Hank Hill first time I attempted my own oil change I put the socket right on the transmission plug... thought to myself this seems far down maybe this is the transmission... my ocd comes in handy sometimes...
Great video! I do my oil changes on my 2nd gen 14’ Taco! Super easy on these 4.0 liter V6s! Keep up the great work man! Love your videos. I’ll be purchasing some of your apparel here soon.
I put in 5 qts. Motor oil Without removing the old motor oil out of the engine Luckily i realized this and didnt start it! Only takes one f.u. after changing oil for 30 yr.
The blinker fluid is poured into the far left AC vent and to drain you remove the headlight and there’s a drain plug under the light.:.make sure to use at least 4 quartz of blinker fluid. Auto zone has the best fluid available. Your welcome
Transmission plug and fill plug has WS stamped on it . WS stands for “‘World Standard‘’ Toyota designation for their type of transmission fluid . To stay away from trouble , use Toyota’s tranny fluid. [ I know I’m going to get beat up by saying that ] You have to be a really experienced shad tree mechanic to do a transmission fluid and filer swap . Motor oil change not so much .Plenty of videos out there that shows the steps . Any yes , I realize this is a motor oil tutorial .
I watched plenty of oil change vids on good ole youtube a reno and made sure I got the 14mm plug right before my girl got some new hot clean juice in her 😜
I had the oil changed from my Toyota Tacoma 2007 at the Toyota dealer. They changed the oil and asked me if wanted to flush the engine. BIG MISTAKE. My Toyota ha 164,000 miles. I was not educate on the consequences of flushing an engine after so many miles. They flushed the engine. I drove it for approximately 3 months. Sometime after 3 months, the main barring seal blew out and oil was all over the engine and under carriage. I had it towed to Toyota dealer, a different dealer that flushed it. They replaced the seal. I informed them of the flushing of the engine. They said, they would never recommend to flush the engine of a Toyota after so many miles. I continued to drive it after the main seal was replaced. A month later, as I was driving home and within a mile from my house, I heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. I towed it to the dealer. I won't say what took place during my encounter at the dealer but they agreed in tearing down the engine to inspect the crankshaft. They agreed to fix engine if there was damage due to engine due to engine oil ports being blocked. The crankshaft journals were scorched. They fixed it and replaced the bearings and the valve seals. I bought other new parts to rebuild engine and they paid for the labor. In all I paid 1,200 to replace main seal and 1,200 for parts for the rebuild. What I learned. Don't flush your engine after to many miles and keep a record of the oil changes.
I've heard of this mistake happening before. I do my oil changes on an '07 Tundra with a 4.0L V-6 and see how this could easily happen. I've had the idea of having a stencil so you could paint "Transmission" on the bottom of the pan. Wonder how many times this has happened at Jiffy Lube.
Yeah I'm guilty. I've always done my own oil changes, but I recently bought a 2014 Tacoma and drained the transmission fluid the first time I was changing the oil. I knew immediately that that I had screwed up. If anything under there looks like a traditional oil pan it would have to be the transmission pan. I completely understand why I did it but telling my buddys about it had me feeling like an idiot. I think it was a very worthwhile video. Once you drain your transmission you find yourself in a bad spot. I didn't have transmission fluid and hadn't ever dealt with filling a transmission quite like Toyota has theirs set up. So a simple oil change turned into a whole afternoon event.
@@estacionlaguna1056 there is a step by step video of the procedure on tacomaholics you tube channel. There's also a link to a Tacoma world forum discussion where it breaks it all down. To me it's a pretty involved process but the video spot on.
If you have never changed your oil before and you want to be sure you get the correct plug. While standing next to the truck, put something on the ground in line with the firewall. the plug in front of the firewall would be the oil plug. Behind will be the transmission drain plug as you showed. The bell housing is usually at the firewall or slightly behind it.
For truck owners (and any other RWD vehicle) oil pan is closer to radiator and on my 2009 taco there is a convenient opening in the skid plate for oil drain plug.
The blue one is just one of those moving blankets I got from a storage facility store. Great for adding a bit of padding when rolling around under the truck.
I bought a used 2006 4-cyl Tacoma a few months back. First vehicle with an automatic transmission I've owned in 53 yrs of car ownership. I was crawling around under it today checking to see if any of my oil filter wrenches looked like they were going to work, after looking at a couple oil-change videos. I came back in, to order a 73mm cap-style oil filter wrench online when I saw the title for this video. Intrigued, I checked it out, then went out and crawled back under the truck to see what's what. I crawl under from behind the front passenger-side tire and think I could easily have pulled the transmission plug by mistake, since that's the first plug you see from that vantage point. I would have quickly realized something was amiss, but that's beside the point. I totally get what all those on here are saying about 'if you don't know the difference....blah blah'. But that said, thanks for putting this out there. Disaster avoided.
Great vid that is just a couple months too late to save me from myself. Luckily my local independent toyota shop is only 2 blocks from my house. I knew something was wrong when the fluid coming out was red, then it dawns on me. Im an idiot. edit: for all those saying "if you make this mistake then you shouldnt be changing your oil"...I change my own oil and have for years. this is a rather easy mistake to make on this engine setup. The oil and trans drain plugs are the same size and shape and if you are in a hurry then it is pretty easy to drop the wrong one, even if for just a moment until you see that red color.
