jimisbell

I am going to change the filter on my 2004 LS with 94,000 miles on it. How much fluid will be lost when I do that. I Intend to replace the loss with NEW fluid

TominPT

Rather than guess, measure precisely what drains out when you drop the pan and add a few more ounces for the filter and retained fluid (even with that its still a guess, and assumes the level was correct to begin with). But to be safe go through the procedure to refill to the proper level by the book. I would also ask why you are replacing the filter - normally does not need to be changed at 94K miles.

jimisbell

because the dealer will NOT do a drain an refill, only a flush and I dont want to do a flush EVER because a flush is what killed my Cadilac Seville. But I want to change a little fluid every now and then to keep track on it. A filter replace every now and then will at least get some new fluid in it occasionally

TominPT

Suggestion - just do the drain and fill. Put the car up on ramps to make it easy, OPEN THE FILL PLUG FIRST, and then drain the pan with the engine stone cold at ambient temperature. Measure precisely. Add that amount of new fluid via the fill port. It will normally be about 3 quarts. No need to touch the filter and at 97,000 miles the filter is probably just fine and not worth the hassle of dropping the pan. I have done this 4 times with my 05 between 110 and 143,000 miles.. It is not that difficult.

bradland

Agree with Tom not to worry much about the filter.
Checking the fluid properly really isn't difficult. If you're concerned about your transmission it doesn't make sense to make assumptions with the fluid level.
If you had the confidence to drop the pan and replace the filter checking the fluid using the jumper wire/OBD port will be a walk in the park.
You can find the steps for the procedure in the sticky section- https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ml#post3379549

jimisbell

I have just had both my knees replaced. I wont be getting under the car for a few months so all work will be at the dealer. I thought a filter change might be a way to force the dealer to do what he wont do otherwise....drain and fill?


checking the fluid using the jumper wire/OBD port will be a walk in the park.Tell me about tht walk in the park, it wasnt in the link.

TominPT

The link works on my iphone, not sure what is up. Maybe try a different browser. Also, call around and see if a Toyota dealer will do just a drain and fill of the transmission.

TominPT

Post 11 of the link from Bradland,
. . . b) Without hand-held tester (Using D shift indicator)
(1) Connect terminals between CG (4) and TC (13) of
the DLC3 using SST (09843-18040) . . . .

Car Care Nut gives a tutorial - albeit for Toyota trucks but you get the idea,

You Tube

bradland

Thanks Tom I was going to suggest a Toyota dealer as well. The CCN vid pretty much sums it up.
It can be a bit intimidating the first time but you can do a practice run with the D shift indicator a few days prior until you're comfortable doing it.
OBD terminals to jump are CG (4) and TC (13) you can even use a paper clip. (air suspension terminals are CG (4) OPA (11) and TC (13))
Once you have the process down it's just a matter of doing the steps in order.
The first time I tried it I made the mistake of removing the fill plug, as opposed to just breaking it loose, and lost more fluid on the ground when I started the car.
The fill plug can be tricky to remove. The head of the plug is only about half as tall as a regular bolt and there's not enough room up there to use a ratchet/socket.
A closed end wrench works well if you can keep the wrench on the head of the shallow bolt. I wedged a thin piece of wood up next to the wrench to hold it in place as I broke the plug loose 👍

Copied from the Svc. Manual focus on the underlined sections if not using a traditional scan tool or working on a UL model with air suspension-

