I drained the fluid and replaced the transmission pan filter in my 4runner this afternoon. I cleaned out the pan when it was off, including the magnets. I put it all back together and like a boob I forgot to put the magnets back. Am I at great risk without those little suckers in there?

Obviously it would be better to have them but if I wait until the next scheduled fluid drain to put them back in am I asking for disaster?

 

It would be best to have them inside. I would either get a clean container, a new pan gasket, and get them back in, or atleast get bigger magnets and glue them to the outside of the pan with some type of glue that can be removed at a later time. Those magnets prevent all of those fuzzy metal shavings from circulating through all of the critical areas of your valve body.

 

you're not a 'boob' for forgetting the magnet(s)... that makes you a dork . You are a boob if you don't put the magnet(s) back in.
Grab a clean container and drain the fluid into it... drop the pan and put the magnet(s) back in. then refill from the clean container you drained in to.

 

Were magnets OEM? There were no magnets in my oil pan, nor was there a baffle though.

 

Yeah, that's OEM. I've got them in my 90 4runner 3VZ-E V6's auto trans. Probably best to go ahead and put them back in. It is important. You saw the amount of debris that sticks to them. Definately don't want to run that stuff through your trans.

 

Crap, at times I really want to dent the PO's head. He's done some stupid stuff, like remove the oil baffle and magnets (as I just found out). The dumbest thing to date was not using thread locker on the timing chain guide bolts- one backed out on its own accord and fell between the chain and spinning sprocket.

 

We are talking the transmission here, but I'm sure that's what you meant. There are no magnets in my oil pan, but there are my transmission pan.

And yes, I am (what's the word?) the dork. I carefully reinstalled the transmission pan and as I was putting the tools away saw the stack of carefully cleaned magnets sitting on a paper towel!

After thinking about it (just like you), I drained the fluid into a clean container, removed the pan and installed the magnets. Same fluid back in, and no problem since.

 

No I very definitely overlooked the transmission part and replaced it in my mind with "oil" lol. Ooops.

 

thanks for the comments. back to Napa for another gasket...

 

Use RTV sealant or Toyota FIPG, I've heard its better. RTV sure hasn't leaved on my truck. Ever.