4 gen tranny fluid swap
- Thread starter rweddy1
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Jeff Kleb
New member
Bad idea!!!! First of all, you would be wasting a lot of money. That tranny fluid in the 4th generation 4Runner is "lifetime" fluid, is not supposed to need changing (hence, the sealed system) and is very, very expensive to buy.
Second, you would probably end up doing more damage by changing than by leaving it alone. Since there is not a dipstick to check it, chances are you would put too much or too little back in - and might not be aware of it.
Methinks you should leave it be. Change your oil and use Mobil-1 synthetic & a decent filter......but leave the AFT alone.
cpayne5
New member
rweddy1 said:
The tranny holds 13qts, but I don't know how much drains out at a time.
Just buy more than you need the first time (I'd probably buy a case, since it will get you through 2-3 changes), and record how much you put back in. Since you bought extra, you're gonna use it sometime anyway.
jeober
New member
Be aware that the 5-speed transmission (05 for the V-6) uses the bottom plug as part of an internal standpipe and is the overfill port -- it is not a drain. Only excess fluid can drain out to the proper level. The upper plug up on the side is the fill.
The pan holds 1.3L, the valve body 3.9L, and the torque converter 5.3L.
The pan holds 1.3L, the valve body 3.9L, and the torque converter 5.3L.
Heads up
doing more damage does come into play if you have a used truck with ALOT of miles on it
HOWEVER
if u have arecent new truck
"This is my understanding from the guys who i have talked to"
and change the tranny fluid from EARLY on THEN you keep the bad gunk out from the get go and therefore have a better tranny for longer life
schwalmy
ps...do a search re the tranny "life time"
schwalmy
doing more damage does come into play if you have a used truck with ALOT of miles on it
HOWEVER
if u have arecent new truck
"This is my understanding from the guys who i have talked to"
and change the tranny fluid from EARLY on THEN you keep the bad gunk out from the get go and therefore have a better tranny for longer life
schwalmy
ps...do a search re the tranny "life time"
schwalmy
Boaz
New member
to answer your question. Make sure you have about 5 quarts to refill with. Mine took about 4.5 quarts when I drained the pan on my 04 V-6. Make sure you use Toyota T-IV Fluid. Shop around for the fluid, I found it for 3.82 per quart in Missouri. I have been quoted as high as 8.00 per quart from a local MD dealer.
IMO changing it every oil change (I am assuming you mean ever 5k miles) Is not only overkill its wasteful.
Every 30-40k is fine unless you are towing everyday or something. 15-20K if your towing or wheeling constantly and even that is probably on the overkill side.
I sent a fluid sample off to a Used oil Analysis lab when the truck had 35,000 miles on it. The report said that the fluid was suitable for continued use, however I caved at 40,000 and just did a quick drain and fill while I was changing the oil.
I will search around and find my thread on the fluid change and oil analysis.
When I find it I will post it up here.
Hope this helps
Jake
IMO changing it every oil change (I am assuming you mean ever 5k miles) Is not only overkill its wasteful.
Every 30-40k is fine unless you are towing everyday or something. 15-20K if your towing or wheeling constantly and even that is probably on the overkill side.
I sent a fluid sample off to a Used oil Analysis lab when the truck had 35,000 miles on it. The report said that the fluid was suitable for continued use, however I caved at 40,000 and just did a quick drain and fill while I was changing the oil.
I will search around and find my thread on the fluid change and oil analysis.
When I find it I will post it up here.
Hope this helps
Jake
Boaz
New member
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16017&highlight=Fluid
thats the link for my fluid change thread.
It also has a link to awww.bobistheoilguy.com thread with my oil analysis and many comments from the field of experts on that site.
Enjoy.
Jake
thats the link for my fluid change thread.
It also has a link to awww.bobistheoilguy.com thread with my oil analysis and many comments from the field of experts on that site.
Enjoy.
Jake
Jeff Kleb
New member
ATF, Plugs, etc.
Oh, there must be a difference between the '04 and '05 then. My '05 4Runner does not have a transmission dipstick and the service rep at the stealership said that the fluid is never supposed to be changed - unless some kind of internal warning sensor tells you to do so. {And yes, my '05 does have a five-speed auto in it.}
They said that it is a synthetic fluid and that using any other type could permanently damage the transmission. Of course, I only leased this vehicle for 3 years/36k and won't have it that long.......but I guess that is one less thing I have to worry about when I turn over the 30k mark sometime late in 2007.
Oddly, though, I have read on this forum that the V6 has spark plugs that need replacing at 30k while the V8 uses platinum ones that are good for 100k. WTF? Even my 2002 Nissan Sentra has plugs that are supposed to go 105,000 miles before changing.
Oh, there must be a difference between the '04 and '05 then. My '05 4Runner does not have a transmission dipstick and the service rep at the stealership said that the fluid is never supposed to be changed - unless some kind of internal warning sensor tells you to do so. {And yes, my '05 does have a five-speed auto in it.}
They said that it is a synthetic fluid and that using any other type could permanently damage the transmission. Of course, I only leased this vehicle for 3 years/36k and won't have it that long.......but I guess that is one less thing I have to worry about when I turn over the 30k mark sometime late in 2007.
Oddly, though, I have read on this forum that the V6 has spark plugs that need replacing at 30k while the V8 uses platinum ones that are good for 100k. WTF? Even my 2002 Nissan Sentra has plugs that are supposed to go 105,000 miles before changing.
Boaz
New member
Jeff,
03 and 04 V-6 models have the 4 speed auto similar to the one that was in the Land Cruiser for years. The 03,04,05 and 06 V8's have the 5 speed auto sealed unit.
05-06 V-6 models have the above mentioned 5 speed as well.
*Off topic ( I don't care what the manual says, I would never leave spark plugs in 100k miles.)
They are so cheap to replace at a regular interval and worn out spark plugs can cause poor performance and fuel mileage. It has been my experience that every 30-40k a fresh set of plugs will pay for themselves in good performance and fuel economy.
Just my 2 cents.
03 and 04 V-6 models have the 4 speed auto similar to the one that was in the Land Cruiser for years. The 03,04,05 and 06 V8's have the 5 speed auto sealed unit.
05-06 V-6 models have the above mentioned 5 speed as well.
*Off topic ( I don't care what the manual says, I would never leave spark plugs in 100k miles.)
They are so cheap to replace at a regular interval and worn out spark plugs can cause poor performance and fuel mileage. It has been my experience that every 30-40k a fresh set of plugs will pay for themselves in good performance and fuel economy.
Just my 2 cents.
Koz
New member
If you are just draining the trans pan (from drain plug) you will only be changing approx a third of the fluid and mixing it with the remaining two thirds. In this case you may want to do this several times (3 or 4 times over time). I would suggest getting a professional flush/fluid exchange that replaces all the fluid at one time. I would also look into replacing the regular fluid with synthetic.
Koz
Koz
