Changing Transmission Fluid ***DIY w/ pics***
10-02-16, 03:03 PM
#107
now, lets have a true BONEHEAD chime in............
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
10-02-16, 03:05 PM
#108
now, lets have a true BONEHEAD chime in............
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
btw, I din't mention it before.
The car is a 2010 GS350 AWD
10-02-16, 06:18 PM
#109
now, lets have a true BONEHEAD chime in............
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
I was going to do an engine oil change. I couldn't decide which drain plug to remove as the front one (crankcase apparently) was on kind of a squared off looking bottom and the tranny one looked more like the traditional oil pan....or so I thought. Anyway, my dumb-a** drained out several quarts of the tranny fluid before I figured out I wasn't at the engine oil area. Duh! And, I don't know how much I drained out as it went right into my recycle oil container as it drained. I reinserted the tranny drain plug after quite a bit so not sure how much ran out but it was still flowing out shen I put pug back in.
My question is:
How do I know how much tranny fluid to replace now? Can I do it on my own without special tools? Can I drive it to the dealer like this (about 25 miles)?
Man, talk about feeling incredibly stupid and compounding problems on an easy afternoon with a boneheaded move. Damn, I'm mad at myself!
The tranny fluid pan holds around 3 quarts, but you probably drained closer to 2.5 qts if it was only draining for 5-10 mins (it took me somewhere around 2 hours of draining to get the full 3 qts out).
I wouldn't drive it 25 miles with that much fluid missing (I wouldn't drive mine at all to be honest). If there's a Toyota dealership closer to you, you can get ATF WS there, and likely for a bit less than Lexus will charge. Be sure to get the crush washers for the drain bolt and level check bolt too while you're there.
Aside from some way to pump the fluid into the transmission, you don't need any special tools – everything you need should be listed in this DIY, Alchemist did an excellent job (as he did with all his other DIYs). The only mistake was that you need a 24mm socket for the fill bolt, but he said it's a 20mm bolt. As long as you have a basic set of tools and a torque wrench, you'll be fine!
10-02-16, 07:15 PM
#111
Not sure what you mean and why a 5mm Allen is needed? I would assume that I would just use the fill hole (with a pump) until the tranny fluid is spilling out (out of the fill hole) and I cannot put anymore in?
Thanks.
Thanks.
10-02-16, 07:27 PM
#113
Don't beat yourself up, it happens! And nothing got damaged so it's annoying, but not really a problem
The tranny fluid pan holds around 3 quarts, but you probably drained closer to 2.5 qts if it was only draining for 5-10 mins (it took me somewhere around 2 hours of draining to get the full 3 qts out).
I wouldn't drive it 25 miles with that much fluid missing (I wouldn't drive mine at all to be honest). If there's a Toyota dealership closer to you, you can get ATF WS there, and likely for a bit less than Lexus will charge. Be sure to get the crush washers for the drain bolt and level check bolt too while you're there.
Aside from some way to pump the fluid into the transmission, you don't need any special tools – everything you need should be listed in this DIY, Alchemist did an excellent job (as he did with all his other DIYs). The only mistake was that you need a 24mm socket for the fill bolt, but he said it's a 20mm bolt. As long as you have a basic set of tools and a torque wrench, you'll be fine!
The tranny fluid pan holds around 3 quarts, but you probably drained closer to 2.5 qts if it was only draining for 5-10 mins (it took me somewhere around 2 hours of draining to get the full 3 qts out).
I wouldn't drive it 25 miles with that much fluid missing (I wouldn't drive mine at all to be honest). If there's a Toyota dealership closer to you, you can get ATF WS there, and likely for a bit less than Lexus will charge. Be sure to get the crush washers for the drain bolt and level check bolt too while you're there.
Aside from some way to pump the fluid into the transmission, you don't need any special tools – everything you need should be listed in this DIY, Alchemist did an excellent job (as he did with all his other DIYs). The only mistake was that you need a 24mm socket for the fill bolt, but he said it's a 20mm bolt. As long as you have a basic set of tools and a torque wrench, you'll be fine!
It had drained for probably close to 45-60 seconds, if I remember correctly. I'm figuring a couple quarts, easy. Man, still can't believe I did that one.
I called a friend who has a pump so I can borrow that. I won't drive it at all (didn't really intent to) and will head to Toyota to pick up 3-4 quarts (extra, just in case).
So, do I just fill until it starts coming back out of that 24mm fill hole and it can't hold anymore? What about the car being lifted in the front a little with jack stands (positioned on frame, in-line with front wheels so that front wheels are just 1-2 inches off the ground) as far as enough tranny fluid being put in? In other words, would the front end being raised that much throw off the proper amount needing to be added? Maybe I'm being a little too analytical?
Thanks again for the input.
10-02-16, 07:47 PM
#114
and I just paid a couple hundred $ to the dealer to do a "drain-and-fill" this past December. sheeeesh.
10-02-16, 08:04 PM
#115
Awwwww.....man, your reply made my day. Thanks for the calmness and reassurance.
It had drained for probably close to 45-60 seconds, if I remember correctly. I'm figuring a couple quarts, easy. Man, still can't believe I did that one.
I called a friend who has a pump so I can borrow that. I won't drive it at all (didn't really intent to) and will head to Toyota to pick up 3-4 quarts (extra, just in case).
