I already changed my ATF and didn't realize at the time that I should probably do a how-to. Regardless, I took some pics just now to help you out for a basic fluid swap. It's fairly easy... actually easier than changing the manual tranny fluid.

Anyhow, I used Eneos ATF which meets and exceeds the Toyota Type-IV for our automatic trannys.
http://www.tweakedice.com/img/oils/eneos_atf_large.jpg

1. Drain the old tranny fluid via the plug at the bottom of the tranny pan, the same procedure as if you were changing your engine oil. Re-tighten when drained.

http://www.tweakedice.com/atfchange1.jpg


2. Now that the tranny fluid is drained, we will need to refill it. The advantage for us auto guys is that we have a tranny fluid dipstick... this is where we will be refilling our ATF through. Remove the auto transmission dip stick (red circle), do not get it confused with the engine oil dip stick (green circle).

http://www.tweakedice.com/atfchange2.jpg

3. Place a thin tipped funnel inside the mouth where the dipstick enters and pour selected ATF. You'll need about 4 quarts/bottles. Replace the dipstick.
http://www.tweakedice.com/atfchange3.jpg

4. Make sure everything is tightened up and secure, then start your engine. Let it warm up to the regular running temperature and then check your tranny fluid level via the dipstick. And you're DONE.

Overall, the car runs a lot smoother and is just as easy as changing your motor oil. For me, I went the route of changing the filter as well, which requires dropping the pan. I would recommend doing that for anyone who hasn't changed their auto tranny fluid and has over 45k+ miles.

As always, be sure to use jack stands when working under the car.

I am not responsible if you screw your car up somehow.

Any questions, just ask.

Thanks for the DIY

eneos FTW!

Good write up sir.

Very nice write up. What are other good brands for ATF fluid?

Wow I didn't know it'd be that easy. Anyone know exactly how many quarts of ATF we use? Props to KINGxOFxSKA for the write-up. I might do this tomorrow.

i think i used 4qts when i changed mine. i didn't drop the pan though

thanx! I was wondering about this since now I have decided to do all the maintenance instead of taking it to the dealer

btw, can you get Eneos from any local auto parts store?

Good write up.

Hey thanks for the DIY, quick question though...where'd you get rid off the old tranny fliud?

nice writeup

Hey thanks for the DIY, quick question though...where'd you get rid off the old tranny fliud?

You can take your old fluid to NAPA or most other auto parts store.

btw, can you get Eneos from any local auto parts store?

I think Super Autobachs sells Eneos... or you can purchase it online.

http://www.tweakedice.com/eneosatf.html

Very nice write up. What are other good brands for ATF fluid?

For our Toyota engine, it's a little harder to find other auto tranny fluids since we are only specifically supposed to use the Toyota Type IV ATF. The good thing about the Eneos Synthetic fluid is that it meets the Type IV standards and more.

Oh alright. Thanks. I might change the oil at 20k miles.

If you did want to change the tranny filter in the pan, how would you go about doing that? Are the bolts that are on the tranny pan easy to remove? Also, what type of filter would you recommend and could you get the filter at any old auto parts store? Thanks!

Good write up.

x2

i like your engine bay...very clean...and the black heatshield nice touch...is that an hc1800 kinetik?

If you did want to change the tranny filter in the pan, how would you go about doing that? Are the bolts that are on the tranny pan easy to remove? Also, what type of filter would you recommend and could you get the filter at any old auto parts store? Thanks!

The tranny pan drops like the oil pan. You'll need a new gasket and a new filter which you can purchase from any auto parts store or dealership.



i like your engine bay...very clean...and the black heatshield nice touch...is that an hc1800 kinetik?

Thank you. That is a Kinetik HC1800 :)

im turbo and because of the intake pipe its blocking the the dipstick:(

Royal Purple Max ATF from http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&Ntt=Royal+Purple+Max+ATF&x=0&y=0&N=700+115&searchinresults=false

, is that ok? it would be my guess any ATF fluid works for the car but this im guessing isnt "covered by warranty" correct?[/code]

Royal Purple Max ATF from http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&Ntt=Royal+Purple+Max+ATF&x=0&y=0&N=700+115&searchinresults=false

, is that ok? it would be my guess any ATF fluid works for the car but this im guessing isnt "covered by warranty" correct?

No, not all ATF will work with our car. It doesn't say anything about Toyota Type-IV which is what our car requires.

From the Summit Racing website:
"Royal Purple Max ATF is a synthetic, high-performance, long life, multipurpose automatic transmission fluid. It is recommended for all automatic transmissions requiring Ford Mercon or GM Dexron III transmission fluids. "

Doesn't say anything about Toyota Type-IV

This is stright off of royal purple's website.

