2009 RAV4 Transmission Drain and Fill

In this video I performed transmission drain and fill. I am not a mechanic, so follow my advice with caution. I'm strictly sharing what I did.
2009 RAV4 I-4 4 speed automatic transmission, 4WD.
If you have any questions please put them in the comments.
Thank you for watching.

[@nicalvarez4940]

Helper should be a big young man by now 2024. Great video thanks.

[@fatherer]

He is about to start driving school. Soon to have his own car to work on.

[@billbanche4605]

when you fished out the drain plug, it didn't have the aluminum drain plug seal on it. It will seep at the drain plug eventually. Otherwise good job.

[@billlawrence5604]

yep, 3.6 quarts drained from my 2010 Rav4 4cyl

[@cheko4440]

How often do I do this procedure I just bought a rag4 with 112000 miles on it

[@stevensevek6151]

If your're putting cold fluid in then shouldn't the fluid be cold when draining the fluid if you are trying to replace the same amount you are draining out with the amount you are putting in?

[@magicphysicsdude]

I drained and changed the filter on my 2008 Rav4 today. There's a lot more fluid that can be removed if you take off the pan and change the filter, and you can remove the metal bits that get collected by the little magnets in the pan. The filter and a gasket cost me a bit less than $20 at Oreilly's. However, you'll have to take some sort of metal arm/brace/thingie that doesn't look like it supports any weight that blocks some of the nuts holding the pan on the left side. The pan bolts and filter bolts were 10 mm, and the arm thingie had 4 17 mm bolts. It took me about 3-4 hours to do this, but this was also the first time I ever changed the trans fluid in a vehicle. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon on a beautiful spring day. Oh, and the fluid I removed amounted to 4 quarts. If you do drop the pan and change the filter, DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE BOLTS ON THE PAN. I ended up overtightening 2 of the bolts to the point the heads broke off. Hopefully it'll hold a seal just fine, since they're on different corners, but DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE PAN BOLTS AS YOU MAY SNAP THE HEADS OFF.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

Keep in mind this video is for the average person to do a change SAFELY. And, no offense, but you snapped heads off the bolts. :) You obviously did not torque your bolts to the proper specs. You need a torque wrench for that and the torque specs from Toyota. Toyota mechanics I know do not remove the pan and do not replace the filter believe it or not. Toyota does not even recommend replacing the filter. These are not the filters of old. The metal shavings from break in are not going anywhere since they are stuck to the magnet. Dropping the pan and going through all that you did is only going to get you another quart which can be accomplished much easier and safer by periodic drain and refills. I am sorry to say, but your post is a perfect example why people should not do what you did unless they are experienced.

[@magicphysicsdude]

BlackHawkPSU I see. Thank you for informing me. I do have a tendency to get rather gung ho when it comes to trying to fix something, and I have made some things I was trying to fix worse more than once. As of now, the seal seems to be holding fine. I checked under my car for leaks for a week or two and didn't notice anything. I just checked my trans fluid level, and it's still full.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

I know exactly where you are coming from. :) We live and learn I guess.

[@TheMissingtime]

+BlackHawkPSU There's gnarly black crap in that pan that all real men must get out. My gasket was also flaking out on the front left corner of my '07. Can drain it all out with filter still in, just have to wait longer. and screw WS of course.

[@yuriboiblu]

lol, i guess it is 28-30 ft-lb, but i just tighten it until it stops then give it a 8th-quarter turn.

[@njsongwriter]

These transmissions run hot. I've done three drain and fills on ours in less than 47,000 miles. The last one was yesterday and the old fluid was as black as yours.

[@Veldavis]

Thanks again

[@louiscatalano2114]

Thank you. Your son added entertainment to the video. Enjoyed it.

[@0lay_for458]

I'm his son lol, you probably don't even look at these but I'm his son. I'm thirteen now and we got rid of the Rav4.

[@guilaneamine9155]

Thank you for the information and I want to ask How to change the automatic gearbox oil of Toyota rav4 d4d Diesel 2010

[@fatherer]

I'm not sure about that. In US we don't have any Diesel RAV4.

[@njsongwriter]

Owner's manual says 3.7 quarts for a drain & fill.

[@rickc2222]

I got the same: 3.5 L drained and filled twice. bought 8L to be save, never even used the 8th bottle.... Those stupid plastic clips for fastening the mud shields break too easy - broke 5 of them to the point of being useless....filled in the holes with hot glue as temporary fix....found the clips available on Aliepress quite cheap.

[@ala4857]

the pcm computer has a high failed rate when failing causes hard shifting. the can cause failed to the transmission.

[@fatherer]

Agree, failed PCM would cause hard shifting. However, not changing your transmission fuel will cause it too.

[@romeoworkman7882]

Another thing we did as Husband and wife :) It was very easy and cool. Trully had fun knowing they asked for $190 and I got every thing for $70, and we get to keep the tools. Thank you !

[@nathanield.4527]

Awesome and thorough video. I've seen some people cut out a hole at the location of the drain plug allowing for easy access to the drain plug. They used a dremel tool to cut the plastic cover. Excellent assistant! Keep teaching him and showing him the right way to take care of cars.

[@arahtson1]

good info.... planning to do it on my 2002 rav4. Never done but as you said is getting wine or dark color and should be like red, forgot to mention my rav4 has only 55k miles.

[@totljag1]

Do u check the fluid level while in park or neutral ?

[@njsongwriter]

Either but your ATF should be between 158 to 176 Degrees F to register in the hot area of the dipstick.