@@TacomaholicI am understanding it does have some importance for proper engine maintenance... I saw it on the vikings garage channel... I do have to wait until much colder temps here to see if a new filter fixes the cold start knocking on this gen2 4 cylinder I am looking after for my mother because the dealershop does her truck wrong
Happened to me my first oil change as well. Had it towed to dealership. They told me this happens all the time and one person drained his transmission fluid, filled his engine oil which was already full and had tons of problems. Wish you made this video a long time ago
I’ve changed a ton of fluids on a bunch of vehicles, but I still looked at the UA-cam videos describing the oil change for my second gen Tacoma before I did it the first time. Better to be humble and think you might be stupid and a screw up than proceed like a cocky know it all and prove it
I was fixing to head out of town for the weekend and needed my oil changed on my 2010 with no time to do it my I stopped at a local shop and had them change it. The kid underneath the truck pulled the wrong plug and drained the entire transmission. The shop ended up doing my oil change for free, paid for a rollback to pick my truck up, paid for a rental, and paid a Toyota dealer to survive my transmission. In the end the shop probably paid $1800 because the kid was not properly trained and I no longer go to that shop.
I doubt they paid even remotely close to that. Drain and fills at a toyota dealership are about $300 to the normal person, but for a licensed shop, it’s much cheaper. The tow could be someone they have a contract with. Let’s say it’s not and this was an expensive tow at $300 too. Plus your rental $100. Plus the oil change they lost $100. The most they would have been out was $800. And that’s extremely generous. Still sucky for the shop, but not as steep as you think.
I’m also in disbelief of this story. A shop that does oil changes most certainly does transmission exchanges. They would have added fluid without you even knowing what happened. It sounds like there is way more to this story, or it’s untrue.
My parent's friend did this to his van, I was going to help him to do an oil change, but he didn't want to wait for me and after saying "I'm not a dummy" went in the garage and drained his transmission))
This saved me!!! Did my own oil changes in my car for 10 years. Tacoma is new to me, and well, that transmission pan looks the exact same as the oil pan on my old car. Drained it. But couldn’t understand why the hell my oil was so full after I refilled!!! Thank you.
I did that like 10 years ago to my 2002 passat. Then I overfilled the oil and drove it around the block. Noticed the gears slamming and realized what I did. Then I had to buy a hand pump to refill the transmission. It never shifted quite the same after that but lasted me 2 more years until I junked it. Got really lucky I didnt ruin it completely.
@@Tacomaholic ok Good! IDK some people make you wonder. Never can tell... You know someone is running around blasting trails with one and no skid plate. I'm glad my assumption was wrong!
YES!!!!! Glad I am not the only one. I mistakenly did the same thing but luckily I noticed it rather quickly because of the reddish color. Only about a quart came out and they don't make it easy to add a quart since there is no fill port on the top side of the motor. There is a fill plug on top of the transmission but getting to it is not easy by any means. Anyway, just replaced the quart I drained with some fresh stuff, all is good. I'll never make that mistake again tho.
Good video. Apparently people have mistaken the trans pan for the oil pan but look at that Tacoma. Id jump thru a hoop or two to get that bumper on my 09.
It’s so funny I’ve made that mistake before luckily I noticed the different color and immediately plugged it but I’m always scared when I change my oil I’ll make the same mistake but luckily we have this video just for that lol thanks bro
So at 4:54 if it's a V6 and 4-Wheel Drive if you can see your Front Driveshaft and Catalytic Converter on the left then you went too far if that makes sense since you don't see them by the Engine Oil Pan
@Tacomaholic, perhaps you will make a video which explains the best method for: * realigning the hyphen-dufenator, * changing the blinker fluid, and * rotating the muffler bearings.
This question should be easy. I have a 2010 Tacoma with 176,000 on it. I switched to Mobile1 Synthetic oil. Do I change the filter every 5,000 miles and oil ever 10,000? Change both at 10,000 miles? Thanks!
That's a good question. If running one of those longer lasting oils I'd feel safer changing the oil at around 7500 miles ... but I believe 5k is recommended for filters which would screw up the intervals to get them both lined up.
@@Tacomaholic Thanks for the quick reply! So I'll keep swapping filters at 5000, new oil every 7500 and reset the "check engine/oil due for service" light as needed. Just like the days before service duration lights....keep my eye on the odometer and a note showing when it was last changed.
On my 1st gen I drained the oil and double up on transmission fluid as soon as I turned on the truck I instantly knew I messed up. Filled the oil and drained the excess transmission fluid via the transmission cooling return line. The last time I said there no such thing as too high to work on the truck truck is still ticking away 436k and running strong
Unfortunately I actually did this. My gears instantly within the next day started to slip and Clank. I then knew instantly I needed to bring it to the dealer. They figured it out at the dealer and I was spared a $6,000 repair. Yes I'm super embarrassed yes I feel like an idiot. But I know that this happened because I entered into the oil change through the side of the vehicle instead of through the front of the vehicle. If I would have entered through the front bumper side I would have never mistaken the transmission for the oil. So my advice is always change your oil from the front of your vehicle.
Another one checking in. I did this several years ago. Drained the tranny, and way over filled the engine oil. Drove around like that for a few days, and realized something was wrong. Problems only showed itself when coming to a rolling stop. The truck would lurch/jump forward before stopping, but only sometimes. Brought it to the dealer, and they discovered the issue. I felt like such a jackass. I am so picky with caring for my truck. The dealer tech corrected all the fluids, and it went right back to normal. He said "if it runs fine for a week or two, it will be fine, The transmissions and engine in these trucks are tough as nails". Sure enough, there is also a tacomaworld thread with many people who have done this. Well, it has been several years, and several road trips later, and the truck runs like new. A true indication of how tough these trucks are.
