2002 4wd - Diff/Trans fluid change

[SOCAL_02LIMITED]

I recently purchased a 2002 Limited and don't have the history on fluid changes. I plan to change the rear diff fluid soon. Dumb questions -

1) does the center diff in this model have changeable fluid? And will also change the tranny fluid. Are they all the same viscosity?
2) What product do y'all recommend (royal purple, OEM, etc.)
3) how much do I need to buy?

Thanks.

 

[jgue467]

I recently purchased a 2002 Limited and don't have the history on fluid changes. I plan to change the rear diff fluid soon. Dumb questions -

1) does the center diff in this model have changeable fluid? And will also change the tranny fluid. Are they all the same viscosity?
2) What product do y'all recommend (royal purple, OEM, etc.)
3) how much do I need to buy?

Thanks.

1. Yes, center diff takes 1.3 qts of GL4 or GL5 (75-90 wt). Tranny fluid is ATF3 only.
2. Your favorite Full Synthetic, if you don't want to blow the big $ on name brands you can use wallymarts full synth stuff, i did, works well.
3. Read diff takes 2.9 qts (i went with wallys 90-140 for the texas heat). Front diff takes 1.2 qts (75-90), bolt maybe unique to the other 2 diffs so check you have the tool first.

Big tip: take off the Fill bolts first Then remove the drain plugs (don't want to get stuck w/out fluid in case the fill plugs don't want to come out). Luck!

 

[Ghostrider]

I just did all three of mine on Monday. I do them every other year so I don't use full synthetic - just the Valvoline from auto store... Here is a link with part numbers for the crush washers and some other stuff to consider. The weights of the oils that he lists are what I have run for ten years.

Synthetic Fluids Toyota 4Runner Information

the rear and center are easy unless your truck spent time up north.. The front drain is nothing but a pain because it is a hex head. You need the insert and a breaker bar. I was jumping on the bar to break it loose. Should take under two hours if the front comes loose. One other trick on the front is to put it on ramps to you can get leverage to pull down on the breaker bar.

 

[t8rh8r]

I'm in the same situation as you, OP. I'll go ahead and do em at the same time and I'll tell you how it goes. Good questions, keep it up.

Edit: how many miles does it have on it?

 

[SOCAL_02LIMITED]

I have 187K

 

[Robb235]

Sh!t, why does the front diff take a different viscosity oil than the rear? Can't remember if I put the lighter weight oil in the front or not.

By the way, the trans takes DEXRON III fluid.

 

[JEL]

Sh!t, why does the front diff take a different viscosity oil than the rear? Can't remember if I put the lighter weight oil in the front or not.

By the way, the trans takes DEXRON III fluid.

I think those specs are a bit outdated, even for the time. I suppose it could have been due to the fact many would only engage 4wd as-needed, so a slightly thinner cold viscosity in the front was warranted as most of the time the rear would be good and warmed up when you got into dicey situations, but I don't know for sure. Probably just the engineers covering all their bases and over-thinking things as usual.:lmao:

These days you can use 75w90 in all three (front diff, rear diff, t-case) all year in any climate, and motor on. I used Lubro Moly 75w90 GL5 in all three when I did my 3rd gen 20k ago, and I'll swap it out at around the 30-40k mark for good measure. In my 4th gen I used Valvoline SynPower 75w90 in the front diff and t-case, and Durablend 80w90 out rear just because I had it in the garage.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I use Walmart SuperTech in all three and change it often. 75w140 in rear and 75w-90 in the rest.