So, do I just fill until it starts coming back out of that 24mm fill hole and it can't hold anymore? What about the car being lifted in the front a little with jack stands (positioned on frame, in-line with front wheels so that front wheels are just 1-2 inches off the ground) as far as enough tranny fluid being put in? In other words, would the front end being raised that much throw off the proper amount needing to be added? Maybe I'm being a little too analytical?
Thanks again for the input.
It had drained for probably close to 45-60 seconds, if I remember correctly. I'm figuring a couple quarts, easy. Man, still can't believe I did that one.
I called a friend who has a pump so I can borrow that. I won't drive it at all (didn't really intent to) and will head to Toyota to pick up 3-4 quarts (extra, just in case).
So, do I just fill until it starts coming back out of that 24mm fill hole and it can't hold anymore? What about the car being lifted in the front a little with jack stands (positioned on frame, in-line with front wheels so that front wheels are just 1-2 inches off the ground) as far as enough tranny fluid being put in? In other words, would the front end being raised that much throw off the proper amount needing to be added? Maybe I'm being a little too analytical?
Thanks again for the input.
You probably drained between 2 and 2.5 qts. Just replace what you took out – maybe put in 3 qts and then let some drain out with the level check procedure. As for the rest of your questions, go to page 1 of this thread and follow the steps outlined by Alchemist – he provides lots of pictures and step-by-step instructions, so you'll get much better info by following his DIY than if I try to answer your questions.
10-03-16, 06:42 AM
#116
Be very careful and dont overfill. do not fill until it runs out the overflow tube. you need to get it to the right temperature and then look for the trickle out the overflow tube(5mm allen wrench plug). look at Alchemist DIY to see how to jumper the 4 and 13 pins on the OBD. This fluid expands when heated so be careful
10-03-16, 10:59 AM
#117
Hello all,
I've read this thread from beginning to end.. There is much here in other generation cars that explain the process of transmission flush or drain and fill..
I would not attempt to do this in my garage as a D.I.Y.. Here is why, ATF at @ $8.00 to as much as $20.00 per quart X 13 quarts, as oppposed to
taking it to the dealer (look for shops/dealers that use the "BG" Trans flush machine, best choice).
If you know the dealer or have had business with them in the past, the typical fee for a complete flush is right around $200.00.
I'll let you all do he math...
Now how about liability.. D.I.Y., in the event a step is missed, the oil temp is inaccurate, ect., much could go wrong. I know from experience that it
takes very little to destroy a transmission (900 moving parts), your SOL and a new transmission or rebuilt could cost you a litle over $200.00. On the
other hand, if a WO is written up correctly and the dealer makes a serious mistake, you have a good case with legal resposibilty for repairs.
I've read this thread from beginning to end.. There is much here in other generation cars that explain the process of transmission flush or drain and fill..
I would not attempt to do this in my garage as a D.I.Y.. Here is why, ATF at @ $8.00 to as much as $20.00 per quart X 13 quarts, as oppposed to
taking it to the dealer (look for shops/dealers that use the "BG" Trans flush machine, best choice).
If you know the dealer or have had business with them in the past, the typical fee for a complete flush is right around $200.00.
I'll let you all do he math...
Now how about liability.. D.I.Y., in the event a step is missed, the oil temp is inaccurate, ect., much could go wrong. I know from experience that it
takes very little to destroy a transmission (900 moving parts), your SOL and a new transmission or rebuilt could cost you a litle over $200.00. On the
other hand, if a WO is written up correctly and the dealer makes a serious mistake, you have a good case with legal resposibilty for repairs.
10-03-16, 02:59 PM
#118
Hello all,
I've read this thread from beginning to end.. There is much here in other generation cars that explain the process of transmission flush or drain and fill..
I would not attempt to do this in my garage as a D.I.Y.. Here is why, ATF at @ $8.00 to as much as $20.00 per quart X 13 quarts, as oppposed to
taking it to the dealer (look for shops/dealers that use the "BG" Trans flush machine, best choice).
If you know the dealer or have had business with them in the past, the typical fee for a complete flush is right around $200.00.
I'll let you all do he math...
Now how about liability.. D.I.Y., in the event a step is missed, the oil temp is inaccurate, ect., much could go wrong. I know from experience that it
takes very little to destroy a transmission (900 moving parts), your SOL and a new transmission or rebuilt could cost you a litle over $200.00. On the
other hand, if a WO is written up correctly and the dealer makes a serious mistake, you have a good case with legal resposibilty for repairs.
I've read this thread from beginning to end.. There is much here in other generation cars that explain the process of transmission flush or drain and fill..
I would not attempt to do this in my garage as a D.I.Y.. Here is why, ATF at @ $8.00 to as much as $20.00 per quart X 13 quarts, as oppposed to
taking it to the dealer (look for shops/dealers that use the "BG" Trans flush machine, best choice).
If you know the dealer or have had business with them in the past, the typical fee for a complete flush is right around $200.00.
I'll let you all do he math...
Now how about liability.. D.I.Y., in the event a step is missed, the oil temp is inaccurate, ect., much could go wrong. I know from experience that it
takes very little to destroy a transmission (900 moving parts), your SOL and a new transmission or rebuilt could cost you a litle over $200.00. On the
other hand, if a WO is written up correctly and the dealer makes a serious mistake, you have a good case with legal resposibilty for repairs.
10-03-16, 03:56 PM
#119
u have to remove that Allan bolt to check the level of the fluid at the right temperature. Don't fill u till it comes out of the 24mm bolt!!