I sure could've used this advice exactly a year ago! haha This EXACT thing happened to us. To be fair, I was with a buddy who wrenches on his own cars, and i went over his place to do an oil change (my first time on my '14 Tacoma). Of course the first bolt he reached for was the trans fluid. We dropped about 2/3 of it before our "oh sh*t moment." Thankfully, we had an auto parts store nearby. I ran out, got 2 bottles of synthetic trans fluid, a hand-pump, and refilled it. Haven't noticed any issues since, thank goodness. For the month or two after it happened, not only was i driving super carefully, i was constantly keeping an ear out for any possible hard shifting issues. Great info, as usual!
Good stuff. I actually drained my trans fluid, on my 2007 FJ, doing my first oil change. It cost me over $500 to have the dealership add trans fluid. Won’t happen on my Tacoma. Thanks for doing this video.
This blows my mind. So you are willing to change your oil, but not trans? Get a cheap hand pump. Then get fluid from Toyota. Also get the washers kit. It is actually pretty easy and should only be about 60-70 dollars. Should take you about the hour the first time. I change it a lot more since I running the bigger tires and drive very hard. The scariest part for me to do on my truck was the sparks. All the stuff you had to take off. I am used to my TJ and that is easy since it is all on one side.
Do you have an opinion on the fumoto vs Stahlbus oil drain valve plug? Also, you're undercarriage looks great! I've been thinking of wiping down the oil tank and other parts with some household cleaning supplies but I'm unsure how safe it is to use somethings like that. btw Thanks for this video, super useful and helpful as always for us!
I've never used anything but the Fumoto and absolutely love it. You should be able to use something like SuperClean foam ( amzn.to/3MAKqYs ) just check the label to be sure.
Thank you so much for videos like these!! You'll be surprised how many PPL screw up when they try to do things at home, just to try to save a buck!! Keep up the good work and enjoy all your videos!
I watched this video a few months ago and while doing this oil change I noticed that the fluid that is pouring out my truck smells funky and dont look like motor oil. I remembered this video and plugged that hole up so fast.
This can happen so easy if you approach from behind the tire to under truck to change oil, if you approach from front of vehicle and look up then you will see the OIL NUT first. My boyfriend was helping me change the oil in my 2005 Tacoma and he went under vehicle at the side past the tire and you know the rest of the story, YIKES> thought I was going to save time! So then had to get a neighbor Genius Car Guy to put TRANSMISSION fluid back in (its a sealed system). What a nightmare but my neighbor figured it out but he could fix anything. WHEW, TRUE what a ROYAL PAIN. Got it all worked out then took it in to the dealer to get it the transmission oil changed out and checked over.
It's funny I'm watching this, when I was washing my 2012 I decided to take a look underneath the truck just to "orient" myself and yes what I thought I was lookin at was the oil pan turned out to be the transmission fluid pan, I looked up and there was the oil pan, thank God I wasn't changing the oil yet🤘
I've done over 30 oil changes between my previous vehicles, and my friends vehicles. I just got the Tacoma last year, and have never had a vehicle with synthetic oil. I always brought my vehicles to mechanics for transmission stuff. Yet, yesterday I fucking did my first oil change and fucking drained the transmission fluid. I know, I know. I'm a fucking idiot. But.... It'll never happen again, and thankfully I figured it out in time.... I hope. I'll be buying a fluid pump tomorrow. So if you're reading this, and you fucked up. Me too. and we're fucking stupid, but we'll never make that mistake again.
I hate to admit it because ive changed my own oil for 20 years but I wasnt paying attention and did this🤦🏻♂️. There were beers involved😂. I ended up spray painting the “wrong” bolt red. Also, if you do mess this up gotta get oem fluid from Dealer.
I admit it. I wasn’t paying attention and drained the tranny fluid then over filled my oil. Luckily, I caught myself but what a pain in the ass. 15 min oil change turned into a 3 hour project and an extra $100 in supplies.
@@LameoLameomy son did it in my wife’s Tacoma. She drove to work and back, 30 miles total, until I figured out what was going on. I drained the engine oil, and refilled the correct amount, and filled the transmission back up with a tube and a squeeze bottle. It’s been a few years and the truck still seems fine. Once in a while the transmission will do some weird things but it’s been fine. So I think you’ll be ok.
I’m not sure if this is what my mistake was, I done my oil change, drained it all.. but then I started up my truck for a couple seconds to move it forward and oil spurted out of the “fill” and got all over my engine(note: I done this before I put the bolt back in the drain pan and filled with new oil). A few weeks later my transmission went and had to replace it, $5500 later. I’m definitely paranoid about doing it myself again. Was it cause I started the engine after the oil was drained? I felt like I didn’t drain enough and my truck was at a weird angle
did it to my truck once, a beer or two deep, first new/used truck , first oil change ,changed the oil late at night and sure enough as soon as i pulled the plug I knew it back in it went. It sucked. No harm done ran her another 80k before my brother wrecked it :( you just saved a couple youngins.
I've crossed terminals on a battery before, luckily it wasn't on the taco but an ol pile o shit. Guy I bought it from said he needed the battery back and went out got a new one. The terminals were opposite on the new one and didn't realize it until after it wouldn't fire. I'm sure we've all had our moments lol
Did this yesterday. Finally have a vehicle I want to do work myself, and started to make this mistake. Luckily only lost a cup or so before saying "THATS RED" and buttoning it back up. Going to top it off this weekend. Other than that, everything went smooth haha Failing Upwards is what I call Learning haha Sad part is, I already watched this video in the past. But when you get under the car in a hurry, kinda nervous, it is the first plug you see.
If u have a Tacoma dont bring it to jiffy lube or gas station for oil change My guess they will drop the oil from the transmission and figure it red and by that time some oil will be out and they wont put it back in. Besides they over tighten everything
I know people that have done it, but I still don’t see how. I’ve been working on cars for two and a half decades though, maybe experience playing a role.
