Strange as it may seem, let's start with the fact that the manufacturer does not provide for changing the oil in CVTs on Toyota cars. He only suggests checking its level every 40,000 km and, if necessary, topping it up to the required level.

However, in practice, things are such that sometimes replacement is still required. Let's consider what kind of oil to pour into a Toyota variator, and how to do it correctly. We will also not ignore other gearbox options.

What kind of oil should be poured into the Corolla variator?

The variator design uses 2 shafts with adjustable conical surfaces. Torque is transmitted by a plate belt; a special fluid filled into the crankcase reduces wear and provides an increased coefficient of friction.

The tray contains a filter that catches wear products; an additional magnet for collecting steel shavings is located at the bottom of the box. The manufacturer strictly regulates the characteristics of the fluid, the quality of which determines the life of the contacting parts and the reliability of the transmission.

Manufacturer's Recommended

To fill the unit, a special mineral-based fluid Toyota 08886–02105 TC and Toyota 08886–02505 FE is used (the type of material filled is indicated on the neck). The FE version is characterized by increased fluidity; both options correspond to a kinematic viscosity of 0W–20. The composition includes phosphorus-based additives to reduce wear, and calcium-based compounds to remove and neutralize foreign impurities.

Liquids do not have a negative effect on parts made from copper-based alloys.

High-quality analogues

Instead of original materials, you can use Castrol CVT Multi, Idemitsu CVTF, ZIC CVT Multi or KIXX CVTF fluids. Some manufacturers use a synthetic base that is resistant to degradation and provides good protection of parts from wear. It is allowed to use Aisin CVT Fluid Excellent CFEX oil (article CVTF-7004), produced by Exxon Mobil Japan specifically for transmissions manufactured by the Aisin concern. Products from alternative suppliers are not inferior in quality to the original liquid, but cost 1.5–2 times less.

Castrol CVT Multi can be used instead of original materials.

Oils for automatic transmissions Toyota Corolla

The oil poured into a Toyota Corolla automatic and other models must also have a certain set of properties (performance, viscosity, physico-chemical).

It is designated by the abbreviation ATF and must meet the requirements specified in the vehicle's operating instructions.

The following brands of oils are used for Toyota cars:

• Toyota ATF Dexron III - this oil has excellent pumping properties at low temperatures;
• Toyota ATF WS is an original oil with very low viscosity;
• Toyota ATF TYPE T-IV - contains hydrocracking oils and proprietary additives. Meets almost all requirements of the Toyota automaker;
• Mobil ATF 3309 is an excellent oil from a renowned brand. High stability when operating at high temperatures;
• Top Tec ATF 1200 is an oil with antifriction additives that provide extreme pressure properties, allowing better preservation of gear pairs under shock loads and high speeds.

Features of changing oil in a variator

When servicing the box, use a torque wrench and thoroughly clean the threads of dirt. If you use excessive force, you can break the bolts, making it very difficult to remove the remaining parts from the crankcase. For example, the filter mounting screws are designed for a torque of 7 N*m, and the drain plug requires a force of 40 N*m. When replacing the cover, the bolts should be tightened with a torque of 10 N*m crosswise (to ensure uniform contact of the mating planes).

How often should you change

The service life of the fluid ranges from 30 to 80 thousand km, depending on operating conditions. There have been cases where cars drove up to 200 thousand km without refilling with fresh oil. At the same time, the variator worked without jerking or any other symptoms of malfunction. If the car is constantly used in the city and drives short distances, then the gearbox should be serviced after 30–40 thousand km.

Cars that often travel on country highways require fluid replacement after 70-80 thousand kilometers.

Volume

The capacity of the CVT crankcase on the Toyota Corolla is about 8.7 liters. When servicing the box, some of the liquid is lost when the level is set, so a reserve of 2 liters should be provided. For a partial replacement with 3 times draining and refilling, about 12 liters of oil will be required; for a short procedure with a one-time update, a 4 liter canister will be enough.

The crankcase capacity is approximately 8.7 liters.

How to check the oil level

The design of the box does not provide a dipstick for checking the amount of liquid. To determine whether the level is correct, you need to start the engine and move the selector through all positions.

Then you should unscrew the drain plug, excess oil will drain through the overflow tube located inside.

If the liquid level is below the permissible level, then you should replenish the supply and repeat the check until the material leaks through the tube (the appearance of individual drops indicates stabilization of the level).

Oil volume

Regardless of generation, modern cars had the same volume for oil changes in the Toyota Corolla Fielder CVT, which was 6.7 liters. This value indicates:

1. How much does it take to make a complete change? How much of the substance needs to be filled over several cycles of changing the old oil with a complete change depends on the crankcase volume. In a whisk, this value is approximately 12-13 liters for a complete change of substance.
2. What volume is needed for a simple (partial) addition of liquid. In this case, this value ranges from 2 to 4 liters, which will vary from 30 to 60%.

Instructions for changing the oil in the Toyota Corolla CVT

Before starting work, it is necessary to cool the vehicle’s power unit to ambient temperature. Some owners leave the car on a lift or in a garage for 6-10 hours, since the heated hydraulic unit of the variator can fail when filling with cold fluid. There is a coarse cleaning element inside the box; the fine filtration cartridge was not installed on Toyota Corolla cars.

