Need help. Anyone with auto mechanical knowledge please!

Emanuel

Emanuel

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Dec 14, 2001
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Long story short I did something VERY boneheaded and now find myself with no auto transmission oil in my truck.

My question is, can I put the new transmission oil (that I'm going to buy tomorrow) through the dipstick?

I can't seem to find anywhere else I can put it. If the dipstick is a quick and easy place to refill the transmission oil that would be great.

I can't drive my truck until I get this and something else(another dumass mistake of mine) sorted out and here where I live it's like being in a wheelchair in the middle of the desert. Not good, but it's my own fault for not having an owner's manual.

Frustrated!:(
 
normally it would take forever to fill through the dipstick hole and you'll get 90% of the fluid on the floor, unless it unscrews so you get a bigger hole. You need a hole at least 1/2" in diameter really. My own experience is all with manual gearboxes though.

I would have a search on the web, there's probably a help site for your vehicle where you can find how to fill it, or phone a dealer and ask to speak to the mechanic.

How did you come to lose the fluid?
 
Yes, you fill an automatic transmission through the dipstick tube. You will need a funnel. The fluid level should be checked with the engine running, in park, after you wait a couple of minutes for the oil to drain down the tube.
 
A.W.U.K. said:
How did you come to lose the fluid?
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Mate it's soooo embarressing I can't bring myself to even say how it happened. It was such a stupid and basic mistake.

Simply put, I have no owner's manual so I have no idea where or what anything is. I know HOW to work on the car but I'm not good at figuring out what the part actually looks like and where it's located.

---
Oh BTW, so if I manage to find something that will cleanly put the oil in the dipstick, is it OK? It'll take me forever but that's fine. I just want this crap sorted out so I can go to the mechanic and get the rest sorted out! I'm happy to spend hours if necessary pouring in a drop at a time!


Thanks for your help!
 
Mike Carter Custom Knives said:
Yes, you fill an automatic transmission through the dipstick tube. You will need a funnel. The fluid level should be checked with the engine running, in park, after you wait a couple of minutes for the oil to drain down the tube.
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THANK YOU!!!

I will get on that. Atleast I'll have one of my screw ups fixed.

Thanks again.
 
Just make sure it is the transmission oil dipstick tube and not the engine oil dipstick. They often look alike but the transmission dipstick tube is usually larger and it should say "transmission" on the dipstick.
 
Don't know if you tried, but often an owner's manual can be found on the net. If something in your computer stetup makes it too hard to do a search (dial up) I'd be happy to look for ya. Just need the company, model and year. :)
 
Thanks! My truck is good, it even says on the dipstick what type of trans oil to use.
 
zenheretic said:
Don't know if you tried, but often an owner's manual can be found on the net. If something in your computer stetup makes it too hard to do a search (dial up) I'd be happy to look for ya. Just need the company, model and year. :)
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I found one place that had it but I had problems downloading. I'll keep trying though.
 
Good job you didn't listen to me too much, lol. I've done loads of work on cars but I've never owned an automatic.
 
Well the thing is you can feel good that atleast YOU would never have made the mistake I did. I even drove the truck a couple meters before realizing what happened. I hope I didn't cause any damage.

Me, tools, and complicated machines are a bad mix.
 
Do you have any large syringes around? That would be ideal for getting transmission fluid down the dipstick tube. That or a clean oiler.
 
Automatic transmissions are always filled through the dipstick tube,it's a slow process,you do need a small funnel.You probably didn't hurt the transmission if it only ran for a few seconds but it really wouldn't take much time running to cause damage.After you get it filled and run it a while pull the dipstick out again and see if the fluid has a burnt smell to it,if it does,it would be an indication of damage.For future reference,Autozone has repair manuals online for most any vehicle,http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm
 
You can also find a Chilton's manual one half.com normally for a couple of bucks...nice to have the manual in a hard copy at times.
 
Emanuel said:
Mate it's soooo embarressing I can't bring myself to even say how it happened. It was such a stupid and basic mistake.
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I'm just gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say that you were intending to do an oil change and loosened the wrong drain bolt. :D No need to be too embarrassed by it, I've done that once before myself. If I did it again now... well, then I'd be embarrassed!

Like others have said, you can fill it through the dipstick tube. Its a pita but it'll work.
 
roughedges said:
I'm just gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say that you were intending to do an oil change and loosened the wrong drain bolt. :D
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I can neither confirm nor deny that!:D

But seriously, thankyou, it's nice to know I'm not the only one to have done that.:D:D
Figured I would save some money by changing the oil and filter myself especially now that I live far from a mechanic.

Absintheur
You can also find a Chilton's manual one half.com normally for a couple of bucks...nice to have the manual in a hard copy at times.
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Thanks, my father told me where to look locally for an owner's manual but if that doesn't work I'll look in at that website.
 
It's a 1992 2.4l Toyota Hilux Surf 4x4 turbo diesel, automatic. I think you guys call it a 4Runner.

Thanks!

I refilled the auto trans oil and everything SEEMS ok. 4 Liters came out and 4 liters went back in. It doesn't smell bad at all, so I hope I didn't screw up too badly. It'll always be in the back of my mind though.

It's going to go to the mechanic on monday to really get everything back the way it should be just for my own peace of mind.

For the next time, when I want to change the oil and filter, all I REALLY need to know now is simply where exactly the engine oil drain plug is located. I have an idea, but then again.....I now have a history of being wrong about such matters.:)

If the owners manual has a diagram and an indication where it's located THAT would be what I need.

I use the truck hard, up to and including offroad on the ranch. It's beyond just important to me.
 
Filling the transmission fluid in my old '73 Ford F100 was a weekly deal for me until I finally got the tranny rebuilt. Never left home without a couple of quarts. I just used a funnel with an attached length of tubing that had a tapered snout at the end.
 
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