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On the 3rd gen Tacoma the 6-speed AC60F automatic is sealed — no dipstick, no fill tube under the hood. You drain about 2.5-3 quarts out of the pan, pump fresh Toyota ATF WS in through a plug on the side of the case, then set the final level by idling the truck until the fluid hits 95-115 F and letting the excess run out of an internal standpipe. Mechanically it is easy; the fussy part is temperature and having the truck dead level.
The mistake people make is draining first and then finding the 24 mm side refill plug is seized. Break that plug loose before you touch the drain plug. The second mistake is doing the level check on ramps or with only the front lifted, which tilts the pan and leaves the transmission low. And remember a single drain and fill only swaps a quarter of the roughly 10.6 quart capacity, so plan on two or three services a few hundred miles apart if the fluid is dark.
| Item | Type | Product search |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2 ton minimum Lift the truck to reach the pan and side fill plug. | Required | search retailer |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair (4 preferred) Support the truck level on all four corners so the fluid level sets correctly. | Safety | search retailer |
| Wheel chocks Keeps the truck from moving while it idles in gear during the level check. | Safety | search retailer |
| Socket wrench 1/2 in drive ratchet Drives the 24 mm plug sockets. | Required | search retailer |
| 24 mm socket 24 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive Fits both the pan drain plug and the side case refill plug. | Required | search retailer |
| Hex bit socket 5 mm hex, 3/8 in drive (6 mm on some units) Removes the overflow standpipe plug inside the drain plug hole. | Required | search retailer |
| Breaker bar or 18 in extension 1/2 in drive Plugs are often torqued tight and installed with thread sealant from the factory. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Drain pan 6 qt or larger, wide Catches drained ATF and the overflow during the level set. | Required | search retailer |
| Fluid transfer pump Hand or air pump with 3/8 in hose, quart/gallon adapter The only way to push new fluid uphill into the side fill port. | Required | search retailer |
| Infrared thermometer Non-contact, 0-400 F Reads pan temperature to hit the 95-115 F level-check window if you have no scan tool. | Required | search retailer |
| Scan tool Techstream or OBD2 tool that reads ATF temperature PID Most accurate way to confirm fluid temp and the AT temp 1/2 window; also clears any codes. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 3/8 or 1/2 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Plugs thread into aluminum and must not be overtightened. | Required | search retailer |
| Funnel and clear tubing 3/8 in ID tubing Alternative fill method if you route tubing to the fill port from above. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Shop rags and brake cleaner Clean the plug areas before removal so no dirt falls in, and wipe spills. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Drain plug gasket Toyota 35178-30010 type aluminum crush washer One-time-use washer for the pan drain plug. | Parts | search retailer |
| Refill plug gasket Toyota 90430-24003 (24 mm) crush washer Seals the side case refill plug; replace it, do not reuse. | Parts | search retailer |
| Overflow plug gasket Small O-ring/washer for standpipe plug Prevents a seep at the standpipe plug after the level set. | Parts | search retailer |
| Toyota ATF WS Genuine Toyota 00289-ATFWS, 4 qt for one drain/fill The AC60F requires WS-spec fluid; nothing else is approved. | Parts | search retailer |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses Hot ATF drips and runs down your arm during the level set. | Safety | search retailer |
Both the 2.7 L 2TR-FE and the 3.5 L 2GR-FKS automatics use the same AC60F 6-speed, so plug sizes, fluid spec and procedure are identical. 6-speed manual trucks are a different job entirely (75W-85 GL-4 gear oil, hex plugs). On 4WD trucks the transfer case sits right behind the transmission — its plugs take gear oil, so verify you are on the transmission pan before loosening anything.
| Transmission pan drain plug (24 mm) | verify in the service manual (commonly cited around 29 ft-lb / 39 Nm) |
| Side case refill plug (24 mm) | verify in the service manual (commonly cited around 29 ft-lb / 39 Nm) |
| Overflow standpipe plug (5 mm hex) | verify in the service manual (commonly cited around 11-15 ft-lb / 15-20 Nm) |
| Wheel lug nuts (if wheels removed) | 83 ft-lb (113 Nm) |
No. The AC60F is sealed, and the level is checked by letting fluid overflow an internal standpipe with the engine idling and the fluid at 95-115 F (35-45 C). There is no dipstick tube from 2016 onward.
Expect about 2.5-3 quarts out per drain, against a total capacity of roughly 10.6 quarts. Buy 4 quarts of Toyota ATF WS per service so you have extra for the overflow during the level set.
A 24 mm 6-point socket on 1/2 in drive fits both the pan drain plug and the side case refill plug. The overflow standpipe plug inside the drain hole takes a 5 mm hex bit (some units use 6 mm).
Yes. Aim an infrared thermometer at the flat of the transmission pan and set the level when it reads 95-115 F. A scan tool that reads the ATF temperature PID is more accurate and is worth having if you plan to do the service repeatedly.