Ha ha just had to laugh a little my sister's last boyfriend did that to her 06 Tacoma yes its expensive mistake especially after paying for towing to the dealership. 🤣
This is why I would never take my 🌮 to Jiffy Lube! Only time I would ever let a "service technician" touch my truck is at the tire shop or recall / warranty repairs at the stealership!
No Way Bruddah! Owners can also get Chilton Manuals on various vehicles they own as well to learn more about completing their own preventive maintenance, services, repairs along with troubleshooting of their vehicles.
@@Tacomaholic do you have a way I can contact you directly? I am getting my frame replaced and have some questions regarding maintenance during the process
What you should have done is, take a drill bit and drill a small hole to see what color of fluid drips out and that will let you know which one to change. Afterwards you can patch up the hole with some flex seal/tape or as an emergency temporary fix, you can use a piece of chewed up bubble gum! That's why I always carry a pack of gum in my pocket!
Dude this is majority car and truck out there are like that . Don't act like this is only a Tacoma problem. Also just use the traditional style factory drain plug and replace the crush washer. Those plugs are only meant to be a last resort if your threads are jack up and your going to need to replace your oil pan to truly fix the problem.
I guess I am glad I bought the first generation 1999 4x4 Tacoma with the 3.4L. I did not realize Tacomas went away from a dipstick for the transmissions. I figured it's a truck and all trucks have a method to check their fluids. Who would buy one that did not have one. The good news is I only have 241k on it so I can keep it for another 10 to 20 years. Funny thing everyone always asks me if I want to sell it. Go figure.
Checkout the 3 new styles of the black "Tacomaholic" hat on Teespring! teespring.com/stores/tacomaholic
Your winch, I have not seen 1 like that before. Sweeeet!
If you cannot tell a transmission from an engine you have no business changing your own oil.
any moron can change their own oil and anyone can confuse the oil pan for the transmission pan
@@1MNUTZ nah, both are very different. Ones underneath the engine, the other on the transmission.
Hank Hill first time I attempted my own oil change I put the socket right on the transmission plug... thought to myself this seems far down maybe this is the transmission... my ocd comes in handy sometimes...
my first time changing mine i almost did, also my first truck lol
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Those townhomes in the background in first 3 seconds looks like Burke, VA.
That’s what I thought too. Spent time there
Best way I see it oil pan between tires transmission pan between rock sliders or under cabin part of truck
Great video! I do my oil changes on my 2nd gen 14’ Taco! Super easy on these 4.0 liter V6s! Keep up the great work man! Love your videos. I’ll be purchasing some of your apparel here soon.
I put in 5 qts. Motor oil Without removing the old motor oil out of the engine
Luckily i realized this and didnt start it! Only takes one f.u. after changing oil for 30 yr.
That trick oil drain plug is pretty cool... Until it get knocked off.
It's tucked up above my steel skid plate when I get offroad.
Thank You that was helpful. Could you do a video showing me were the Blinker Fluid goes?
My Tacoma's blinker fluid system is a sealed system.
@@Tacomaholic LOL
🤣🤣🤣🤣 My thoughts exactly.
🤣😂🤣😂
The blinker fluid is poured into the far left AC vent and to drain you remove the headlight and there’s a drain plug under the light.:.make sure to use at least 4 quartz of blinker fluid. Auto zone has the best fluid available. Your welcome
Oil pan bolt is 14mm
I can’t seem to find the vid for the valve
ua-cam.com/video/db304Qeo4tY/v-deo.html
So your telling me folks actually don't know the difference between an engine and transmission and are "Attempting" an oil change. Good Grief
I love people like this lmao they keep my shop extremely busy.
Yea right good luckkk
😂😂😂
Do you have issues with steering wheel shake?
Not at all.
Factory oil drain plug is 14mm
Transmission plug and fill plug has WS stamped on it . WS stands for “‘World Standard‘’ Toyota designation for their type of transmission fluid . To stay away from trouble , use Toyota’s tranny fluid. [ I know I’m going to get beat up by saying that ] You have to be a really experienced shad tree mechanic to do a transmission fluid and filer swap . Motor oil change not so much .Plenty of videos out there that shows the steps . Any yes , I realize this is a motor oil tutorial .
I watched plenty of oil change vids on good ole youtube a reno and made sure I got the 14mm plug right before my girl got some new hot clean juice in her 😜
I had the oil changed from my Toyota Tacoma 2007 at the Toyota dealer. They changed the oil and asked me if wanted to flush the engine. BIG MISTAKE. My Toyota ha 164,000 miles. I was not educate on the consequences of flushing an engine after so many miles. They flushed the engine. I drove it for approximately 3 months. Sometime after 3 months, the main barring seal blew out and oil was all over the engine and under carriage. I had it towed to Toyota dealer, a different dealer that flushed it. They replaced the seal. I informed them of the flushing of the engine. They said, they would never recommend to flush the engine of a Toyota after so many miles. I continued to drive it after the main seal was replaced. A month later, as I was driving home and within a mile from my house, I heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. I towed it to the dealer. I won't say what took place during my encounter at the dealer but they agreed in tearing down the engine to inspect the crankshaft. They agreed to fix engine if there was damage due to engine due to engine oil ports being blocked. The crankshaft journals were scorched. They fixed it and replaced the bearings and the valve seals. I bought other new parts to rebuild engine and they paid for the labor. In all I paid 1,200 to replace main seal and 1,200 for parts for the rebuild. What I learned. Don't flush your engine after to many miles and keep a record of the oil changes.
Yikes!
I believe the oil drain plug is 14mm.
If you can confuse them you shouldn’t be changing your own oil
Gotta start somewhere.
