A343f Maintenance/strainer change

[Andy_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy_B]

Hey Guys,

Just wondering what is the maintenance routine for the a343f. My Prado is a 2000 TD with 165K on it. I've only done flushes, but I was wondering when the strainer/fliter needs replacing.

Thanks

Andy

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Not sure when it's scheduled to be done, but I done mine at around the same mileage as yours...

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post316789

[Ken in Cairns Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ken in Cairns]

I just did a service on mine, have 185,500 KM on her.
I drained and then removed the Auto pan, cleaned the fine sludge out from it and the magnets. Removed and cleaned the filter, it is a fine metal screen filter, so you do not need to buy a new one, I just back flushed it with Turps, till it was fairly clean, then degreaser, then washed out with water, then brake cleaner, dried with an air duster, then oiled with ATF to stop rust, then drained to be refitted.

Used Permatex, “The Right Stuff” to reseal the pan after cleaning up all the mating faces etc. 40 bucks from Super Cheap, and you will get a few jobs out of a can. The Toyota stuff is 70 bucks.

Worse part of the job for me was the rounded off bolt head on the exhaust x-over pipe that I had to remove to get the pan off. I also had to undo the sway bar links so I could turn the bar out of the way.

After the filter and magnets are refitted and the pan is back on, I got the last 5 or 6 litres out of the torque converter via disconnecting the cooler hose at he radiator, the one on the drivers side was the supply on my truck, the longer hose going to the passenger side was the return, if in doubt you can disconect them both and let them drain, I got about 1 1/2 litres out of them and the cooler in the radiator.
Then put 3 or 4 litres of ATF into the box, Fill up to the full mark with the engine stopped, and have an assistant start it up while you hold the hose into a bucket, drain out 3 or so litres, stop the engine, add 3 or 4 more litres, and then start the engine again, you should get clean oil before you run the next 3 litres of oil out into the bucket, if not go again untill you get nice clean oil flowing out, then stop, as the torque convertor is empty.

Do not run the box dry.

After you shut her down you can refit the cooling line.
Then top up the auto with another 3 or so litres, back to the full mark and Auto transmission conditioner if you want to use that as well, start up again and add a litre or so till you are at the full mark with the engine running. Then run through the gears, park to 1st then back to park with about 5 seconds between changing gears, recheck the oil level, top up as required.

Test drive and check for leaks etc, recheck the oil level when hot.

I fitted an after market cooler as well, so now my oil goes from the Auto, into the radiator, then from the radiator to the new air cooler, then returns to the auto.

Are some good clips on U-Tube

I bought 3 x 5 litre bottles as I wasn’t sure how much I would need with the flushing added onto the 11 or so litres of oil capacity stated in the owners manual and I also had the Power Steering to fill up as well, I didn’t use it all 15 litres, but needed more than 10 litres, the added oil cooler and lines will have added a couple of liters capacity.

Hope this helps a little bit.

On a side note drove her for the first time in 13 weeks today, love the new suspension, and gee she is quite and slick after all the oil and fluid changes etc

Wish my job list was complete, sigh…LOL

[Andy_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy_B]

Wow seems like a pretty big job, I was quoted $190 for the kit, ATF and Labour. I think that might be the way to go. However I don't think they will be as comprehensive you did Ken.

Thanks

Andy

[Ken in Cairns Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ken in Cairns]

WOW 190 bucks to do the filter service that’s bloody cheap, really too cheap by the sounds of it, at 100 bucks an hour labour, I was quoted a lot more than that, the filter if 70 bucks from Repco and ATF is about 7 bucks a litre at least from a service place, I was quoted $10 per litre and quoted up to 20 litres to do a flush job! When I did it with about 12 or 13 litres.

If the quote is for the filter to be changed \cleaned and a few litres of ATF if so that’s a great deal, and I would be asking them to change out the oil in the torque converter via the cooling lines like I did as well, as that is the only way to get all of the old dirty crappy oil out.
And if they can do the filter job for the quoted price, the flush job shouldn’t add a lot more on as it only takes about 15 minutes, the cost is in the extra oil, but was worth it in my case.

However you say in the first post that you have had regular flushes so maybe your oil isn’t as bad as mine was, but for mine I had to do the whole job as the oil was bloody dark and dirty, no burnt smell, but bloody dirty.

It really isn’t that bad a job to do, not technically difficult, just don’t over tighten the filter or pan bolts !
As I said the worst part was the rounded of bolt head on the exhaust.
After 10 or so minutes playing around with it, I got the angle grinder and cut it off, and used a new bolt and nut.

All up it cost me 3 x 5 litre packs of oil (Dextron 111) at 37 bucks a pack and the gasket stuff at 40 bucks and some brake cleaner 2 for 15 bucks (but you can use Metho to wipe the sealing faces on the pan and box), and you can do it in a day fairly easily on stands.
I could have had the whole job done in a few hours, but I started in the afternoon, and left it drip and drain overnight before boxing it up and fitting the cooler after boxing up the engine side of things.

This is the link to my Rig Build up Post, if you want to check it out.

[Andy_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy_B]

Thanks Ken

Well they didn't end up doing which might be a bit of a blessing. I will ask them next time I talk to them if they drain the fluid from the torque convertor. Should be interesting to see them price break down.

Cheers

Andy

[Ken in Cairns Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ken in Cairns]

ops double post

[Ken in Cairns Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ken in Cairns]

So what did they do a drain and fill ???

Keep us posted if you get a full oil change and filter done, be interested to see what they charge.

Maybe have to get into doing some weekenders again

[Andy_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy_B]

Well they forgot to do it! And I needed my prado back. I usually do all my own servicing, but I have been renovating the house of the weekends. So it leaves little time for the family, that why I have been I've been getting quotes. I might get it done at the 170k service. Which is only 3k away.

THanks

Andy