5th gen 4R ATF Drain and Fill question

I plan to do an ATF drain and fill on wife’s 2016 4R.

any concern re-filling through the dip stick instead of the fill plug located on the transmission?

with the engine off?

I do this with my ‘04 Tacoma no issues, but the 2016 4R is newer so wasn’t sure.

thanks in advance

 

Pretty certain you don’t have a transmission dipstick. It’s a “sealed” transmission

 

Lol I see now that you are correct..
Fill plug it is then.

 

When I did mine I ran a tube up to the engine bay and attached a funnel. Much easier than pumping it in from below

 

Thanks I’m aware of the temperature window to refill.. don’t love the idea of running a jumper in the OBD..

Honestly just putting the exact same amount of fluid back in than what came out seems low risk.. this is how I’ve always done it lol

Is the concern mistakenly not putting the right amount back in? Or that fluid potentially leaks resulting in low volume so is they say to do the fluid level drain method. Does seem a little overkill, but understand the transmission is expensive

 

I’d be more concerned of being on perfectly level ground for this level check as opposed to just putting the same exact volume back in haha

 

In my opinion the biggest downside to this method is that you’re counting on the current level being correct.

 

I have the same concern!

 

yeah there is major concern as there is no dipstick for the trans.

 

^ this and add a 1/2 quart then do your temp check at the port on the trans pan to barely a trickle comes out.

 

If your transmission is shifting fine before your fluid change and you put the same amount of fluid back in then you shouldn’t have any issues. I’ve done this on a bunch of vehicles and they have been fine.

 

Use an OBD2 dongle to show pan temperature if you don't want to stab a paperclip in the OBD2 port.

Ground doesn't have to be perfectly level. Most garage floors are fine.

 

If you use the dongle instead of the paper clip method, do you still have to do the shift sequence voodoo before the transmission reaches temperature?

 

^Not needed. Just watch the trans pan temperature until it's in the range specified in the FSM, then crawl under the transmission and open the check plug.

 

104-109 seems ok. But if you havent loosened the check plug do it before you get started, just enough to make sure it moves. Mine was semi rusted solid and was a fucker. I am not sure how people use IR gun as when I checked with mine on the pan it was off a few degrees compared to my scanner.

I miss doing manual transmissions.. cold with just two plugs. So much easier.

 

It's good that ambient temperatures are cooler now. That 36C to 46C window flashes by quickly in the warm weather. It's good to have a helper call out the temps or flashes while you're already under there, ready to pull and stuff the plug back in. Otherwise, be light on your feet.