@@duvalpenny100 excatly! I've changed oil in many vehicles but it really is easy to do if it's your first time and you're not really thinking about it
I agree
lol..ya they might just want to go to jiffy lube
I've heard of this mistake happening before. I do my oil changes on an '07 Tundra with a 4.0L V-6 and see how this could easily happen. I've had the idea of having a stencil so you could paint "Transmission" on the bottom of the pan. Wonder how many times this has happened at Jiffy Lube.
Yeah I'm guilty. I've always done my own oil changes, but I recently bought a 2014 Tacoma and drained the transmission fluid the first time I was changing the oil. I knew immediately that that I had screwed up. If anything under there looks like a traditional oil pan it would have to be the transmission pan. I completely understand why I did it but telling my buddys about it had me feeling like an idiot. I think it was a very worthwhile video. Once you drain your transmission you find yourself in a bad spot. I didn't have transmission fluid and hadn't ever dealt with filling a transmission quite like Toyota has theirs set up. So a simple oil change turned into a whole afternoon event.
Glad you caught it quickly!
I just did this yesterday. How do you check the transmission fluid level? Engine running or not?
Me too. You’re not alone
@@estacionlaguna1056 there is a step by step video of the procedure on tacomaholics you tube channel. There's also a link to a Tacoma world forum discussion where it breaks it all down. To me it's a pretty involved process but the video spot on.
@@bjack9532 thank you so much!!!
Thank you for taking time to share. Us newbies can use any and all information offered. A+.
If you have never changed your oil before and you want to be sure you get the correct plug. While standing next to the truck, put something on the ground in line with the firewall. the plug in front of the firewall would be the oil plug. Behind will be the transmission drain plug as you showed. The bell housing is usually at the firewall or slightly behind it.
Wish I had seen this yesterday........yes I drained the wrong pan! Realized the error.....no damage done though. Thanks for the info.
Glad to hear you caught it quickly.
Thanks this was the most well explained tutorial on this subject
For truck owners (and any other RWD vehicle) oil pan is closer to radiator and on my 2009 taco there is a convenient opening in the skid plate for oil drain plug.
Love the truck man!
Thanks Jimmy!
Tacomaholic where did you did that mat for under your truck?
The blue one is just one of those moving blankets I got from a storage facility store. Great for adding a bit of padding when rolling around under the truck.
@@Tacomaholic Awesome, thanks for quick reply. Definitely going to be picking one up.
@@Neil_M75 Any time. They are golden too in the winter since they block the cold ground. 😀
I bought a used 2006 4-cyl Tacoma a few months back. First vehicle with an automatic transmission I've owned in 53 yrs of car ownership. I was crawling around under it today checking to see if any of my oil filter wrenches looked like they were going to work, after looking at a couple oil-change videos. I came back in, to order a 73mm cap-style oil filter wrench online when I saw the title for this video. Intrigued, I checked it out, then went out and crawled back under the truck to see what's what. I crawl under from behind the front passenger-side tire and think I could easily have pulled the transmission plug by mistake, since that's the first plug you see from that vantage point. I would have quickly realized something was amiss, but that's beside the point. I totally get what all those on here are saying about 'if you don't know the difference....blah blah'. But that said, thanks for putting this out there. Disaster avoided.
Great vid that is just a couple months too late to save me from myself. Luckily my local independent toyota shop is only 2 blocks from my house. I knew something was wrong when the fluid coming out was red, then it dawns on me. Im an idiot.
edit: for all those saying "if you make this mistake then you shouldnt be changing your oil"...I change my own oil and have for years. this is a rather easy mistake to make on this engine setup. The oil and trans drain plugs are the same size and shape and if you are in a hurry then it is pretty easy to drop the wrong one, even if for just a moment until you see that red color.
to bad i caught this video afterwards 😂 had a very very short drive home tho it’s parked waiting on my trans fluid to arrive
Hi There!! ... do you have any videos for changing the Oil Control Valve filter on the VVTi? thanks!
Greetings, no I haven't messed with that.
@@TacomaholicI am understanding it does have some importance for proper engine maintenance... I saw it on the vikings garage channel... I do have to wait until much colder temps here to see if a new filter fixes the cold start knocking on this gen2 4 cylinder I am looking after for my mother because the dealershop does her truck wrong
Now that was very helpful because i just bought a 2011 toyota tacoma
Happened to me my first oil change as well. Had it towed to dealership. They told me this happens all the time and one person drained his transmission fluid, filled his engine oil which was already full and had tons of problems. Wish you made this video a long time ago
Better late than never right?😀
I’ve changed a ton of fluids on a bunch of vehicles, but I still looked at the UA-cam videos describing the oil change for my second gen Tacoma before I did it the first time. Better to be humble and think you might be stupid and a screw up than proceed like a cocky know it all and prove it
I was fixing to head out of town for the weekend and needed my oil changed on my 2010 with no time to do it my I stopped at a local shop and had them change it. The kid underneath the truck pulled the wrong plug and drained the entire transmission. The shop ended up doing my oil change for free, paid for a rollback to pick my truck up, paid for a rental, and paid a Toyota dealer to survive my transmission. In the end the shop probably paid $1800 because the kid was not properly trained and I no longer go to that shop.
Pulling the drain plug on the transmission does not drain the entire transmission unless it's a manual transmission.
I doubt they paid even remotely close to that. Drain and fills at a toyota dealership are about $300 to the normal person, but for a licensed shop, it’s much cheaper. The tow could be someone they have a contract with. Let’s say it’s not and this was an expensive tow at $300 too. Plus your rental $100. Plus the oil change they lost $100. The most they would have been out was $800. And that’s extremely generous. Still sucky for the shop, but not as steep as you think.
I’m also in disbelief of this story. A shop that does oil changes most certainly does transmission exchanges. They would have added fluid without you even knowing what happened. It sounds like there is way more to this story, or it’s untrue.
