Sienna Transmission fluid change - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

gammaray · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 05:34 AM

Hello,

I'm looking for a procedure for changing the transmission fluid in a 2004 Sienna. I've found procedures for other Toyota vehicles describing how to do this by the use of tubing connected to the Xmission cooler, cranking engine to pump some out and adding in fresh several times. Do I use this procedure for the Sienna? What is the best choice of oils? Is there a filter or screen to change out?

Thanks,

Gamma

Tonto · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 02:04 AM

Hi Gamma,

I too believe in regular changes of the transmission fluid of any car. I've had the tranny fluid changed twice on my 2004 Sienna. Both times I've had the dealer do it, and it was just a drain and re-fill. The main reason that stopped me from doing it myself was that the type of transmission fluid required. In the owner's manual it states Toyota Type "T-lV" (JWS3309 or NWS6500). There are other warnings in the owner's manual describing what could happen if you don't use this type of AT fluid. I could not find this type of transmission fluid anywhere, so I gave up and had to go to the dealer. It seems like Toyota is doing now what Ford and Chrysler did with their tranny fluid formulations,(making it special) and harder to get from a local automotive store. Any new info from anyone on possible stores that sell this Toyota Type T-4 would be great for all of us.

kwiens · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 10:47 PM

I took my 2002 Sienna in today to shop with the specialized equipment for flushing transmissions. When I came to pick it up, the van was still on the hoist. They realized that this vehicle was different from their usual experiences, and phoned the Toyota dealer who advised them that trying to flush it would jeopardize the front seal on the transmission. So I'm ending up with a new filter and a re-fill. Not what I wanted ... but the alternative wasn't good either.

sienna2002 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2006, 01:14 PM

Hey Tonto, I searched the Internet and found that drivewire.com has the Toyota ATF Type T-IV tranny fluid, it's $4.66 per quart.

sienna2002 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2006, 01:16 PM

Good luck

cookiemech · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2006, 06:53 PM

Why not just go to the Toyota dealer and buy the T-IV fluid? I do that, and it's no more than the price quoted in one of the other posts ($4.66?).

mike_payne · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 05:17 AM

The drain plug is on the bottom of the trans. Its torqued to 49 nM

AzusaMan · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 07:25 PM

Hi Guys,

So what is the expert's recommendation? Drain/refill/filter or the complete flush at the dealer?

Thanks in advance.
Steve

johnnydd · #9 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 04:56 PM

I think it depends on how you use your vehicle! If you do a lot of stop and go or pull a trailer i would do the complete flush.
If most of your miles are freeway where it stays in high gear and not shifting a lot i would just do the standard filter change and refill.
This is the way i have done all my vehicles and never have any trouble out of them.

sooner4x4 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 01:40 PM

Flush versus drain/replace filter and refill?

I have read through too many forums where someone had problems after a flushing of their transmission. Your owners manual does not say to flush the transmission. A typical transmission flush service does not include dropping the pan, cleaning all of the metal off of the magnet, nor replacing the filter. The flush just moves all of that crap throughout the transmission and hopefully out during the flush.

Drain, replace filter ( I am assuming the Sienna has a servicable tranny filter), and refill. Do this every 30 k miles or so. Way better for the tranny.

kathyricks · #11 (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 02:20 AM

Geez nobody reads the factory repair manual. Changing the fluid on a 2004 Sienna involves the same simple procedure as on a 1973 Toyota or 1965 Chevy.

1. Remove tranny oil pan drain plug
2. Drain old fluid (roughly 2-4 quarts)
3. Reinstall drain plug.
4. Measure amount drained in a 99 cent orange juice pitcher from Walmart
5. Pour back the same amount drained using Toyota Type T-IV fluid (available in 1 quart bottles from a Toyota dealer.
6. Start engine and shift slowly through all the gears ending in Park.
7. Check fluid level on the dipstick. Add fluid, if necessary, to bring the level to a point inbetween the COLD and HOT marks on the dipstick.
8. Go for a 20 minute drive and recheck fluid level. Add fluid, if necessary, to bring the level up to,
but not beyond, the upper half of the HOT range on the dipstick.

As in 1973, NO FLUSHING is needed and NO FILTER REPLACEMENT is needed, NO PAN REMOVAL is needed. As, as in 1973 todays Toyotas have a metal mesh filter screen that doesn't ever get clogged except in rare cases of transmission operational abuse, including failure to ever change the fluid for 150,000 miles or more.

Instead of reading the factory manual, everyone's thinking is based on American transmission shop propaganda and American car transmission maintenance procedures; e.g. the tranny shops nowadays have "flush" machines to help them sell a more profitable $125 flush job instead of the $40 pan drain and fill job they used to sell. And American transmissions have a paper filter element that DOES get clogged and requires replacement.