How to Add Transmission Fluid to a 2007 Toyota Tundra

by Eric Fenton
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It is important to change the transmission fluid for your Toyota Tundra every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Failure to do so can lead to problems with transmission shifting or to malfunction in the operation of the automatic transmission.

Step 1

Drive your Toyota Tundra around for 15 to 20 minutes. This gets the engine going and heats up the transmission fluid, which must be hot before it can be changed. When finished, park on even ground but leave the engine running.

Step 2

Lift the truck using jacks or ramps and locate the transmission under the front of the truck cab. Remove grease from the drain plug with a clean rag and cleaning solvent. Also, wipe off any dirt or grease in the area around the plug.

Step 3

Remove the dipstick from the filler tube. Place the funnel into the filler tube and put the drain pan beneath the tube to collect the old fluid.

Step 4

Use the socket wrench to remove the overflow plug and the refill plugs. The old fluid will drain out into the pan. Be sure not to let the fluid touch you because it should still be very hot and could burn.

Step 5

Wait for the old transmission fluid to stop draining. Pour the new transmission fluid through the funnel into the filler tube. Wipe off the dipstick using the rag and use stick to monitor the level of fluid inside the tube. Stop adding fluid when the level indicated by the dipstick reaches the desired point. Otherwise, continue adding the transmission fluid until it starts to trickle from the overflow tube. Note that a slow steady drip is not a trickle and, as such, does not mean that the fluid is at the desired level.

Step 6

Install new overflow plug along with a new gasket, and then turn off the engine. Install a new refill plug with its own new gasket in place of the old one. Replace the dipstick in the filler tube and start the truck without revving the engine. Let it run for 5 to 10 minutes, then shift the gears a couple of times, finally putting the truck back into park.

Step 7

To ensure everything is in order, examine the dipstick again and see what fluid level it indicates. Add more transmission fluid using steps 4, 5, and 6, if necessary (though the new overflow plug and refill plug need not be replaced again).

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