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
ADJUSTMENT
1. BEFORE TRANSMISSION FILL
_ This transmission requires Toyota Genuine ATF WS.
_ It is necessary to refill the transmission with the correct
amount of fluid.
_ The vehicle must remain level while adjusting fluid level.
2. TRANSMISSION PAN FILL
(a) Remove the two bolts and transmission case cover.
(b) Remove the refill plug and overflow plug.
(c) Fill the transmission through the refill hole until fluid begins
to trickle out of the overflow tube.
(d) Reinstall the overflow plug.
3. TRANSMISSION FILL
(a) Fill the transmission with the correct amount of fluid as
listed in the table below.
(b) Reinstall the refill plug to avoid fluid splash.
Performed Repair Fill Amount
Transmission pan and drain plug removal
1.3 liters (1.37 US qts, 1.14 Imp. qts)
Transmission valve body removal 3.9 liters (4.12 US qts, 3.43 Imp. qts)
Torque converter removal 5.3 liters (5.60 US qts, 4.66 Imp. qts)
Entire transmission assembly 5.3 liters (5.60 US qts, 4.66 Imp. qts)
HINT:
If you cannot add the listed amount of fluid, do the following:
(1) Install the refill plug.
(2) Allow the engine to idle with air conditioning OFF.
(3) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate
fluid.
(4) Wait for 30 seconds with the engine idling.
(5) Stop the engine.
(6) Remove the refill plug and add fluid.
(7) Reinstall the refill plug.
4. FLUID CIRCULATION
(a) Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning OFF.
(b) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate
the fluid.
5. FLUID TEMPERATURE CHECK
NOTICE:
_ On vehicles equipped with air suspension, perform
step (c) if it necessary to jack up the vehicle while the
engine running.
_ The fluid temperature should be less than 30_C (86_F)
before beginning the fluid temperature check.
(a) With hand-held tester
(1) Connect the hand-held tester to the DLC3.
(2) Select the tester menus: OBD/MOBD, ENGINE,
DATA LIST and A/T.
(3) Check A/T OIL TEMP.
(4) Allow the engine to idle until the fluid temperature
reaches 46_C (115_F).
(b) Without hand-held tester (Using D shift indicator)
(1) Connect terminals between CG (4) and TC (13) of
the DLC3 using SST (09843-18040).
(2) Move the shift lever back and forth between N and
D every 1.5 seconds for six seconds.
(3) The D shift indicator on the combination meter
comes on for two seconds. This indicates that the
fluid temperature check mode has been started.
(4) The D shift indicator will come on again when the
fluid temperature reaches 46_C (115_F) and will
blink when it exceeds 56_C (130_F).
(5) Allow the engine to idle unit the fluid temperature
reaches 46_C (115_F).
(c) For vehicles with air suspension (Using D shift indicator)
(1) Connect terminals between CG (4), OPA (11) and
TC (13) of the DLC3 using SST (09843-18040).
Terminal OPA is connected to prevent air suspension
height adjustment from occurring when the vehicle
is lifted off the ground with the engine running.
(2) Move the shift lever back and forth between N and
D at 1.5 seconds interval for six seconds.
(3) The D shift indicator on the combination meter
comes on for two seconds. This indicates that the
fluid temperature check mode has been started.
(4) The D shift indicator comes on again when the fluid
temperature reaches 46_C (115_F) and will blink
when it exceeds 56_C (130_F).
(5) Allow the engine to idle until the fluid temperature
reaches 46_C (115_F).
6. FLUID LEVEL CHECK
NOTICE:
The fluid temperature must be between 46_C (115_F) and
56_C (130_F) to accurately check the fluid level.
(a) Remove the overflow plug with the engine idling.
(b) Check that the fluid comes out of the overflow tube.
_ If fluid does not come out, proceed to step 7
_ If fluid comes out, wait until the over-flow slows to
a trickle and proceed to step 8.
7. TRANSMISSION REFILL
(a) Install the overflow plug.
(b) Stop the engine.
(c) Remove the refill plug.
(d) Add 0.4 liters (0.42 US qts, 0.35 Imp. qts) of fluid.
(e) Allow the engine to idle and wait for 10 seconds.
(f) Proceed to step 6.
8. COMPLETE
(a) Install the overflow plug with a new gasket.
(b) Stop the engine.
(c) Install the refill plug with a new gasket.
(d) Install the transmission case cover with the two bolts.
Torque:
20 Nm (205 kgfcm, 15 ftlbf) for overflow plug
39 Nm (400 kgfcm, 29 ftlbf) for refill plug

weldthedif

the transmission filer does not need to be changed. there is no interval.