in and flow-out, I decided to do the multiple drain and refill method.

I'm using the Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF fluid. But, our Wal-Mart doesn't carry it so I had to pay a little more.

Some people say you should replace the drain plug gasket, but I didn't see it mentioned here so I didn't.

My transmission drains out 4 quarts -- not 3 like the manual and other places on the web say.

But, I still haven't figured out what the total transmission capacity is, so I don't know how many drain and refills I need to do. I have found numbers ranging from 5 quarts to 9.2 quarts. This is critical since if it's 5 it only takes 1-2 refills. If it's 9.2 it takes 4-5 refills. That could be as little as $20 or as much as $100 for fluid, not counting all the extra work.

Also, I haven't been able to find a torque value for the drain plug -- I used 36 ft-lbs which I saw for a similar car on the web.

Here's a picture of my drain plug the way it was immediately after removing it -- no cleaning, just blotting it with a paper towel.

[Donald E. George]

I debated how to do this and finally came to the conclusion that if you carefully measure the fluid that comes out of the pan,you can fill with a like amount,run the car for an hour,day,week what ever and then repeat this procedure two or three more times and you will essentially be doing what a flush machine does. I have not been able to find a fluid flow for the Toyota five speed AT.The torque converter pump picks up the fluid from the sump through the filter and pumps it to the converter and probalby the clutch packs. Some of the fluid is also being pumped to the cooler. Does anyone know how many parallel circuits there are?The flushing machines I googled hook on to the transmission lines to the cooler. New Fluid is pumped in at the same rate as the torque converter pump pumps the old fluid off. The flush machine pumps the new fluid to the sump. [I think] The torque converter pump picks up the new fluid and pumps it through the various circuits. That new fluid is being mixed with the old fluid. How does that differ from the procedure I discribed above? I put 18 qts. of Mobil 3309 through my transmission and it looks just like the new fluid coming out of the bottle.We need to pillory that bean counter that came up with the idea of eliminating the converter drain plug.The correct torque for the drain plug is 36 ft.lbs. 18mm aluminum drain plug gasket. Thank you i am jim and others for a great post.

[olympicgold]

You did right thing jim by simply draining and refilling several times. Today I've tried to replace gasket on trans pan and it was huge pain in the arse. There are about 5 bolts that are directly above frame or axle metal thing that makes it REALLY hard to use those pivoting wrenches. I had to use regular wrench and it took fraken forever to take those stupid 5-6 bolts off

[i_am_jim]

Originally Posted by Donald E. George

I debated how to do this and finally came to the conclusion that if you carefully measure the fluid that comes out of the pan,you can fill with a like amount,run the car for an hour,day,week what ever and then repeat this procedure two or three more times and you will essentially be doing what a flush machine does.

The number of times required depends on the amount of fluid you drain out each time and the total amount of fluid in the system. For example, if you drain 3 quarts out at a time this will be the percent of fresh fluid after each drain & fill:

# of Drains--------1-------2------3-----4------5------6------7------8
6 quart capacity 50.00% 75.00% 87.50% 93.75% 96.88% 98.44% 99.22% 99.61%
8 quart capacity 37.50% 60.94% 75.59% 84.74% 90.46% 94.04% 96.27% 97.67%
9 quart capacity 33.33% 58.33% 73.96% 83.72% 89.83% 93.64% 96.03% 97.52%

[i_am_jim]

Originally Posted by olympicgold

You did right thing jim by simply draining and refilling several times. Today I've tried to replace gasket on trans pan and it was huge pain in the arse. There are about 5 bolts that are directly above frame or axle metal thing that makes it REALLY hard to use those pivoting wrenches. I had to use regular wrench and it took fraken forever to take those stupid 5-6 bolts off

If when the drain plug came out it had a lot of gunk on it I might have dropped the pan. But, since the plug was clean as a whistle I don't see the point, especially since I'm 75 making it more of a chore and Toyota doesn't recommend even a fluid change -- ever.

[Donald E. George]

Thank you i am jim.I ran those figures myself and that is what I got. How ever one goes about flushing their AT, it is way less costly than having it done. Doing it your way,you got more of the used fluid out on the first drain. The lines and cooler probably hold about a quart.Really some good posts on this forum.