"Toyota - Type T, Type T-III, Type IV-- Max ATF"
They do recomend it for our cars!

booo yah thanks my man, i already ordered it =] ha

I was thinking about ordering it to but I didnt have enough time to do it bc I was pushing to have it done so I just went and got ATF for the dealer. But himynameischris if you could let me know how the max ATF works that would be great!! Thinking about getting it but would like to see what you think of it when you get it in your tranny!
Thanks,
Chris

nice find... i didn't bother checking the royal purple website. :)

We got all ENEOS oils in stock- FREE Shipping

http://www.carcandymotorsports.com/index.php/cPath/404_406

Greg

wow summit is fast, (and close) i just got the tranny fluid TODAY, ordered yesterday recieved today A+, ill install it tonight and will be cruiseing around ill give some feedback!.


*edit* fluid was installed and the car ran beautiful, it shifts much smoother and harder, my friend was even complimenting it after it was done.....

wow great write up...dealer wants to charge me... $190 for that.. rip off!

You can also use Amsoil Synthetic ATF

Thanks for the write up.......I wilhave to check out the Eneos Tranny fluid when I do mine......I like to change it out every 20,000 that way the slush box lasts a long long time.

I wouldn't use anything but type IV. It can void your warranty. Also the dealer charges X amount of $ because we at least my dealer flushes all the old fluid out. A drain and fill will not take out all the old fluid. There will still be a good amount of dirty fluid in the tranny. Just like a drain and fill on a radiator will not take out all the dirty fluid in the cooling system.

yeah but go ahead and flush a valve body, not the best idea for them. No matter if a "dealer" said it was good. Also power flushing an aluminum radiator, not a good idea if you don't want to have something rupture. Aluminum = Thin = No flushing, just drain.

I would just drain and refill like Toyota recommends (even in the service manual they only recommend draining). At how often people are draining it, like every 15k to 20k miles you have nothing to worry about. I would worry about flushing the entire trans with a pressure machine! ouch!

Sorry bro,

Your wrong. At least on any of the machines I have ever used. The coolant flush machine won't even run if the pressure is to high. The trans flush machine puts lets pressure on the trans then it gets during normal use.

hey guys for info toyota's tranny fluid is Dex-III if u look at the back of the bottle, its honda that is really strict on their tranny fluid anyways anyone have a writeup on auto tranny's tranny filter change like how does it look when i pull it off?

thanks for the diy!!

Thanks man!

Hi
for any miles - have to be ATF oil changed?

for any miles - have to be motor oil changed?

maybe some one have photos - how to chnage oil filter?

thanks in advance
www.scion.pl

change it at 30k

how obout motor oil ? in manual is " change each 5000miles" isnt it to fast ?

i think people should be careful. i have a 2007 tc and the dealer and my dipstick says to use only ws type fluid. i have a thread going titled oops! tranny fluid on the main page. please read and respond.

yeah it changed for 07-09 tC's.

05-06's are type iv and 07-09's is ws.

so - what type of oil is for Scion tc 07?

wow great DIY, didn't know it was THAT easy

Hey, does anyone know the exact part # for the filter? Also, does it require a special tool for removal/installation? What about flushing it- necessary or..? I've got approx 35k on it having never swapped the fluid out and I already have some nice Royal Purple ready to go...

Hey, does anyone know the exact part # for the filter? Also, does it require a special tool for removal/installation?

http://www.partsgeek.com/gbparts/2005/scion/tc/automatic_transmission_filter_kit.html

Wow so u fill through the dipstick...

Yup!

I gotta change my fluids...my tC is already coming up 50k. I been lazy...

it seems i don't have a tool to get the drain bolt off...all my hex are too small.

Well if thats the case you could probly go to a autoparts store or hardware store and buy a cheap one

I tried to unscrew the drain plug using a 10mm hex but it wouldn't budge! Any tips?

Definitely worth doing at the 30k mile mark for autos. There is a noticeable difference in smoothness when the transmission shifts. Least for me lol

Does anyone know the actual Toyota filter & gasket part number?

Plus, does it still only need four quarts when changing filter too?


My dealer stated (not kidding) that AT filter NEVER needs to be changed? :lol: While buddy of mine stated anytime you change fluid you should change out filter. He's GM tech.

i changed mine at 50k and used the Toyota ATF

I noticed the car was shifting waaaay smoother

now im almost at 70k and i think i'll probably change it at 80k

I think i read somewhere that you dont even need to change it til like 60k

If you drop the filter you are going to need more than 4 quarts to be able to refill it

If you drop the filter you are going to need more than 4 quarts to be able to refill it


You wouldn't happen to know the actual QT number I should buy??? Don't want to buy short-handed.....They see my face enough there :rofl:

*sorry if i'm wrong* but the guy at toyota told me all i needed to do was rinse out the filter thorougly after i've drained the atf, then just refill. it'll take about 4 quarts if the pans been dropped and 3 additional torque convertor was also drained.

i didn't bother dropping the pan and cleaning. i just drained and refilled, used about 3.5 quarts.

