Hey there, first post. Sorry if the title was confusing:

Recently had my transmission fluid drained and refilled. I wanted to make sure the levels were correct when I received it back, so checked myself. I don't recall what the levels were before, this is a relatively new vehicle to me and I hadn't checked. Anyhow, when the vehicle is off, and the engine is cold. It's sat overnight and hasn't been driven in probably 12+ hours. The "cold" reading on the dip-stick shows the fluid level being ABOVE the "hot" notches.

Too much fluid? Perhaps.

So I crawl under the damn thing and drain some out. Recheck until it shows correct.

I'll drive it around a bit, go up and down the road and make sure I get maybe 5-10 miles on it and check again, now that it's hot. Now, it'll show well below the cold mark, sometimes it won't show at all. "Well, I need to add more!", so I'll add more fluid.

I'll drive it around and check until it shows proper while the engine is hot.

Then, in the morning, I'll check now that the engine has been at rest and is cold again. The cold reading, once again, well above the hot notches!

I have no idea what is correct here. Even when the cold reading is showing above the hot notches, after driving it like that for a while and re-checking the hot reading shows low.

When parked, there is no leaking fluid. I put cardboard under the transmission and engine when I park it to check and nothing is dripping out under the hood.

This is a 2001 4-Runner and as this post may indicate, I'm mechanically stupid. (But want to learn, ha)

 

I don't believe that auto tranny fluid is ever checked with the engine shut off.
Usually with engine running at idle.
Best that you consult the owners manual or Factory Service manual about how to properly check this level before you ruin your tranny.

 

Sadly, the owners manually doesn't seem to show how to check the fluid level: https://assets.sia.toyota.com/public...f/OM35768U.pdf

I ctrl+˟˟˟˟ the document to search, "transmission fluid" and I can't seem to locate any area where it's brought up. Section 7 covers do it yourself maintenance, and it has guides for checking powersteering fluid and things like oil. No mention of transmission fluid in this area, or elsewhere, that I can find. Also searched for 'dipstick', none of which covered the transmission fluid dipstick and the hot/cold marks.

 

From another source I found:

 

From the FSM, General Maintenance, Under the Hood:



Is this any help?
Pat