Thank you very helpful planned on changing my own
My parent's friend did this to his van, I was going to help him to do an oil change, but he didn't want to wait for me and after saying "I'm not a dummy" went in the garage and drained his transmission))
Thank you so much my friend. Your info.was presented clearly and complete. Your friend from Puerto Rico, Edwin Oliveras
This saved me!!! Did my own oil changes in my car for 10 years. Tacoma is new to me, and well, that transmission pan looks the exact same as the oil pan on my old car. Drained it. But couldn’t understand why the hell my oil was so full after I refilled!!! Thank you.
OMG!
I did that like 10 years ago to my 2002 passat. Then I overfilled the oil and drove it around the block. Noticed the gears slamming and realized what I did. Then I had to buy a hand pump to refill the transmission. It never shifted quite the same after that but lasted me 2 more years until I junked it. Got really lucky I didnt ruin it completely.
Do what happened when you high center and rip that drain valve off?
Nothing. I have full skid plates under the truck.
@@Tacomaholic ok Good! IDK some people make you wonder. Never can tell... You know someone is running around blasting trails with one and no skid plate. I'm glad my assumption was wrong!
@@alexduke5402 Yeah I just had the skid plates off for video purposes.
Great video was just discussing that with my dad
Very helpful video thx! So I’ve been hearing a strange sounds, could it be the muffler bearings??? Please help
Lol definitely the muffler bearings.
YES!!!!! Glad I am not the only one. I mistakenly did the same thing but luckily I noticed it rather quickly because of the reddish color. Only about a quart came out and they don't make it easy to add a quart since there is no fill port on the top side of the motor. There is a fill plug on top of the transmission but getting to it is not easy by any means. Anyway, just replaced the quart I drained with some fresh stuff, all is good. I'll never make that mistake again tho.
Yeah I think a hand pump is needed to add trans fluid through the fill plug.
Good video. Apparently people have mistaken the trans pan for the oil pan but look at that Tacoma. Id jump thru a hoop or two to get that bumper on my 09.
It’s so funny I’ve made that mistake before luckily I noticed the different color and immediately plugged it but I’m always scared when I change my oil I’ll make the same mistake but luckily we have this video just for that lol thanks bro
Glad you noticed it quickly.
So at 4:54 if it's a V6 and 4-Wheel Drive if you can see your Front Driveshaft and Catalytic Converter
on the left then you went too far if that makes sense since you don't see them by the Engine Oil Pan
If you think getting old sucks now, wait until you get another 20 - 30 years on the odometer.
Dang.
What would've happened if you didn't notice and then filled another 6qts of oil!!?? 😱
@Tacomaholic, perhaps you will make a video which explains the best method for:
* realigning the hyphen-dufenator,
* changing the blinker fluid, and
* rotating the muffler bearings.
Everyone knows that the blinkers in a Tacoma are a sealed system.
@@Tacomaholic, hahahahahaha
This question should be easy. I have a 2010 Tacoma with 176,000 on it. I switched to Mobile1 Synthetic oil. Do I change the filter every 5,000 miles and oil ever 10,000? Change both at 10,000 miles? Thanks!
That's a good question. If running one of those longer lasting oils I'd feel safer changing the oil at around 7500 miles ... but I believe 5k is recommended for filters which would screw up the intervals to get them both lined up.
@@Tacomaholic Thanks for the quick reply! So I'll keep swapping filters at 5000, new oil every 7500 and reset the "check engine/oil due for service" light as needed. Just like the days before service duration lights....keep my eye on the odometer and a note showing when it was last changed.
On my 1st gen I drained the oil and double up on transmission fluid as soon as I turned on the truck I instantly knew I messed up. Filled the oil and drained the excess transmission fluid via the transmission cooling return line. The last time I said there no such thing as too high to work on the truck truck is still ticking away 436k and running strong
Unfortunately I actually did this. My gears instantly within the next day started to slip and Clank. I then knew instantly I needed to bring it to the dealer. They figured it out at the dealer and I was spared a $6,000 repair. Yes I'm super embarrassed yes I feel like an idiot. But I know that this happened because I entered into the oil change through the side of the vehicle instead of through the front of the vehicle. If I would have entered through the front bumper side I would have never mistaken the transmission for the oil. So my advice is always change your oil from the front of your vehicle.
Glad there wasn't any significant damage or expenses in your situation.
@@Tacomaholic the dealer informed me that there was no damage because I caught it in time. I was very relieved
Another one checking in. I did this several years ago. Drained the tranny, and way over filled the engine oil. Drove around like that for a few days, and realized something was wrong. Problems only showed itself when coming to a rolling stop. The truck would lurch/jump forward before stopping, but only sometimes. Brought it to the dealer, and they discovered the issue. I felt like such a jackass. I am so picky with caring for my truck. The dealer tech corrected all the fluids, and it went right back to normal. He said "if it runs fine for a week or two, it will be fine, The transmissions and engine in these trucks are tough as nails". Sure enough, there is also a tacomaworld thread with many people who have done this. Well, it has been several years, and several road trips later, and the truck runs like new. A true indication of how tough these trucks are.
@@janetairlines1351 I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I sure could've used this advice exactly a year ago! haha This EXACT thing happened to us. To be fair, I was with a buddy who wrenches on his own cars, and i went over his place to do an oil change (my first time on my '14 Tacoma). Of course the first bolt he reached for was the trans fluid. We dropped about 2/3 of it before our "oh sh*t moment." Thankfully, we had an auto parts store nearby. I ran out, got 2 bottles of synthetic trans fluid, a hand-pump, and refilled it. Haven't noticed any issues since, thank goodness. For the month or two after it happened, not only was i driving super carefully, i was constantly keeping an ear out for any possible hard shifting issues. Great info, as usual!
