Flush transmission fluid.

[popeye08]

I need to flush the transmission fluid for my Camry LE 2.2l Auto, does anybody know how to do it by myself? Just drain it from the pipe out from the radiator and add new until it is red? Thanks!

[popeye08]

OK, Got some ideas from http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir.../.ee9950e/4658

Share with you:

You can actually change virtually all the fluid in the system using the following method. We have 5 Toyota's in the family, and I have done this to them all at least once.
It takes about an hour. Use whatever fluid is recommended on the dipstick, or in the manual. Our Camry's and Corolla's take Dexron, but the Celica takes Toyota Type IV fluid, available only from Toyota, at about $3.50/qt. Use what's recommended, or you'll be sorry. It's still less expensive than having it done.
1. Drop the pan, drain the fluid, replace the filter, and reinstall the pan as you usually do.
2. Add 3 quarts of fluid.
3. Remove the fluid return line at the transmission (usually the upper of the two lines), and place it into a one-gallon milk jug or similar semi-transparent container. You may want to place the container in a box with rags around it so that it doesn't spill.
4. Start the engine, and let about a quart or so of fluid get pumped into the milk jug (about 10-15 seconds).
5. Stop the engine, and add a quart of fluid to the transmission.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get new fluid out of the drain line.
You'll use about 8-10 quarts of fluid total, including the 3 you put in at the beginning, so you may need more than one milk jug.
7. Reinstall the drain line to the transmission, start the engine, and check for leaks.
8. With your foot on the brake, put the transmission in each gear, then into Park.
9.Let the car down and check the fluid level on the dipstick. Add fluid if needed to bring it up to the proper level.
10. Take it out for a test drive, and check the fluid level again.

[Brian R.]

Thanks for posting this procedure. I will put this in the FAQ as one way to do this. One caveat is that it is not nessary to drop the pan. Removing and replacing the filter is not necessary. It is more or less just a screen that doesn't get plugged unless your clutch plates shread or something equally traumatic happens.

[RIP]

Brian R. - Yesterday I was about to post your same caviot about not changing the filter because I too normally don't. But after a little thought I'm thinking it might be a good idea say every 3-4 years to drop the pan and change the filter (or at least inspect it) just to get a look at the filter to see any indication of damage that might be happening. What ya think?

[Brian R.]

There is just additional work and some expense involved in doing this. It won't harm anything, but it has to be said to keep everyone from doing it often (considering how anal some people are about changing fluids and filters). It definitely doen't need to be done often, if ever, but if someone feels more secure doing it, that's fine also.

I would recommend never even looking at it if you know you have changed the fluid regularly according to Toyota's recommendations and it is operating smoothly and correctly.

[popeye08]

Thanks for reply.

Got another one (from Dan Edwards in another Camry FAQ). My question is whether or not it will do harm to tranny if pump the fluid out until there is no more fluid come out?

*******************************************
Really Changing the Automatic Transmission Fluid

Take it to a shop and let them 'power flush' it for $69.95. Or, do it yourself. Hey, there's a pump inside your automatic, so why not use it?

This works the best when the engine and tranny are completely warmed up. The fluid is hot, so use gloves or be quick!

Get a fresh gasket for the pan. Drain the fluid from the pan. pull the pan, clean it up, drop the filter screen and clean it up too. Put it back together. pour in (slowly) a GALLON of fresh ATF. Disconnect the return (driver side) line from the radiator cooler, and attach a short (6") piece of tubing to direct the flow down into your oil change pan. Start the engine. let it idle till no more fluid come out then shut it off. You noticed that brown icky color, right? Dump the burned, dirty fluid into the empty gallon jug. pour in another GALLON, start the engine, watch the color of the stuff coming out. When the fluid stops, shut her off. I usually find that on the 3rd gallon, it starts to look pretty nice. then you quit. Double check the fluid level till its perfect.

Have done this more than once, and seems to work pretty well. I use the cheap dexron III from Wal-Mart (about $4/gal), and figure cheap, clean stuff is better than anything that is filthy. I just put a cooler on today, so hope to see the stuff stay clean longer.

Thanks to Dan Edwards for this one.

[Brian R.]

It may be ok if you don't let it run dry - meaning shut it off immediately after the fluid stops coming out. I wouldn't do it to any of my vehicles though.

Also, whatever vehicle you are doing this to, don't overfill the transmission. A gallon may overfill yours, so don't add more than comes out.

[popeye08]

Thanks.

My car is 96 Camry LE 2.2, Auto 131k. Last saturday, I unpluged and refilled the fluid, only add 2 qts, it is still like chocolate milk. Later I will change the differential fluid, flush the transmission and add a cooler as the suggestion in this forum.

[popeye08]

One question, if I put an extra cooler on it, should I directly connect the cooler to tranny bypass the hose in the radiator or connect it to the hose out of the radiator? Is it too much load and long for the pump if the fluid flow both the radiator and the cooler? Thanks in advance!

[Brian R.]

You don't need an additional cooler for your transmission. You need to flush yours and change the fluid every 30k or so. In any event, adding a cooler will not cause you a problem with pumping fluid, just will add some additional capacity - meaning you will add more fluid to flush your transmission after you add the cooler than before.

[popeye08]

Just bought one from O'reiley, it is a S shape pipe with many leaves like the condenser, it can be installed on the front or back of AC condenser, it could cool down the fluid a lot I think. I drove the car go 600 miles away for several times, the transmission slipped in the trip, really hope the cooler can solve this problem or just flush it is enough?

[AccordCodger]

A cooler isn't going to fix a slipping transmission . Indeed, if your driving is mainly highway, (and if you don't live in the sahara) you really don't need a cooler at all.

[Brian R.]

^ What he said