[@jdevolanyc]

So, based on when you posted this, I am guessing this was 4 years since new; how many miles on the car when you changed it? Thx

[@fatherer]

It's right in the beginning of the video. The car had 50,000 miles. It still runs strong, almost 170,000 miles. I've been doing drain and fills every 50,000.

[@harrisonswift1416]

What about the Differential (pumpkin) fluid Qty and type of Oil?

[@bluenose810]

you should change the washer on the drain plug every time

[@fatherer]

you should, but its a metal washer and did not have any corrosion on it.

[@bluenose810]

Kirill B its a crush washer and should only be used once...just a 33c part

[@fatherer]

Alan Pike agree, as you can see i said that you should, but i didn't

[@BlackHawkPSU]

Alan Pike True it should be replaced. It is a "crush" washer and you can see they "crush." Compare an old one to a new one and the old one is thinner, more compressed.

[@danseman1]

Wow! That's a great price. I bought one today and paid $3 from the Toyota dealership. Where did you get yours for 33cents?

[@hmmhmmhmm3]

How many quarts does the transmission hold on a V6? Would it vary by year? Mine's a 2006. Thanks.

[@fatherer]

+Sandra Keros I'm not sure about V6. I do know that V6 equipped RAV4 have 5 speed transmissions, and i4 have 4 speed. I'm not sure if there any difference in fluid capacity.

[@jdevolanyc]

Sandra, mine is 2007 V6, and according to the owners manual: 3.7 qt (drain and refill)

[@jerrydc818]

Use an extendable want with a magnet at the end to get the drain plug .Doesn’t come with a crush washer ?

[@yuriboiblu]

nice Kirill! just remembered i need to do ours too. :-) but toyota transmission fluid is not lifetime warrantied if i heard you correctly. :-) that's why it has a dip stick for us to check it faithfully.

[@stevensevek6151]

Yet the newer Toyotas use the same fluid and have no dipstick.

[@johnnyrodriguez8358]

You forgot the washer. It's in the bucket.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

Good job!

[@mark.namoco]

How many miles after did you do the second drain and fill to completely restore your atf?

[@fatherer]

Mark Namoco I think about 300-500

[@mark.namoco]

Which genuine Toyota atf did you use because I want to make sure I have the right fluid I have a 2008 RAV4 2.4L Sports

[@fatherer]

It's marked WS (World Standard). Dealers sell it.

[@mark.namoco]

Kirill B on the second drain and fill, are you going to drop the pan or do the same process? Thanks how much atf does the car have in total!

[@stevensevek6151]

@@mark.namoco Someone said 8.6 quarts.

[@keith2754]

Thanks man. Do you also know how to flush it?

[@fatherer]

I believe you can do it by disconnecting cooler lines from the radiator. Never done it myself though.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

***** Baloney! You can do what he said via the lines which is safer than a machine! You DO NOT need a "special" machine. Those machines that suck the fluid out are to make $ and can actually do more harm than good. Periodic drain and fill is the safest way for the average person just like the OP has demonstrated. Unless Toyota just recently changed their advice these filters do not need replaced as you suggested.

[@AlainTabangin]

Keith D'Mello you could do it by using the cooler line but would not recommend it if your doing it by yourself. I personally did it with a friend of mine that added new liquid while the old liquid pumped out, if you ever do this never let the pump run dry. In the end just stick to the drain and refill, less risky.

[@glenccim]

What about all of the oil that was in the torque converter that did not drain out by removing the drain plug??

[@BlackHawkPSU]

***** Now you're talking! Do the periodic drain/refill or get a helper and do the line method.

[@njsongwriter]

A simple single drain and fill is all that's required every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. according to a certified Toyota technician.

[@fatherer]

I think it should be pretty much the same. The fluid is different, it is not WS. Check in your owner manual for correct fluid.

[@njsongwriter]

The fluid is WS. I also have a 2009 RAV4. It says ATF-WS in the owner's manual and it says WS on the dipstick. (About 4 inches from the bottom of the dip-stick just above where it says "HOT".

[@fatherer]

@@njsongwriter this comments was a reply to someone talking about their 2002 RAV. So no, 2002 Rav takes a different fluid.

[@njsongwriter]

What is the torque spec for the drain plug. (Some of us do own a torque wrench.)

[@fatherer]

Have no idea.

[@njsongwriter]

@@fatherer Okay. If I was going to do a how to video, I'd be sure to have that information. I found it in a repair manual. It's 35 ft.lbs.

[@fatherer]

@@njsongwriter Thanks for the advice. Glad you found the information you were looking for in your repair manual.

[@ddk80]

@@njsongwriter Would you also happen to have the torque specs for the rear diff and transfer case fill and drain plugs?

[@shadovs1]

What do you do with old fluids?

[@fatherer]

I bring it for recycling to the auto parts store.

[@henrymostert2125]

If you are able to remove the pan. Best thing to do is leave it overnight to drain. The torque converter has lot of fluid in it.

[@njsongwriter]

Removing the pan doesn't drain the torque converter.

[@Mariosanche89]

wouldnt it be better to have it flushed..?

[@stevensevek6151]

Not necessary, especially at 50,000 miles.

[@njsongwriter]

No.

[@Veldavis]

I hope you change the filter of the transmission, lol red and pink lolololol

[@0lay_for458]

I feel so proud to say that I'm his son because I can flex the red and pink oil. It sucks because we got rid of the RAV4 tho

[@njsongwriter]

Not required.

[@Veldavis]

If it’s not required why dose it has a filter just as the engine?