Glad you guys caught that one. I bet it was a tense moment when you realized it was the wrong fluid coming out. 😀
Good stuff.
I actually drained my trans fluid, on my 2007 FJ, doing my first oil change. It cost me over $500 to have the dealership add trans fluid.
Won’t happen on my Tacoma.
Thanks for doing this video.
This blows my mind. So you are willing to change your oil, but not trans? Get a cheap hand pump. Then get fluid from Toyota. Also get the washers kit. It is actually pretty easy and should only be about 60-70 dollars. Should take you about the hour the first time. I change it a lot more since I running the bigger tires and drive very hard. The scariest part for me to do on my truck was the sparks. All the stuff you had to take off. I am used to my TJ and that is easy since it is all on one side.
Back in 2007 I had no idea how to add the trans fluid. All I was told you needed a special pump to add the fluid. So I let the dealership do it.
I did change my plugs on the FJ. That was pretty easy.
Anyway now after 12 years I own a new Tacoma.
$500 to add transmission fluid? Did you wear your track pants so it was easy to remove 'em before they bent you over? OUCH!
@@edcknives4tony No you tube videos back then?
I wanted to share with the Tacoma Holick community that Costco has 0W 20 on sale 6 quarts for $30 of mobile one synthetic!
Tacomaholic, When are you changing your transmission fluid/filter?
Pretty soon actually. 😀
@@Tacomaholic hope you make a video out of it! You going thru this would be like donuts to coffee!
Yessir! I've actually got a few maintenance-related vids coming up soon.
Do you have a video of you doing your transmission fluid change?
Not yet but I plan to
@@Tacomaholic please do boss alot of us would greatly appreciate it. Your maintenance vids have helped me out so much
I'm sorry, but I am shaking my head in amazement at there being an actual need for you to fo this video.
Happens all too often.
He is saving people time and hundreds of dollars. I don't see a point in not making it.👍
@@Tacomaholic it's that guys are out there actually confusing the two....I'd get suspicious once I saw red fluid coming out.
Same ... of course I suppose trans oil with a ton of miles on it could be black/dark brown too.
@@Tacomaholic bruh...if its black, they got bigger issues than an oil change...
Do you have an opinion on the fumoto vs Stahlbus oil drain valve plug? Also, you're undercarriage looks great! I've been thinking of wiping down the oil tank and other parts with some household cleaning supplies but I'm unsure how safe it is to use somethings like that. btw Thanks for this video, super useful and helpful as always for us!
I've never used anything but the Fumoto and absolutely love it. You should be able to use something like SuperClean foam ( amzn.to/3MAKqYs ) just check the label to be sure.
Thank you so much for videos like these!! You'll be surprised how many PPL screw up when they try to do things at home, just to try to save a buck!! Keep up the good work and enjoy all your videos!
Thanks buddy!
I watched this video a few months ago and while doing this oil change I noticed that the fluid that is pouring out my truck smells funky and dont look like motor oil. I remembered this video and plugged that hole up so fast.
Glad you were able to catch it! How much dumped out?
@@Tacomaholic i dont think it was a lot but i do not know and i am just discovering that it does not have a dipstick 😭
@@ddp978 I'm actually uploading a few vids for the transmission fluid changes soon.
Thanks and nice truck by the way!
Thanks Julie!
Hay i have watched several of your videos. Helpful with different fluid changes. Could you show a transmission fluid change. Thanks very good video
Thanks for watching Walter! I plan on doing a trans vid or two soon.
Thanx
hahahaha 4:40 "getting old sucks" you can say that again
Heard Jiffy Lube drained 1 1/2 trans fluid didn’t tell customer! Toyota checked reason trans disengagement, found missing 1 1/2 quarts fluid!
This can happen so easy if you approach from behind the tire to under truck to change oil, if you approach from front of vehicle and look up then you will see the OIL NUT first. My boyfriend was helping me change the oil in my 2005 Tacoma and he went under vehicle at the side past the tire and you know the rest of the story, YIKES> thought I was going to save time! So then had to get a neighbor Genius Car Guy to put TRANSMISSION fluid back in (its a sealed system). What a nightmare but my neighbor figured it out but he could fix anything. WHEW, TRUE what a ROYAL PAIN. Got it all worked out then took it in to the dealer to get it the transmission oil changed out and checked over.
What rain visors do you have?
I'm running these Weathertechs: amzn.to/2OqpveE
did you remove your sway bar?
Do you like it better with it off?
Yeah my sway bar has been off for years, i like it better without it but i drive like an old man
It's funny I'm watching this, when I was washing my 2012 I decided to take a look underneath the truck just to "orient" myself and yes what I thought I was lookin at was the oil pan turned out to be the transmission fluid pan, I looked up and there was the oil pan, thank God I wasn't changing the oil yet🤘
I've done over 30 oil changes between my previous vehicles, and my friends vehicles. I just got the Tacoma last year, and have never had a vehicle with synthetic oil. I always brought my vehicles to mechanics for transmission stuff. Yet, yesterday I fucking did my first oil change and fucking drained the transmission fluid. I know, I know. I'm a fucking idiot. But.... It'll never happen again, and thankfully I figured it out in time.... I hope. I'll be buying a fluid pump tomorrow. So if you're reading this, and you fucked up. Me too. and we're fucking stupid, but we'll never make that mistake again.
I hate to admit it because ive changed my own oil for 20 years but I wasnt paying attention and did this🤦🏻♂️. There were beers involved😂. I ended up spray painting the “wrong” bolt red. Also, if you do mess this up gotta get oem fluid from Dealer.
