2001 V6 MCV20R Auto Transmission

[Bones56k]

Hey All

Have been a member here only a couple of weeks and thought i should share what i recently found out.

Finally i decided to sell my old trusty SV21 which i did a happy 300,000 kms and in that time did all servicing myself. I decided to buy a 2001 V6 this time which was at a good price and it had just turned over 80,000kms.

Toyota had done all servicing to the MCV20R as the book was stamped up to within a month of the purchase.

I have always done motor oil changes on my vehicles at 5000km intervals as i have never liked doing the recommended 10,000kms.

I get to the gearbox and pull out the dipstick and think that oil is so close to being black it is not funny. I go buy a Haynes manual climb under the car to check out the tranny and Diff!. The Haynes states drain the tranny then the diff that looks like a monkey could do it... BUT the diff drain is nothing like in the Haynes.

As for the fill hole on the diff side it just does not exist!.

I thought well i might buy myself a gregorys as it covers only the one car in 2.2l and 3.0l.

Same pics and info as in the Haynes.

My Diff sump plug faces to the back of the car and is on a angle!

Next stop while i was buying a new over priced hudcap for the Camry i had a chat with the toyota mechanic out the back. I asked...I have a 2001 V6 and i can not find the bolt on the side of the diff to fill it back up. He replied it has to be there shine your torch around!. I asked.... does the 2002 V6 have the same setup? He replied some have no fill hole as when you fill up the tranny it pumps its fluid into the diff to the correct level.

I ask the mechanic what oil you recommend Dexron 3 or the later T IV ...he states T IV.

I get home that day and pull the dipstick out one more time and see written on the dipstick Dexron 3.

I buy two 4litre containers of Castrol TQD111 ready to dump the oil twice and refill!.

Next morning drop the oil from the tranny then drop it from the diff (after a little 10km drive).

Put 3.3litres back in the tranny dipstick pipe then went for a little 1km drive. Crossing fingers and toes that the tranny was going to pump its fluid into the diff and hopefully it was like the later model.

Got back and drained the tranny and was nearly in party mode when i saw about 700ml come out of the diff drain hole.

Found that my car and i am not going to say yours! is pretty well spot on with 3.5litres to full.

Have also done this for a third time so a total cost of 3 times 4litres of Dexron 3 (About $87AUD)

In 20,000kms i am going to drop the pan and clean its strainer... this was just to get rid of oil which soon was going to cause problems.

That should in theory be a new pan gasket and another 4litres of Dexron3.

Cheers Bones

[Topdog]

There is no drain plug for the diff in that model, though some may have. I have one(Camry 2001 V6) and this is how I did it.

Drain fluid via tranny sump plug. Add new fluid to tranny via dipstick pipe, takes around 4 litres. Drive vehicle for around 10-20k. Redrain tranny and discard fluid(responsibly).Remove tranny pan to access strainer and clean(it is reusable) and reinstall. Replace gasket with a new one and replace pan. Fill with new fluid and you're done..

This procedure was recommended to me by an auto tranny specialist...Have had no problems whatsoever in over 40000k...

Funny thing though, I have a Toyota Factory Repair Manual and it mentions the diff drain plug but as I said this model generally does not have one. Mind you the manaul covers from 1997 on..Things change..

Edit: the above actually refers to A140E Automatic transaxle(unleaded engine)...

Edited July 8, 2008 by Topdog

[Bones56k]

There is no drain plug for the diff in that model, though some may have.

Yes i agree Topdog

Thats why i posted the post and it had me stumped for a while and i never give up on giving something a service.

It just lets people know if they have the same situation not to put it into the too hard basket and give up!.

Ps

Thanks for the additional info it should help others without the diff sump plug :)

Cheers Bones

[Steve gee]

Hey All

Have been a member here only a couple of weeks and thought i should share what i recently found out.

As for the fill hole on the diff side it just does not exist!.

I thought well i might buy myself a gregorys as it covers only the one car in 2.2l and 3.0l.

Same pics and info as in the Haynes.

My Diff sump plug faces to the back of the car and is on a angle!

Next stop while i was buying a new over priced hudcap for the Camry i had a chat with the toyota mechanic out the back. I asked...I have a 2001 V6 and i can not find the bolt on the side of the diff to fill it back up. He replied it has to be there shine your torch around!. I asked.... does the 2002 V6 have the same setup? He replied some have no fill hole as when you fill up the tranny it pumps its fluid into the diff to the correct level.

I ask the mechanic what oil you recommend Dexron 3 or the later T IV ...he states T IV.

I get home that day and pull the dipstick out one more time and see written on the dipstick Dexron 3.

In 20,000kms i am going to drop the pan and clean its strainer... this was just to get rid of oil which soon was going to cause problems.

That should in theory be a new pan gasket and another 4litres of Dexron3.

Cheers Bones

Dunno if they are still around but I bought the new filter kit for my E153 and fitted it.

My oil was black but it did not smell burnt and yes I used DIII as per dipstick.

You drain it from the hex key drain plug.

Fill from the filler dipstick hole/tube.

My VZV21 had drain and fill holes in the diff and the oil seemed different 90W and smelt different so unsure if one finds its way to other on early VZ21

Changing transmission oil is only ever done in service periods and most high hours cars miss out.

Cant hurt can it to change oil.

I do it all the time.

Knowing how much to put back in is the tricky bit.

E153 takes heaps $$$$

Edited July 21, 2008 by Steve gee