Changing the transmission fluid in a 2007 Camry

Hi,
I own a 2007 Toyota Camry XLE with about 95,000 miles and I was wondering if changing the transmission fluid is ever necessary. The maintenance guide, which shows required maintenance for every 5,000 miles through 120,000 miles, never mentions the need to change it (unless I'm doing towing, which I'm not). However, I found some articles on the web which suggest that it should be changed every 50,000 miles. Your response is appreciated.

You must change your ATF if you plan to own this car!

Lifetime fluid is how manufacturers want you buy a new car because as long as your vehicle is out of warranty and it is not drivable any more they want you to come back.

I personally realized that thing too late for my car. My transmission developed a jolt at about 90,000 miles and simple 3 time drain/refill cured this problem.

Four cylinder procedure is fairly strait forward: drain/refill, drive a little, repeat it two more times.

Good luck,
Sam

If you plan to do it yourself make sure you get extra 18 mm washers. I have tried to reuse the old one like I do it om my Hondas, but it leaked.

Make sure you get the correct fluid.

I do not know if 6 cylinder transmission procedure is the same.

Good luck,
Sam

Fluids
ENGINE COOLANT / INVERTER COOLANT
Replace Super Long Life Coolant at 96 months/128,000 km, thereafter every 48 months/64,000 km
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION & HYBRID TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTIAL
Replace fluid every 72 months/96,000 km
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Replace fluid every 48 months/64,000 km
DIFFERENTIAL (4WD & RWD MODELS ONLY)
Replace fluid every 48 months/64,000 km
TRANSFER CASE (4WD MODELS)
Replace fluid every 48 months/64,000 km

http://www.villatoyota.com/en/after-sales-service/maintenance-schedule/?presetmakeid=&make=Toyota&model=Camry&year=2007&lcarids=1076100305|XLE+V6#dropmenu

Thjough that is dealer site. My Camry Hybrid comes with lifetime lubricant, but it does not have a conventional transmission too. To stay on the safe side, I replaced it at 50 000 miles anyway. Some do not bother. I'd say, you are term due for ATF change. You are supposed to use that World Grade ATF, or some like, that , right?

I recommend taking it to a dealership. This is one of the only times I recommend this. The fluid has to be changed at a very narrow temp range, other wise you will overfill it or under fill it. These transmissions are very sensitive to viscosity and level. Have the dealer do it, it will cost about 200 probably, but it is worth it. There may be a few gear heads outthere who know exactly how to do it. I personally have done alot of mechanical work, and this was the one procedure I just took to the dealer.

Good luck.

Actually, only the U660E transmission (2007 Camry V6) has a complicated filling procedure (see below). The U250E transmission (2005-2009 Camry 4-cyl) has a standard dip stick and can be filled normally.

For anyone who wants to know the procedure for filling the U660E transmission, here it is:

1. BEFORE FILLING TRANSAXLE WITH FLUID
• This transaxle requires Genuine ATF WS transmission fluid.
• After servicing the transaxle, you must refill the transaxle with the correct amount of fluid.
• Maintain the vehicle in a horizontal position while adjusting fluid level.
• Proceed to step 2 if the oil pan, valve body, drive shaft, and/or torque converter has been removed or if the oil seal has been replaced.
• Proceed to step 3 if oil leakage has been repaired and if the oil cooler and cooler hose have been removed.

2. FILL TRANSAXLE PAN WITH FLUID
(a) Remove the engine under cover LH.
(b) Remove the engine under cover RH.
(c) Remove the under front fender apron seal RH.
(d) Remove the refill plug and overflow plug.
(e) Fill the transaxle through the refill hole until fluid begins to trickle out of the overflow tube.
(f) Temporarily install the overflow plug.

3. FILL TRANSAXLE WITH FLUID
(a) Fill the transaxle with the correct amount of fluid as listed in the table below.

Standard capacity
Performed Repair - Fill Amount
Replacement of transaxle (a new torque converter is used) - 5.3 liters (5.6 US qts, 4.7 lmp. qts)
Replacement of transaxle (the torque converter is reused) - 3.4 liters (3.6 US qts, 3.0 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of oil pan (including oil drain) Removal & installation of drive shaft - 2.8 liters (3.0 US qts, 2.5 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of valve body - 3.2 liters (3.4 US qts, 2.8 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of torque converter - 4.8 liters (5.1 US qts, 4.2 lmp. qts)
Repair of oil leakage and removal of oil cooler and cooler hose - 0.5 liters (0.5 US qts, 0.4 lmp. qts

HINT:
If you cannot add the listed amount of fluid, do the following:
(1) Temporarily install the refill plug.
(2) Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning OFF.
(3) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate fluid.
(4) Move the shift lever to the P position.
(5) Wait for 30 seconds with the engine idling.
(6) Stop the engine.
(7) Remove the refill plug and add fluid.
(8) Reinstall the refill plug.