I love my ValvoMax drain plug. Now my engine oil drain-out procedure is so much cleaner.
I admit it. I wasn’t paying attention and drained the tranny fluid then over filled my oil. Luckily, I caught myself but what a pain in the ass. 15 min oil change turned into a 3 hour project and an extra $100 in supplies.
Good thing you caught it before driving.
I did this today, but only drove 5 miles. Am I ok?
@@LameoLameomy son did it in my wife’s Tacoma. She drove to work and back, 30 miles total, until I figured out what was going on. I drained the engine oil, and refilled the correct amount, and filled the transmission back up with a tube and a squeeze bottle. It’s been a few years and the truck still seems fine. Once in a while the transmission will do some weird things but it’s been fine. So I think you’ll be ok.
Yea it got me once and I had to take it to dealer cause it doesn’t have dig stick for transmission!
Unfortunately I did this to my Tacoma on my very first oil change, when the oil came out red'ish that's when I realized
I actually made this exact same mistake the first time I changed the oil in my Tacoma. It’s a pain replacing the transmission fluid.
I’m not sure if this is what my mistake was, I done my oil change, drained it all..
but then I started up my truck for a couple seconds to move it forward and oil spurted out of the “fill” and got all over my engine(note: I done this before I put the bolt back in the drain pan and filled with new oil). A few weeks later my transmission went and had to replace it, $5500 later. I’m definitely paranoid about doing it myself again. Was it cause I started the engine after the oil was drained? I felt like I didn’t drain enough and my truck was at a weird angle
Always make sure your truck is on flat ground when draining the oil.
did it to my truck once, a beer or two deep, first new/used truck , first oil change ,changed the oil late at night and sure enough as soon as i pulled the plug I knew it back in it went. It sucked. No harm done ran her another 80k before my brother wrecked it :( you just saved a couple youngins.
I've crossed terminals on a battery before, luckily it wasn't on the taco but an ol pile o shit. Guy I bought it from said he needed the battery back and went out got a new one. The terminals were opposite on the new one and didn't realize it until after it wouldn't fire. I'm sure we've all had our moments lol
i did this the first time i attempted to change my tacos oil a few years ago. at least i’m not the only one who has made this mistake.
Did this yesterday. Finally have a vehicle I want to do work myself, and started to make this mistake. Luckily only lost a cup or so before saying "THATS RED" and buttoning it back up. Going to top it off this weekend. Other than that, everything went smooth haha Failing Upwards is what I call Learning haha Sad part is, I already watched this video in the past. But when you get under the car in a hurry, kinda nervous, it is the first plug you see.
Not always red. My truck uses Royal Purple for engine, transmission, and differential. Don't let oil color trick you.
How do you check the level? With engine running or not?
If u have a Tacoma dont bring it to jiffy lube or gas station for oil change
My guess they will drop the oil from the transmission and figure it red and by that time some oil will be out and they wont put it back in.
Besides they over tighten everything
Great video
what wheels and tires, and size?
Wheels are Stealth Custom Series bronze F5's in 16x8. Tires are Goodyear Wrangle MT/R's in 285/75R16
good god people really do this? the oil pans at the front under the skid plate ya know the one on the engine not on the trnamission lol good video!
You should see the underside of my 2007 Harley Road King. There are 3 plugs and it is the last one you would think.
I know people that have done it, but I still don’t see how. I’ve been working on cars for two and a half decades though, maybe experience playing a role.
Ha ha just had to laugh a little my sister's last boyfriend did that to her 06 Tacoma yes its expensive mistake especially after paying for towing to the dealership. 🤣
This is why I would never take my 🌮 to Jiffy Lube! Only time I would ever let a "service technician" touch my truck is at the tire shop or recall / warranty repairs at the stealership!
Your truck is nice
No Way Bruddah! Owners can also get Chilton Manuals on various vehicles they own as well to learn more about completing their own preventive maintenance, services, repairs along with troubleshooting of their vehicles.
Absolutely. Love my Haynes manual.
West bumper are you running?
Hybrid style from Brute Force Fab.
@@Tacomaholic thanks 🙌 I just bought a second gen as my first Tacoma and not far from you based out of MD. would love some advice on my build
@@farrellstrueber7120 Sweet! I'm always here if you have questions.
@@Tacomaholic do you have a way I can contact you directly? I am getting my frame replaced and have some questions regarding maintenance during the process
@@farrellstrueber7120 Sure thing just shoot me an email at tacomaholic@gmail.com
But where is the oil filter? That's kinda important too :D
Lol of course.
Thanks for the tip
Thank you so much 😊
A coworker of mine made this mistake once. I can’t remember the vehicle but it wasn’t a Tacoma.
What you should have done is, take a drill bit and drill a small hole to see what color of fluid drips out and that will let you know which one to change. Afterwards you can patch up the hole with some flex seal/tape or as an emergency temporary fix, you can use a piece of chewed up bubble gum! That's why I always carry a pack of gum in my pocket!
Dude this is majority car and truck out there are like that . Don't act like this is only a Tacoma problem. Also just use the traditional style factory drain plug and replace the crush washer. Those plugs are only meant to be a last resort if your threads are jack up and your going to need to replace your oil pan to truly fix the problem.
I did one time on my 2000 Camry and I was wondering why the oil was red
I guess I am glad I bought the first generation 1999 4x4 Tacoma with the 3.4L. I did not realize Tacomas went away from a dipstick for the transmissions. I figured it's a truck and all trucks have a method to check their fluids. Who would buy one that did not have one. The good news is I only have 241k on it so I can keep it for another 10 to 20 years. Funny thing everyone always asks me if I want to sell it. Go figure.