Help with Transmission fluid change..

[Sequoia311]

I just drained the transmission fluid from my 03 Sequoia with 123k miles on it. I used the drain plug while fluid was hot and got about 3.5 quarts out of it. I'm confused because the Toyota dealer and the Haynes manual both state that it holds 2.1 quarts? I filled it back with only 2.1 quarts and it reads very low on the dipstick. I just assumed I got 3.5 quarts out since it was hot, but after reading threads on here I'm not so sure.

Any help would be great. I'm just doing the drain and fill.

[M in KC]

I can tell you I drained 4 qts of (cold ATF fluid) out of my '03 when I did my drain and refill from the drain plug. I know the theory of draining hot fluids vs. cold but it is easier to measure cold fluid since it haven't expanded and is safer as well. I will drain all that I can into a suitable pan and then pour this amount into a gallon jug that has been calibrated in 1/2 quart increments and then measure what drained out. I then add this amount back in. I always watch the last 1/2 to 1quart that I add back so as not to over fill. Easy, peazy Japanezze. Do this a couple of times and after mixing the old with the new and you should have theoritically all the old fluid exchanged with new.

Aftermarket serivce manuals often have misprints in them and as for the dealership goes I don't know what to say. What does your volume of cold used ATF look like as I'm assuming you used cold ATF to refill? I'm guessing you need a scoush more fluid after your drain and refill. Follow the owner's handbook for reading the proper ATF level and add as appropriate.

[m5238100]

I can tell you I drained 4 qts of (cold ATF fluid) out of my '03 when I did my drain and refill from the drain plug. I know the theory of draining hot fluids vs. cold but it is easier to measure cold fluid since it haven't expanded and is safer as well. I will drain all that I can into a suitable pan and then pour this amount into a gallon jug that has been calibrated in 1/2 quart increments and then measure what drained out. I then add this amount back in. I always watch the last 1/2 to 1quart that I add back so as not to over fill. Easy, peazy Japanezze. Do this a couple of times and after mixing the old with the new and you should have theoritically all the old fluid exchanged with new.

Aftermarket serivce manuals often have misprints in them and as for the dealership goes I don't know what to say. What does your volume of cold used ATF look like as I'm assuming you used cold ATF to refill? I'm guessing you need a scoush more fluid after your drain and refill. Follow the owner's handbook for reading the proper ATF level and add as appropriate.

+1

additional information
UltimateYota.com - changing the fluid of A340F transmission
P.S. 03 Sequoia - A340F AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

[flyfish-mt]

I also did a cold drain on my 03' and got slightly over 4 quarts.

[mibro]

I just drained the transmission fluid from my 03 Sequoia with 123k miles on it. I used the drain plug while fluid was hot and got about 3.5 quarts out of it. I'm confused because the Toyota dealer and the Haynes manual both state that it holds 2.1 quarts? I filled it back with only 2.1 quarts and it reads very low on the dipstick. I just assumed I got 3.5 quarts out since it was hot, but after reading threads on here I'm not so sure.

Any help would be great. I'm just doing the drain and fill.

The Haynes manual follows the factory repair manual, which is also wrong.

For a drain and fill, you need to add four quarts. I add four and a half quarts as it seems to me that the extra half quart improves the shift quality. Make sure you use the correct fluid which is Toyota T-IV for your Sequoia.

[Jonesy]

I'm no body's transmission expert but it seems to me there must be a way to check the fluid level in your transmission. On the older automatic transmissions there is a dipstick to provide this information. It makes no difference how much or how little fluid is drained from the transmission, once this operation is completed you must service the proper amount and type of fluid to bring the level back up where it should be.
I have a 2005 Tundra with an automatic transmission and I have never checked the level personally; the dealership did that for me and there is no fluid leaking out of it anywhere. I'm told that there is a plug on the side of the transmission where the fluid is added, much like a manual transmission of old.
Either way, whenever you drain fluid from your transmission you should refill it properly and completely according to the manual.
Jonesy

[mibro]

Either way, whenever you drain fluid from your transmission you should refill it properly and completely according to the manual.
Jonesy

In this case the Toyota factory repair manual is wrong.

[Jonesy]

In this case the Toyota factory repair manual is wrong.

In this case ~~~ Do Tell!

The issue here is to determine what the correct fluid level is for an automatic transmission. This is not determined by how much fluid you drain out but more appropriately what the proper level should be once the servicing is complete.
Adding too much ATF to the transmission can be detrimental as can running it low on fluid. This is determined by the oil level on the dip stick on the earlier transmissions. The later model transmissions are more difficult to over fill but they can be run low on ATF if you're not careful when servicing them.

[mibro]

In this case ~~~ Do Tell!

The issue here is to determine what the correct fluid level is for an automatic transmission. This is not determined by how much fluid you drain out but more appropriately what the proper level should be once the servicing is complete.
Adding too much ATF to the transmission can be detrimental as can running it low on fluid. This is determined by the oil level on the dip stick on the earlier transmissions. The later model transmissions are more difficult to over fill but they can be run low on ATF if you're not careful when servicing them.

You sure do have a lot of opinions for someone who has never checked the level on their own tranny.

I'm no body's transmission expert but it seems to me there must be a way to check the fluid level in your transmission.......I have a 2005 Tundra with an automatic transmission and I have never checked the level personally; the dealership did that for me.....I'm told that there is a plug on the side of the transmission where the fluid is added, much like a manual transmission of old.

I'll go slow and use short words so you can understand. If you drain the pan on your tranny and then add four quarts of the correct fluid, your Aisin Warner A340E or A340F tranny will then contain the correct total amount of fluid. See how easy that is. And you don't even have to pull the dipstick.

[Jonesy]

You sure do have a lot of opinions for someone who has never checked the level on their own tranny.



I'll go slow and use short words so you can understand. If you drain the pan on your tranny and then add four quarts of the correct fluid, your Aisin Warner A340E or A340F tranny will then contain the correct total amount of fluid. See how easy that is. And you don't even have to pull the dipstick.

Let me explain it to you so that you can understand it.

Who cares how much fluid you get when you drop the pan on your transmission, drain your differential, power steering unit or drain your engine oil? It is irrelevant.
I'm from the old school where you put the plug back in and service the unit as prescribed in the manual and use the dip stick or fill hole (which ever is appropriate and is only part of why you must consult the manual for this information).
I was merely trying to come in through the front door with what needs to be done instead of getting hung up on how much fluid comes out or what the manual says about fluid volume or weather the manual is right or wrong.
FA-GID-ABOUT-IT . . .