Maintenance TechThis forum is for discussion of all aspects of maintenance that should be performed on the FJ Cruiser to keep it operating at maximum efficiency.
Remember the good old days having a dip stick? I know Toyota has their reasons for eliminating the dip stick/filler tube but can anyone tell me why they did that?
Toyota put a proprietary synthetic ATF called Toyota "WS" (World Standard) that they feel is good for 100,000 miles of service in the FJ (questionable at best). There's no need to check it unless you have leaks and they want you to bring it into the dealer to have it changed since the fluid is only available at from the dealer and has a specific procedure for changing it out.
I guess they feel that if we can't get to the atf, we can't mess it up and the trannies will last longer. There's actually some logic to that.
DEWFPO
__________________ 2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
"Wanted - young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Original newspaper add placed by William Hepburn Russell, founder of the The Pony Express
Thanks DEWFPO, That's what I was figuring (make it tamper proof). I was also figuring on changing their super duper trans fluid @ the 50K mark to be on the safe side.
Location: Oh mommy I ain't no commie I'm just doing what I can to live the good all American...Way
Posts: 2,100
Re: Automatic Tranny fluid
I can understand that.. It would be nice if we could trust that it was filled properly from the factory and it would in fact last that long. Toyota has always favored the "only authorized Toyota service" stuff. It just seems strange to not have a dip stick.. Ron
Quote:
DEWFPO previously said:
Toyota put a proprietary synthetic ATF called Toyota "WS" (World Standard) that they feel is good for 100,000 miles of service in the FJ (questionable at best). There's no need to check it unless you have leaks and they want you to bring it into the dealer to have it changed since the fluid is only available at from the dealer and has a specific procedure for changing it out.
I guess they feel that if we can't get to the atf, we can't mess it up and the trannies will last longer. There's actually some logic to that.
DEWFPO
__________________
08 SS, SS valve stem caps and exhaust tip
Rapper standing on the corner, wrappers flying in the wind... And in my quite reflection, I wonder why..
Actually a lot of newer vehicles come from the factory now without automatic transmission dipsticks. They probably want us to use the top-notch dealer service instead of a DIY. Yes, I'm being sarcastic
Can't recall if I mentioned this, but about a month ago I thought I'd check the level in my FJ. This was after a drive out to my hobby farm, around 98 miles in temps of 60-65 F
With the motor idling, parked on the level floor in my shop, I took out the overflow plug and fluid gushed out. Almost 300 ml. I had two cans of WS in my shop - here Toyota sells WS in a 4 litre tin can with a lot of Japanease printing on it - so thought at 10 K's I would go ahead and change it
The fluid drained out very clear, a nice bright red. I didn't drop the pan, in hindsight I wish I had to inspect the magnet. I refilled with 4 litres and went through the D-R, D-R thing until the fluid was warm. A very slight dribble came out the overflow plug
Went for a highway drive for 10 mins, returned to the shop, and rechecked the level again. A bit of seepage came out the overflow plug, so close enough
I haven't noticed any difference in performance. The fluid came out pretty clean, but I never go offroad or tow. Assuming the level was correct from the factory, the easiest way to get the level correct is drain it into a pan and then use a quart or litre measuring container, like you'd use for cooking, to determine exactly how much to put back in.
That should be close enough. Again, assuming they got the level correct from the factory
__________________
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C" package, Sun Fusion
2004 Toyota Prius "B" package, Tideland Pearl
Thanks DEWFPO, That's what I was figuring (make it tamper proof). I was also figuring on changing their super duper trans fluid @ the 50K mark to be on the safe side.
The same here. I've seen 'lifetime' atf fluids promoted by car manufacturers and my experiences have been to change them at half that recommended interval. There also seems to be less 'shock' to the trans. when you change it more frequently. The solenoids in these transmissions really do prefer clean atf to work with.
I think you'll be surprised at how bad it's going to look at just 50K. Especially if you do allot of off-roading or towing.
DEWFPO
__________________ 2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
"Wanted - young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Original newspaper add placed by William Hepburn Russell, founder of the The Pony Express
Assuming the level was correct from the factory, the easiest way to get the level correct is drain it into a pan and then use a quart or litre measuring container, like you'd use for cooking, to determine exactly how much to put back in.
That should be close enough. Again, assuming they got the level correct from the factory
That's my philosophy as well. I always measure what I take out to the ounce. The reason for me is that I don't really have a flat spot to park a vehicle on so I don't trust the "fill it till it pours out" routine. There's too much of a chance of me overfilling or underfilling. But again, as you said, I must assume the factory has filled it to the correct level. (I know that hasn't been the case with my Silverado's rear differential. A well documented issue of underfilling from the factory.)
DEWFPO
__________________ 2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
"Wanted - young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Original newspaper add placed by William Hepburn Russell, founder of the The Pony Express
Location: Oh mommy I ain't no commie I'm just doing what I can to live the good all American...Way
Posts: 2,100
Re: Automatic Tranny fluid
Yes.. It would make things so much simplier if we could just check the dipstick peridocally.
We had a rash of diff underfilling's with the Rubicon (lockers), so lots and lots of folks hit the Jiffy lube. They didn't realize the fill plug would hang the locker if it was over torqued. Many, many diff ruined.. Probably more than were ruined by being underfilled. I love the ARB diff cover with the dip stick! Ron
Quote:
DEWFPO previously said:
That's my philosophy as well. I always measure what I take out to the ounce. The reason for me is that I don't really have a flat spot to park a vehicle on so I don't trust the "fill it till it pours out" routine. There's too much of a chance of me overfilling or underfilling. But again, as you said, I must assume the factory has filled it to the correct level. (I know that hasn't been the case with my Silverado's rear differential. A well documented issue of underfilling from the factory.)
DEWFPO
__________________
08 SS, SS valve stem caps and exhaust tip
Rapper standing on the corner, wrappers flying in the wind... And in my quite reflection, I wonder why..
I know that hasn't been the case with my Silverado's rear differential. A well documented issue of underfilling from the factory.
I used to have a 2000 GMC Sierra half ton 4x4. The underfill in on purpose, the recommended 2 litres puts the level almost 2 inches below the fill plug
I used to always just put in 3 litres, which put the level at the fill plug. I wonder if they had weak axle seals? Mine leaked before I even changed the gear lube, both the axle seals and pinion seal were leakers from the factory
__________________
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C" package, Sun Fusion
2004 Toyota Prius "B" package, Tideland Pearl
2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
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