(b) Temporarily install the refill plug to avoid fluid splash.

4. CIRCULATE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID
(a) Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning OFF.
(b) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate the fluid.

5. CHECK FLUID TEMPERATURE
NOTICE:
The fluid temperature should be less than 40°C (104°F) before beginning the fluid temperature check.
(a) With the intelligent tester:
(1) Connect the intelligent tester to the DLC3.
(2) Select the tester menus: OBD/MOBD, ENGINE, DATA LIST and A/T.
(3) Check A/T OIL TEMP.
(4) Allow the engine to idle until the fluid temperature reaches 39°C (102°F).

(b) Without the intelligent tester (Using D shift indicator):
(1) Connect terminals CG (4) and TC (13) of the DLC3 using SST. (SST 09843-18040)
(2) Move the shift lever back and forth between N and D at 1.5 seconds interval for 6 seconds.
(3) The D shift indicator on the combination meter comes on for 2 seconds when the fluid temperature is within the appropriate temperature range.
(4) The D shift indicator will come on again when the fluid temperature reaches 40°C (104°F) and will blink when it exceeds 45°C (113°F).
(5) After confirming that the D shift indicator turns off, move the shift lever to the P position and remove the SST from terminals CG and TC.

6. CHECK TRANSAXLE FLUID LEVEL
NOTICE:
The fluid temperature must be between 40°C (104°F) and 45°C (113°F) to accurately check the fluid level.
(a) Remove the overflow plug with the engine idling.
(b) Check that the fluid comes out of the overflow tube. If fluid does not come out, proceed to step 7. If fluid comes out, wait until the overflow slows to a trickle and proceed to step 8.

7. ADD FLUID
(a) Remove the overflow plug.
(b) Remove the refill plug.
(c) Add the fluid until it comes out of the overflow plug.
(d) Wait until the overflow slows to a trickle.
(e) Install the overflow plug with a new gasket.
(f) Install the refill plug with a new gasket.
(g) Stop the engine.

8. AFTER FILLING TRANSMISSION
(a) Install the overflow plug with a new gasket. Torque: 40 N*m (408 kgf*cm, 30 ft.*lbf)
(b) Install the refill plug with a new gasket. Torque: 49 N*m (500 kgf*cm, 36 ft.*lbf)
(c) Stop the engine.

Actually, only the U660E transmission (2007 Camry V6) has a complicated filling procedure (see below). The U250E transmission (2005-2009 Camry 4-cyl) has a standard dip stick and can be filled normally.

For anyone who wants to know the procedure for filling the U660E transmission, here it is:

1. BEFORE FILLING TRANSAXLE WITH FLUID
• This transaxle requires Genuine ATF WS transmission fluid.
• After servicing the transaxle, you must refill the transaxle with the correct amount of fluid.
• Maintain the vehicle in a horizontal position while adjusting fluid level.
• Proceed to step 2 if the oil pan, valve body, drive shaft, and/or torque converter has been removed or if the oil seal has been replaced.
• Proceed to step 3 if oil leakage has been repaired and if the oil cooler and cooler hose have been removed.

2. FILL TRANSAXLE PAN WITH FLUID
(a) Remove the engine under cover LH.
(b) Remove the engine under cover RH.
(c) Remove the under front fender apron seal RH.
(d) Remove the refill plug and overflow plug.
(e) Fill the transaxle through the refill hole until fluid begins to trickle out of the overflow tube.
(f) Temporarily install the overflow plug.

3. FILL TRANSAXLE WITH FLUID
(a) Fill the transaxle with the correct amount of fluid as listed in the table below.

Standard capacity
Performed Repair - Fill Amount
Replacement of transaxle (a new torque converter is used) - 5.3 liters (5.6 US qts, 4.7 lmp. qts)
Replacement of transaxle (the torque converter is reused) - 3.4 liters (3.6 US qts, 3.0 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of oil pan (including oil drain) Removal & installation of drive shaft - 2.8 liters (3.0 US qts, 2.5 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of valve body - 3.2 liters (3.4 US qts, 2.8 lmp. qts)
Removal & installation of torque converter - 4.8 liters (5.1 US qts, 4.2 lmp. qts)
Repair of oil leakage and removal of oil cooler and cooler hose - 0.5 liters (0.5 US qts, 0.4 lmp. qts

HINT:
If you cannot add the listed amount of fluid, do the following:
(1) Temporarily install the refill plug.
(2) Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning OFF.
(3) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate fluid.
(4) Move the shift lever to the P position.
(5) Wait for 30 seconds with the engine idling.
(6) Stop the engine.
(7) Remove the refill plug and add fluid.
(8) Reinstall the refill plug.

(b) Temporarily install the refill plug to avoid fluid splash.

4. CIRCULATE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID
(a) Allow the engine to idle with the air conditioning OFF.
(b) Move the shift lever through entire gear range to circulate the fluid.

