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As a new user of a 97 ls400, i have a caveat: the transmission dip stick is an overly flexible cable design, with crimped on hot and cold ferrules and a little metal ball in between. I am used to the flat dip sticks used on other cars, as they are easier to read and 're insert back into the dip stick tubes. The one i have is very difficult to 're insert, and is not easy to read. It's there an alternate flat dip stick that can be substituted for this wiggly cable one?
Not that I know of. It's kinda of a 2 handed thing. Hold the handle with right hand, insert the metal tip into the dip stick opening while using your left hand about midway up the cable as a guide. This is not fun when the car is fully warmed up. This is why I always measure what fluid I drain out during transmission fluid changes. My 02 Solara was the worst to check. I never really felt confident on the reading. It had a shiny medal dipstick and no matter how I checked it, I could never tell what it was reading. That and the fact that Toyota does not tell you how to check the transmission fluid at all. I didn't realize that my 98 LS 400 was overfull when I purchased it until after I changed the fluid myself. I drained it overnight and got out 3 quarts so I refilled it with 3 quarts, drove it for 20-30 miles, checked the fluid and was not comfortable with it being all the way up the indicator so I sucked out a 1/2 quart. I drove it again, rechecked it and it was still completely full. I sucked out another 1/2 quart and drove it again. Came back and rechecked it. It was still FULL. I thought what the heck. I sucked out 1/4 of a quart and drove it again. When I checked it the last time it was below the very top of the indicator so I put a 1/4 of a quart back in. I've checked it several more times and shows full. I believe when the 2nd owner had an independent shop do the transmission fluid change, it was overfilled then. The first owner always used Lexus. I have purchased several cars that where overfull on transmission fluid. I think this is partly due to the fact that people don't drive it long enough for the fluid to fully warm up. On really cold days, you may have to drive for 30 minutes or more to get an accurate reading.
Not that I know of. It's kinda of a 2 handed thing. Hold the handle with right hand, insert the metal tip into the dip stick opening while using your left hand about midway up the cable as a guide. This is not fun when the car is fully warmed up. This is why I always measure what fluid I drain out during transmission fluid changes. My 02 Solara was the worst to check. I never really felt confident on the reading. It had a shiny medal dipstick and no matter how I checked it, I could never tell what it was reading. That and the fact that Toyota does not tell you how to check the transmission fluid at all. I didn't realize that my 98 LS 400 was overfull until after I changed the fluid. I drained it overnight and got out 3 quarts so I refilled it with 3 quarts, drove it for 20-30 miles, checked the fluid and was not comfortable with it being all the way up the indicator so I sucked out a 1/2 quart. I drove it again, rechecked it and it was still completely full. I sucked out another 1/2 quart and drove it again. Came back and rechecked it. It was still FULL. I thought what the heck. I sucked out 1/4 of a quart and drove it again. When I checked it the last time it was below the very top of the indicator so I put a 1/4 of a quart back in. I've checked it several more times and it is shows full. I have purchased several cars that where overfull on transmission fluid. I think this is partly due to the fact that people don't drive it long enough for the fluid to fully warm up. On really cold days, you may have to drive for 30 minutes or more to get an accurate reading.
having just go,tten the car recently myself with a transmission replaced with another used one, believe it is overfull. gonna do just that . suck some out little by little.
having just go,tten the car recently myself with a transmission replaced with another used one, believe it is overfull. gonna do just that . suck some out little by little.
I use a 3 foot piece of vacuum hose attached to a clean hand pump from a soap dispenser. Guide into dip stick tube until it bottoms out, pump to prime, and you're good to go. I always have an empty oil container handy to catch it in that way a can measure how much I am taking out. I doesn't take long to get a quart out. I'd do a 1/2 quart at a time.
I use a 3 foot piece of vacuum hose attached to a clean hand pump from a soap dispenser. Guide into dip stick tube until it bottoms out, pump to prime, and you're good to go. I always have an empty oil container handy to catch it in that way a can measure how much I am taking out. I doesn't take long to get a quart out. I'd do a 1/2 quart at a time.
Polyethylene (PE) tubing is a good choice for suctioning oil. It can be bought by the foot at Home Depot, etc. It is commonly used for refrigerator and freezer water supply tubing. Not to be confused with polyurethane tubing. The PE stuff is stiffer (makes it easier to insert without binding), but still flexible enough to make it through bends. And the thinner wall and overall stiffness lets you choose a size that will let the oil be suctioned out easily (e.g., vs. a thicker wall for some other type of tubing - that would leave a smaller inner diameter).
Polyethylene (PE) tubing is a good choice for suctioning oil. It can be bought by the foot at Home Depot, etc. It is commonly used for refrigerator and freezer water supply tubing. Not to be confused with polyurethane tubing. The PE stuff is stiffer (makes it easier to insert without binding), but still flexible enough to make it through bends. And the thinner wall and overall stiffness lets you choose a size that will let the oil be suctioned out easily (e.g., vs. a thicker wall for some other type of tubing - that would leave a smaller inner diameter).
09-27-18, 10:59 AM
Alternate transmission dip stick?
