How many quarts of ATF is required? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

joedaddy · 10-18-2003, 10:11 PM

Hi,

I have a 2000 Avalon and I was wondering how many quarts I would need for a drain and refill...(u know...the simple method)...

I guess a camry would be similar...so how many do those take...

I am pretty sure it's not 5 quarts as stated in the manual...
or is it?

bronzemaxell · 10-18-2003, 11:49 PM

i took mine to jiffy lube, and they have a machine that suck out the old ATF and at the same time pumping the new ATF in from another end, and all this is done while the engine is running.

joedaddy · 10-19-2003, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bronzemaxell
i took mine to jiffy lube, and they have a machine that suck out the old ATF and at the same time pumping the new ATF in from another end, and all this is done while the engine is running.

thanks but that doesn't answer my question...

bronzemaxell · 10-20-2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joedaddy

thanks but that doesn't answer my question...

hi, i understand i didn't give you a direct answer to your question,
but my point is, people drain ATF out at the same time they are filling it in. you can do a 1/2 flush, 3/4 flush, or a full flush, so there is no exact number of quarts you can drain,
depend on how you are doing it.

and to answer to question, if you do a full drain,
i do not know the answer to that one, sorry.

kocho · 10-20-2003, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joedaddy
Hi,

I have a 2000 Avalon and I was wondering how many quarts I would need for a drain and refill...(u know...the simple method)...

I guess a camry would be similar...so how many do those take...

I am pretty sure it's not 5 quarts as stated in the manual...
or is it?

I think 5 qt is a pretty close estimate for the 6 cylinder (bigger tranny than 4 cyl). On my 4 cylinder '00 auto, it is about 2.7 quarts, and I have drained and refilled three times so far and it is close to that.

Last weekend I did a "home-flush" - it took me 10 quarts till clean fluid started to come out. This is actually not more difficult than drain and refill - very simple to do:
- Disconnect the return rubber hose (passenger side) from the metal tube coming from the engine (not the radiator end). Let it hang low so that some old fluid will come out of it and the transmission cooler as well.
- Connect a clear PVC hose with 3/8" internal diameter in its place. 3-4 feet should be enough. Place the other end in a big jug to collect the old fluid
- Start the engine till some of the old fluid comes out (2 quarts is good - takes about 10 seconds). Stop the engine. If air started to come out, then you waited too long.
- Pour in (through the filler/dipstic) as much new fluid as you drained
- Repeat the two steps above till you see clean fluid come out. Put in only as much as you take out (to avoid over-filling or draining too much.
- Remove the clear hose and reconnect the original in place
- Start the engine and check the fluid level. Since it is cold (new fluid) it should be close to the cold mark. Drive about for a couple of miles and check the level again - should be at the hot mark this time. Add fluid if needed.

jhbhatia · 10-21-2003, 11:42 AM

I bought 8 bottles of toyota ATF and got back 2.5 back from the shop that flushed my 1mz...Hope this helps..(essentially i was doing my 30K service from a local shop using toyota parts).

fe519 · 10-21-2003, 10:23 PM

for a simple drain, i think 3 qts is enough

jhbhatia · 10-22-2003, 09:20 AM

All this for an auto (this was for my solara too). The differential and the tranny have their own drains, but the dealership fill it with ATF (from what has be passed on to me from a toyota tech who performs 30K services). If the car is A/t then the atf gets filled on both...if the car is a m/t then its a different issue. Since this dude said avalon, i've yet to see a m/t avalon..and hence i stated close to 5.5 bottles of usage!