5. CHECK FLUID TEMPERATURE
NOTICE:
The fluid temperature should be less than 40°C (104°F) before beginning the fluid temperature check.
(a) With the intelligent tester:
(1) Connect the intelligent tester to the DLC3.
(2) Select the tester menus: OBD/MOBD, ENGINE, DATA LIST and A/T.
(3) Check A/T OIL TEMP.
(4) Allow the engine to idle until the fluid temperature reaches 39°C (102°F).

(b) Without the intelligent tester (Using D shift indicator):
(1) Connect terminals CG (4) and TC (13) of the DLC3 using SST. (SST 09843-18040)
(2) Move the shift lever back and forth between N and D at 1.5 seconds interval for 6 seconds.
(3) The D shift indicator on the combination meter comes on for 2 seconds when the fluid temperature is within the appropriate temperature range.
(4) The D shift indicator will come on again when the fluid temperature reaches 40°C (104°F) and will blink when it exceeds 45°C (113°F).
(5) After confirming that the D shift indicator turns off, move the shift lever to the P position and remove the SST from terminals CG and TC.

6. CHECK TRANSAXLE FLUID LEVEL
NOTICE:
The fluid temperature must be between 40°C (104°F) and 45°C (113°F) to accurately check the fluid level.
(a) Remove the overflow plug with the engine idling.
(b) Check that the fluid comes out of the overflow tube. If fluid does not come out, proceed to step 7. If fluid comes out, wait until the overflow slows to a trickle and proceed to step 8.

7. ADD FLUID
(a) Install the overflow plug.
(b) Remove the refill plug.
(c) Add the fluid until it comes out of the overflow plug.
(d) Wait until the overflow slows to a trickle.
(e) Install the overflow plug with a new gasket.
(f) Install the refill plug with a new gasket.
(g) Stop the engine.

8. AFTER FILLING TRANSMISSION
(a) Install the overflow plug with a new gasket. Torque: 40 N*m (408 kgf*cm, 30 ft.*lbf)
(b) Install the refill plug with a new gasket. Torque: 49 N*m (500 kgf*cm, 36 ft.*lbf)
(c) Stop the engine.

Yikes! Can't you just carefully capture and measure what you remove and add back the exact same amount?

It looks more complicated than it really is. The bottom line of the above filling procedure is that the fluid must be between 104°F and 113°F and you must fill it using the overflow tube level. You can test the temperature using the procedure in 5.(b) above by jumping the listed terminals. Temperature is in the correct range after the D gear indicator comes on for two seconds, and before it starts blinking.

The right temp... very interesting. What's the reason behind it? I never heard of that, but then again I don't have a newer model.

The right temp... very interesting. What's the reason behind it? I never heard of that, but then again I don't have a newer model.

Lubricants like transmission fluid and motor oil expand and contract with temperature. If you measure the volume of a fluid by its height, and the volume needs to be accurate, you have to control the temperature otherwise you will not know exactly what volume you actually have. Too cold or too hot fluid will mislead you since the height varies a lot with temperature.

Lubricants like transmission fluid and motor oil expand and contract with temperature. If you measure the volume of a fluid by its height, and the volume needs to be accurate, you have to control the temperature otherwise you will not know exactly what volume you actually have. Too cold or too hot fluid will mislead you since the height varies a lot with temperature.

I never knew that! I guess this is why we need to check our trans dip sticks after the car has been running a while and is hot? So would this apply to ALL transmission fluid changes? Even the older cars like my 2001 I take it?

Your car has a transmission dip stick with "HOT" and "COLD" level ranges. Measure it best hot (at operating temperature) on a level surface. Yes, this applies to every measurement with a dip stick. You also have to measure it with the engine idling.

One thing that adds to the large difference in dip stick height with changes in fluid temperature is that you have a lot of fluid in the transmission including that in the valve body and torque converter. All this fluid expanding adds to the height of the fluid in the pan (which is what you are measuring with the dip stick).

All this circulating fluid is why draining and filling your pan only changes about 1/3 of the fluid. You are not draining the torque converter or valve body. The only way to change it all is to dump the circulating fluid from one of the cooler lines while simultaneously filling the pan.

Actually, only the U660E transmission (2007 Camry V6) has a complicated filling procedure (see below). The U250E transmission (2005-2009 Camry 4-cyl) has a standard dip stick and can be filled normally...



What about the 2005 V6 Camry ??

What about the 2005 V6 Camry ??

Use the procedure in Post #7

Use the procedure in Post #7

Brian I've read this procedure over a couple of times and noticed that in step #7 (refill procedure)the first thing (a ) says to install the overflow plug,Is this a misprint and really meaning (remove)?

Brian I've read this procedure over a couple of times and noticed that in step #7 (refill procedure)the first thing (a ) says to install the overflow plug,Is this a misprint and really meaning (remove)?

I think you're right. It doesn't make sense the way it's written.

Good catch.