smerre01

Well my order of 4 gallons of Amsoil Universal Synthetic ATF was waiting on my front porch for me when I got home. My wife is going to kill me spending 178.00 on just the fluid for her tranny, but from what you guys say it is the best. I have a new filter, o-ring, and gasket I got from toyota for 71.00, so I am looking forward to my weekend fun under the car again, lol....

Does anyone here put something like gasket sealer on their Tranny pan gasket when replacing it?

Man 4, gallons, this is just crazy. However there is 4 quarts to 1 gallon, supposedly the main drain of the tranny will take 7 qts., which is almost 2 gallons, then to do a drain and fill two more times within the same month it is 4 quarts for each of those giving me the other two gallons. I am glad I don't have to do this every oil change, it would be too expensive.

thomas1

the drain and fill only takes 4.3 qts. Just a little over 1 gallon.

smerre01

The tranny service instructions sticky'ed at the top of the forum suggest my first drain will take 7 qts. Hmmm, thinking about what you have said 4.3 qts. I don't have enough then. Great! AARRRGGHH! So thinking about that now to do the first main drain w/ filter, and two more drain and fills is a total of 15.6 quarts of fluid. So I am like 4 quarts short on fluid??? Jesus that is like 40.00 in Amsoil. That makes the fluid cost for the recommended procedure of a total of 3 drains and fills in a month 218.00!!!

Does this sound right to you guys???

lexus114

Hey smerre,what`s happenin? The 7qts.are with the converter too.Your drain and fill/w.filter should only be around 4.5 qts.That is with AWD,and draining the differential as well(witch holds around .5 qts.)Too bad the converters dont have a drain plug on them like my 1971 maverick did.

thomas1

Man, you have 4 gallons (16qts) that is good for 3 drain and fills...You should be fine.....Oh by the way I put a very thin layer of gasket compound on the pan side of the gasket to hold it in position. Dont do the transmission side. It is easier to clean the pan when off the tranny then to clean the tranny side from under the car. Just a tip that has worked for me....

Lexmex

I wouldn't put gasket sealer around there (bad personal experience once, but others can chime in). Simply tighten it and just check for leaks and tighten it a bit more if you encounter them.

When I did my 3 drain and fills over the past few weeks, I also noticed I was using 4 quarts on my AWD each time. I was paying $9 USD a quart down here at Carquest.

thomas1

that is why I said to use a very thin coat of sealer, just enough to hold the gasket in place, not enough to ooze out...And a drain and fill with both plugs on the transaxle takes exactly 4.3 qts. Done it too many times....every 15k or less gives you lots of experience....

TampRX300

Yep, don't put gasket sealer on the pan and the 7 quarts is with a complete flush including wasting some while flushing out the converter. You should use 2 gallons and be all set for years.

thomas1

The AWD takes 9.8 qts
THe FWD takes 8.8 qts
These are the total fluid capacities. To do a fluid exchange I would add 1 qt

smerre01

Well unfortunately there is no "store" locally to buy Amsoil around here, I will have to order more if I need it.

Thomas when you say a drain and fill with "BOTH" plugs what are you referring to? I was thinking it was just the drain plug on the tranny pan for the following flushes? Am I missing something?

TampRX300

There are many Amsoil Dealers all over, and trust me, it won't sell as well as it sounds.

If you read the thread well, you'll see that he's got to steps posted. One just the drain and fill which is using the drain plug on the tranny it self. That is just a drain and fill and should use about 4-5 quarts. On the complete flush you drop the pan and drain the transfer case (second plug) and you'll use close to 8 quarts or a little more if you flush the converter through the cooler return line. Just read carefully on his sticky, very good info.

lexus114

So the RX has a drain plug on the torque converter?

thomas1

NO, no drain plug on converter. I was talking about the transfer case plug, see post number three for a picture:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220061
You will get another 1/2 qt from there...It fills through the transmission dip stick just like the tranny pan. They share the same fluid....

TunedRX300

While the sealer makes the job easier by holding the gasket, I prefer to not letting in foreign substance into the ATF. New cars usually have high silicon in ppm in oil or ATF because of factory installed sealer.
There are ATF in tranny cooler (AWD), tranny lines, TC, and trapped by the filter. They won't come out unless you drop the pan and disconnect the tranny line.

smerre01

Thomas something must be wrong on my end, the only picture I see is for Step 9. I see the steps written in the post, but the only picture is for step 9 regarding the tranny return line.