The XV50 Camry has a sealed transaxle with no dipstick, so this is really two jobs: draining a few quarts out of the pan, then setting the level by temperature using an internal overflow tube. Mechanically it is easy - two plugs and a splash shield - but the level-setting step is what separates a good job from a transmission that shifts badly afterward. You will pull out roughly 3-4 quarts of the roughly 7-quart charge, which is why many owners do a drain and fill two or three times a few thousand miles apart instead of chasing a full flush.
The 2.5L (U760E), 3.5L V6 (U660E) and the hybrid eCVT all use Toyota ATF WS and all follow the same procedure and the same plug sizes. The thing people get wrong is temperature: they set the level with the fluid cold or after a long hot drive, and end up overfull or a quart low. Aim for a pan temp around 100 F when you crack the overflow plug, and measure exactly what you drained so you know how much to put back.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2 ton minimum, with pinch-weld pad Lift the front of the car to reach the transaxle plugs. | Safety | shop |
| Jack stands 2 ton pair, plus wheel chocks Support the car level on both sides; the fluid level method requires a level vehicle. | Safety | shop |
| Socket set 10 mm and 12 mm sockets, 3/8 in drive Remove the engine/transmission splash shield and undertray bolts. | Required | shop |
| Trim clip / push pin tool Plastic pry set Pop the plastic clips holding the lower splash shields without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Drain plug socket 24 mm 6-point socket, 3/8 in drive (some plugs are 10 mm internal hex) Removes the pan drain plug and the side refill plug on U660E/U760E and hybrid transaxles. | Required | shop |
| Hex bit socket 6 mm hex bit socket, 3/8 in drive Removes the inner overflow plug/tube inside the drain plug to set the final fluid level. | Required | shop |
| Extension and ratchet 3/8 in drive, 3 in and 6 in extensions Reach the refill plug on the side of the case past the subframe. | Required | shop |
| Drain pan 8 quart minimum, wide Catch the old fluid and measure exactly how much came out. | Required | shop |
| Fluid transfer pump Hand pump or lever pump with 1/2 in hose, quart/gallon fitting Pushes new ATF uphill into the side refill hole; there is no dipstick tube to pour into. | Required | shop |
| Measuring container Clear 2 quart jug with graduations Match the refill amount to the drained amount before setting the level. | Recommended | shop |
| Infrared thermometer Non-contact, reads to 250 F Reads pan temperature so you set the level in the 95-115 F window if you have no scan tool. | Required | shop |
| Scan tool with ATF temp PID Techstream, or OBD2 tool/app reading Toyota transaxle fluid temp The accurate way to hit the 104-113 F level-setting window; hybrids also show transaxle temp. | Recommended | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Tighten the aluminum-case plugs to spec without stripping threads. | Required | shop |
| Toyota Genuine ATF WS 4-5 quarts (drain and fill takes about 3-4 qt) The only fluid specified for U660E, U760E and the hybrid transaxle. | Consumables | shop |
| Drain and refill plug gaskets Toyota crush washers/O-ring: drain plug 35178-30010, overflow plug gasket 90430-18008 (verify by part lookup) Aluminum crush washers are single-use and the plugs weep if reused. | Parts | shop |
| Brake cleaner and rags Non-chlorinated Clean the pan area so you can see whether a plug is seeping afterward. | Consumables | shop |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses Hot ATF runs down your arm when the overflow plug comes out. | Safety | shop |
Plug sizes are the same across the generation: a 24 mm head drain plug with a 6 mm hex overflow plug inside it, and a 24 mm head refill plug on the side of the case. The 2.5L uses the U760E and the 3.5L the U660E, with slightly different total capacities (about 6.9-7.3 quarts), but drain-and-fill volume is about 3-4 quarts on both. The hybrid transaxle holds less (roughly 3.8-4 quarts total) and uses the same ATF WS and the same overflow-level method.
| Transaxle pan drain plug (U660E/U760E) | 15 ft-lb (20 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Inner overflow plug/tube | 15 ft-lb (20 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Side refill (fill) plug | 29 ft-lb (39 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Hybrid transaxle drain/fill plugs | verify in the service manual |
| Splash shield bolts | Hand tight, about 7 ft-lb (10 Nm) |
The 24 mm plug head and 6 mm hex overflow plug are correct for the vast majority of XV50 U660E/U760E and hybrid transaxles, but a few plugs use a 10 mm internal hex - check your plug before buying, and confirm torque values and gasket part numbers against the Toyota service information for your exact year.
On the 2.5L and 3.5L, expect 3 to 4 quarts out of a pan drain, and about a quart more if you also pull the inner overflow plug. Buy 5 quarts of Toyota ATF WS so you have extra to overfill before setting the level. The hybrid transaxle holds about 3.8 quarts total.
No, but you need some way to know the fluid temperature. Techstream or an OBD2 app that reads the Toyota transaxle fluid temp PID is the accurate route; an infrared thermometer aimed at the pan, targeting about 95-115 F, works well enough for most DIYers.
Use WS. The U660E/U760E are calibrated for its friction characteristics, and universal multi-vehicle fluids commonly cause torque-converter shudder and harsh or flaring shifts. Only use an aftermarket fluid if it is specifically licensed as an ATF WS replacement.
Toyota calls the fluid lifetime fill, but in practice a drain and fill every 40,000-60,000 miles keeps these units happy, and sooner if you tow or sit in heavy traffic. If the car is well past 100,000 miles on original fluid and already shifting oddly, get it diagnosed before servicing it.