Trans Capacity - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

artbuc · 12-23-2011, 06:06 PM

Anyone know the total ATF capacity of the auto trans on a 99 Avy, including torque converter? If I do a flush by pumping ATF out of the cooler line, will all of the ATF in the TC be replaced? Thanks.

pmesfun · 12-23-2011, 07:19 PM

I think it's 9.8qts(not sure if that includes the diff too), don't have access to the FSM since I'm out of town.

DIY: 5S-FE Transmission Fluid & Strainer Replacement Procedure

artbuc · 12-24-2011, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmesfun

I think it's 9.8qts(not sure if that includes the diff too), don't have access to the FSM since I'm out of town.

DIY: 5S-FE Transmission Fluid & Strainer Replacement Procedure

Thanks alot! I searched and found several threads but not this one.

I am trying to understand the advantages of flushing through the cooler return line versus doing several drain and fills. Is all of the old fluid neatly pushed out in plug flow when you go through the cooler or is there alot of backmixing? Which method requires the least amount of fresh ATF to completely replace the old?

I don't understand the hydraulic circuit. I have read that the pump is supplied from the TC housing. Then the pump pushes ATF through the cooler and then back into the sump. How does ATF get from the sump back into the TC and into the various control valves? Does the trans have to be in "D" in order for ATF to circulate through the TC?

I don't mind doing several drain/refills but if the cooler line flush replaces more fluid and/or uses less total new ATF I would go that route.

TedL · 12-25-2011, 05:21 AM

I do the cooler line method every 30k miles on all my vehicles, incl. an '03 Avy, '99 Avy, '97 Camry and '02 Honda Ody. Not much backmixing at all. Using clear tubing, you can see it change from old/dirty to fresh & bright within the space of appx. a quart flow. I figure to use 12 qts., but have 15 on hand just in case. I use Dexron VI for the Toys. Excellent shifting.

19Glendale · 12-26-2011, 12:25 PM

screenshot of the Haynes manual says to clean the pan/magnets with solvent. What type of solvent should be used to do this?

19Glendale · 12-26-2011, 12:37 PM

I'm at 135k miles and transmission probably hasn't had any servicing in 70k miles. No issues with it right now, but am planning to do the method of several drains.

How many drains would you recommend and over what interval of driving in between each?

19Glendale · 12-26-2011, 01:03 PM

What ATF's are compatible with the GEN1 Avalons and what are their advantages/disadvantages?
THANKS!

pmesfun · 12-26-2011, 02:57 PM

I was in the same situation last January, my avalon had only a trans flush at the dealer @ 40k. I did a drain and refill every other week at first, the fluid went from pitch black to dark red. At that point I just did it every two to three weeks. At the beginning I used Super tech ATF, which is really cheap. Then for the last services I used Valvoline Dex/Merc. I did this around 128k and the transmission still shifts very smoothly and fluid is red @ 143k

For solvent, brake cleaner will work.

19Glendale · 12-26-2011, 03:57 PM

Thanks!

artbuc · 12-26-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedL

I do the cooler line method every 30k miles on all my vehicles, incl. an '03 Avy, '99 Avy, '97 Camry and '02 Honda Ody. Not much backmixing at all. Using clear tubing, you can see it change from old/dirty to fresh & bright within the space of appx. a quart flow. I figure to use 12 qts., but have 15 on hand just in case. I use Dexron VI for the Toys. Excellent shifting.

Thanks Ted. Sorry for being dense but I am not getting the picture. I assume you started by draining filling the sump and differential which accounts for about 4 qts leaving about 6 qts of old fluid in the TC, cooler and elsewhere. If there is little backmixing, how can you start getting fresh fluid after only one quart? Also, do you have to put the trans in "D" to move atf through the TC?

TedL · 12-26-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artbuc

Thanks Ted. Sorry for being dense but I am not getting the picture. I assume you started by draining filling the sump and differential which accounts for about 4 qts leaving about 6 qts of old fluid in the TC, cooler and elsewhere. If there is little backmixing, how can you start getting fresh fluid after only one quart? Also, do you have to put the trans in "D" to move atf through the TC?

Pull the plug, drain and refill. The fluid coming out does not start to change color until around the 9th or 10th quart on an Avalon. Can't recall point on 4 cyl Camry. Once color change starts, takes only about a quart to go to fresh looking, not a mix. I usually just run 12 qts. through. All done in park.

19Glendale · 12-26-2011, 11:44 PM

Still trying to find the best fluid(s) for a '98 Avalon... Some of the reviews/forums I've read say no Dex/Merc fluid for Lexus/Toyota's, but they had a 2007 Lexus SUV and I understand some newer (2005+?) vehicles take only Dex VI.

So, is Dex VI backwards compatible, but not necessary in the 1st Gen Avalon? Does anything make it more desirable.

Is Dex/Merc different/better/worse than Dex III (or anything else I'm unaware of) for the Gen 1 Avalons?

This is all sort of confusing and unclear...

Based on it's decent price, has anyone had any luck with the Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc ATF if it is in fact a compatible type for the Gen 1 Avalons?

Thanks, any additional insight and/or suggestions would be much appreciated!

artbuc · 12-27-2011, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Glendale

Still trying to find the best fluid(s) for a '98 Avalon... Some of the reviews/forums I've read say no Dex/Merc fluid for Lexus/Toyota's, but they had a 2007 Lexus SUV and I understand some newer (2005+?) vehicles take only Dex VI.

So, is Dex VI backwards compatible, but not necessary in the 1st Gen Avalon? Does anything make it more desirable.

Is Dex/Merc different/better/worse than Dex III (or anything else I'm unaware of) for the Gen 1 Avalons?

This is all sort of confusing and unclear...

Based on it's decent price, has anyone had any luck with the Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc ATF if it is in fact a compatible type for the Gen 1 Avalons?

Thanks, any additional insight and/or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Please start your own thread.

artbuc · 12-27-2011, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedL

Pull the plug, drain and refill. The fluid coming out does not start to change color until around the 9th or 10th quart on an Avalon. Can't recall point on 4 cyl Camry. Once color change starts, takes only about a quart to go to fresh looking, not a mix. I usually just run 12 qts. through. All done in park.

Thanks again Ted. The lightbulb finally went off. I misunderstood what you meant by the one qt transition. My problem, not yours.

TedL · 12-27-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artbuc

Thanks again Ted. The lightbulb finally went off. I misunderstood what you meant by the one qt transition. My problem, not yours.

I wasn't particularly clear either. It's become kinda' routine for me, so I don't much think about the steps anymore. I use SuperTech Dex VI, under $4 per qt., in all my Toys...which spec Dexron. I believe all the Dex VI licensees have to use some synthetic to get the performance to get the license from GM. I believe the improved spec was to lower warranty costs to GM by making the fluid perform/protect better. I have found the shifting to be very smooth with Dex VI. We've driven the '03 from 53k miles to 99k in the last 3 years; the '99 from 91k to 136k; the '97 from 125k to 165k. Using ST Dex VI.