^^ so then the filter is just a mesh screen it sounds like.

yes it is a screen,if you take the car in to get fluid changed they hook it upvia the radiator lines that go from the tranny and it sucks everything in reverse from the tranny and pumps in new fluid,it also takes the contaminants with it doing that way.....but if you do your self you have to pull out the filter to get the crud out.....easy to do,most like ly one screw holds it on inside.....i will find out later this year at 30000.

Will the Eneos ATF work with Castle WS? Because it's got a little notation next to it saying something about required tools or something.. hmmmm'..

drained and filled with toyota iv at 30,000 miles and then again (today) at 70,000 miles with royal purple max atf. a little less than 4 quarts. probably going to dump the rest in soon. shifts are like butter.

also did my oil change with royal purple 5w30 and a mobil 1 oil filter. royal purple oil > mobil 1 oil

the tool is a 10mm hex. square-like socket

and i am assuming you don't replace the drain plug gasket/washer for the atf? it's a metal one. my friend did the drained mine at 30,000 miles so i didn't notice. and it is a different size from the oil pan drain plug gasket.

<3 royal purple

on the 07 and up tc's the auto tranny filter is not a screen but basically a box with a foam like filter inside. i purchased the filter and gasket yesterday and 07 up autos us WS fluid which stands for World Standard I believe. i'm going to be attempting to change this the auto fluid and filter this weekend and will be taking pictures to hopefully give us all some idea of the process, the techs at the dealership said its pretty straight forward.

Yeah you wont have a problem it pretty easy

how often should you change out your tranny fluid? on the dip stick it says under normal driving conditions you shouldnt ever have to change it in small print(just read it).now ive seen people doing it every 30-35k miles and that seems a lil too frequent, just a waste of money to do it that often. would you say every 60k or so?

Do you have to change the drain plug gasket when you flush the tranny fluid?

Do you have to change the drain plug gasket when you flush the tranny fluid?

yes you should replace that drain plug gasket/washer. part number is 90430-18008 make sure you get that one, dealers have been known to give the wrong one. it's about $1 for it.

Alright thanks ill get it. Already got 4qts of eneos synth atf fluid coming in :)

Alright thanks ill get it. Already got 4qts of eneos synth atf fluid coming in :)
you know the rest of the toyota atf will be in there, the total capacity is like 9qts. So you should probably drain the 4qts, fill it with eneos, drain again and fill again to have the majority of it as eneos. it's the poor man's way to get it all into something different, like eneos. you could even do it a third time to make sure it all get changed. but that's really the way to do it.

Well I dont have money to spend on multiple eneos quarts lol.

^^ yeah i know it's not that cheap to do it the "poor man's way" but that's how ya do it to make sure you get all the fluid out. lol

There's no reason to not do what the Scion Owner's Manual says...

IMO, this is something that's actually worth paying the dealer to do every 60k - power flush, change fluid, new filter, new pan gasket.

On an autotrans., synthetics really don't do anything for the average driver (those without FI). It's intended for handling high heat conditions - weather or hard driving.

im confused on how to check the level of the tranny fluid .
Should it be checked while the car is running or can i check it first thing in the morning ?
I think the fluid is low barely any fluid on the dipstick after a 20 minute ride maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch into the dipstick nowhere near the any of the markings on the stick . any help would be really appreciated .

Does anyone know the ATF drain bolt torque spec? I tightened to 32 lb-ft but wanted to be sure. The torque spec info page lists A, B, and C bolts which I assume are for the manual tranny.

Thanks.

Does anyone know the ATF drain bolt torque spec? I tightened to 32 lb-ft but wanted to be sure. The torque spec info page lists A, B, and C bolts which I assume are for the manual tranny.

Thanks.

just looked it up in the service manual, the ATF drain bolt is 36 ft-lbs. and dont forget to use a new washer/gasket when you do remove the drain bolt :)

just looked it up in the service manual, the ATF drain bolt is 36 ft-lbs. and dont forget to use a new washer/gasket when you do remove the drain bolt :)


Thanks!

My auto trans has a metal gasket did not change mine. But that's just my opinion

It's not that much harder to just flush all 9 quarts at once instead of leaving the other 5 in the radiator and torque converter. The filter I bought from Auto Zone came with a new rubber gasket. There's a good video of how to do an atf flush on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsdPAadc9fY

Hi, am trying to see how to do this steps, but the pictures do not shows up. Anyone?