What you need

To perform work on machines manufactured in 2012, 2013 or 2014, you will need:

• set of wrenches and sockets;
• fresh oil, new filter and box cover gasket;
• measuring container for draining waste;
• washer for drain plug;
• medical syringe with a volume of 100-150 ml with an extension tube.

To complete the work you will need a set of wrenches and sockets.

Preparation for the procedure

To change the oil in the variator on a car with left or right-hand drive (Corolla Fielder), you must:

1. Place the car on a lift with a horizontal surface, and then remove the engine compartment protection. It is permissible to carry out work in a garage with an inspection hole if there is a flat floor. The room must first be cleared of dust and protected from drafts; the ingress of abrasive particles onto the parts of the disassembled variator can lead to incorrect operation of the valves of the hydraulic unit.
2. Using a 6-mm hex wrench, unscrew the plug labeled “Check” located on the bottom of the gearbox housing.
3. Place a container and collect about 1.5 liters of liquid, and then unscrew the overflow tube located in the hole. To remove the element, use the same key; about 1 liter of oil should come out of the crankcase. For collection, it is recommended to use a measuring container to determine the volume of drained material.
4. Using a 10 mm socket, unscrew the pan mounting bolts and remove the part from the box housing for washing with solvent or gasoline. There are 3 or 6 magnets on the inner surface (depending on the year of manufacture of the car), the owner can install additional elements that are supplied to the aftermarket under catalog number 35394–30011.
5. Remove the old gasket and wipe the mating surfaces with a clean rag.
6. Unscrew the 3 filter mounting bolts, and then wash the hydraulic unit with carburetor cleaner and wipe with a lint-free cloth. It is recommended to blow out the assembly with compressed air to remove dust particles that could interfere with the normal operation of the valves.
7. Install a new filter element with a rubber sealing ring and tighten the fastening screws. In addition to the original cartridge, you can use analogues (for example, JS Asakashi with article number JT494K).
8. Mount the cover with the new gasket installed; no additional sealants are required.
9. Unscrew the fasteners and remove the left front wheel, and then remove the 4 clips securing the mudguard. Actions are necessary to ensure access to the filler plug. Before unscrewing the plug, it is necessary to clean the dirt from the surface of the box and the plug.

To change the oil, you need to remove the engine compartment protection.

Filling oil

To fill with fresh fluid you must:

1. Screw in the drain plug without the tube and fill in fresh fluid through the side channel. The volume should correspond to the amount of old oil drained. For refilling, you can use a syringe with an extension tube, which allows you to accurately dose the liquid supply.
2. Make sure that there is no leakage of material at the junction of the pan and the crankcase, and then start the engine.
3. Move the selector through each position, which will allow you to flush the gearbox with fresh fluid.
4. Stop the engine and unscrew the plug to drain the oil, which may contain wear products. There is no need to remove the box cover.
5. Screw on the measuring tube and then fill the fluid into the variator.
6. Set the level with the car running; the norm is that drops will separate from the hole in the tube.
7. Screw in the filler plug (torque 49 N*m) and replace the drain plug.
8. Install the mudguard, wheel and crankcase protection of the power unit.
9. Check the operation of the transmission while driving. Vibrations or jerking are not allowed when accelerating or decelerating.

In a service center, the fluid level is adjusted after the oil has warmed up to a temperature of +36°...+46°C (the parameter is determined by a diagnostic scanner). The procedure takes into account the thermal expansion of the oil; when servicing in garage conditions, owners start the engine for 2-3 minutes to warm up the box. If during the service the oil pressure sensor or SRS system controller was replaced, then calibration of the electronic systems is required, which is performed using diagnostic equipment.

When to change

When to change the gearbox oil in Corolla E160/E170/E180?! - one of the most important questions.

In a manual transmission, the manufacturer recommends checking the oil level and condition every 40,000 km, and after every 80,000 km, changing the oil in the manual transmission. Separately, I would like to note that after each subsequent oil change, it is recommended to check its level and condition more often.

Regarding the variator. When filling in oil from Aisin, the transmission manufacturer recommends changing it at 20,000 km. In the lubricants market, Aisin oil is not cheap, and given the more frequent replacement, it ends up costing a lot of money. At the stage of choosing which oil to fill in, it’s up to you, but don’t forget about the demands on the quality of the variator for Toyota.

Of course, with high mileage, few people will allow themselves to pour Aisin oil into the variator on an ongoing basis, so we recommend considering the original Toyota CVT FE or CVT TC oil, depending on the conditions of use. The manufacturer recommends changing this oil at least once every 50,000 km; this is perhaps a more humane solution for those who want to save money.

A very important point is the correct assessment of the load on the transmission, since under heavy loads the oil change interval in the variator should not exceed 30-40,000 km.

Partial oil change in Corolla

The partial replacement procedure preserves the filter and does not require removal of the pan. The owner should unscrew the plug and measuring tube, drain some of the liquid, and then bring the level to normal. The manipulation is repeated 2-3 times, increasing the concentration of pure oil. Since the owner did not change the cartridge or clean the lid and magnets from deposits, the liquid quickly becomes contaminated with wear products. The procedure can be carried out as a temporary measure to improve the performance of the variator, but it is more advisable to completely replace the fluid.