ATF in the transfer case????

[TexasA&M]

Howdy folks, I crawled underneath my 2005 V8 4WD today to change all of the gear oil. Rear diff was no problem. When I got to the transfer case though, I ran into an issue. When I pulled the drain plug, ATF ran out. My manual, and everything I've found on the internet says to use 75/90 gear oil, so I was shocked when ATF ran out.

what do I need to put back in this thing? Of course I only have gear oil since that is what I was expecting to use.

Let me know what y'all think.

Thanks,

- Steve

 

[CookieRoe]

Transfer case uses gear oil. I use Mobile1 75-90.

ATF drained out? WTH changed it before you?

 

[TexasA&M]

No one. This is the first time it's been changed (I am the original owner). I had an old Chevy that used ATF in the transfer case. I'm inclined to put ATF back in there since it's been running good for 12 years and 130k miles.

 

[CookieRoe]

Wow, that is strange. Anyway, if the manual calls for gear oil, so be it, right?

 

[TexasA&M]

Wow, that is strange. Anyway, if the manual calls for gear oil, so be it, right?

Yeah, I'm really torn on what to do.... My uncle is a Nissan mechanic and he said he'd put ATF back in there.

 

[SilvFx]

No one. This is the first time it's been changed (I am the original owner). I had an old Chevy that used ATF in the transfer case. I'm inclined to put ATF back in there since it's been running good for 12 years and 130k miles.

same deal....had a '95 Chevy Blazer and '99 GMC Suburban and those ran ATF. Was a bit surprised to find Toyotas run gear oil.

I can tell you the Honda motorcycle transmission oil that is 80/85W oil looks and pours almost exactly like ATF and plenty of motorcycle guys run ATF in their manual gearboxes.

Tough decision. Could replace with ATF and run it a bit in 4WD and see how it does.

 

[Drunner97]

I hate to be the one to say it, but are you sure you drained the transfer case? I've not seen one single case of anyone draining ATF out of a transfer case or putting ATF in the transfer case in a 4runner.

 

[Legender]

^^^ exactly.... are you sure you drained the transfer case and did not drain the transmission? I don't even think it would run well with ATF in there. It's not the same thing as gear oil, which is what it calls for. Pics might help out here.

 

[Seymore Butts]

Do you still have the fluid you drained? Measure the volume and it will help determine whether you drained it from the transfer case or the transmission. My guess - it was the transmission.

Even if it came from the transfer case, do what the TOYOTA owners manual says, and ignore the Nissan mechanic.

 

[Drunner97]

Do you still have the fluid you drained? Measure the volume and it will help determine whether you drained it from the transfer case or the transmission. My guess - it was the transmission.

Even if it came from the transfer case, do what the TOYOTA owners manual says, and ignore the Nissan mechanic.

^ This too. Should be 3-4 quarts from the transmission, and less than 2 quarts from the transfer case. Probably close to 1.5.

 

[TexasA&M]

I hate to be the one to say it, but are you sure you drained the transfer case?

100% positive. I know there are always a lot of folks on the boards asking questions about how to change their 'four wheel drive fluid' and what not, but I'm not one of them (this time, anyway). I didn't even know there was a drain plug on the tranny until I went out and checked and found a little one in the pan. I definitely drained the tcase and when I re-filled it, it took 1.5qts, just as expected (fill plug is directly beneath the rear driveshaft flange on the back of the case).

I triple checked to make sure that I wasn't imagining things, but it's pretty hard to confuse the look, smell, and feel of ATF vs. gear oil.

I've not seen one single case of anyone draining ATF out of a transfer case or putting ATF in the transfer case in a 4runner.

Now you have!

 

[Drunner97]

100% positive. I know there are always a lot of folks on the boards asking questions about how to change their 'four wheel drive fluid' and what not, but I'm not one of them (this time, anyway). I didn't even know there was a drain plug on the tranny until I went out and checked and found a little one in the pan. I definitely drained the tcase and when I re-filled it, it took 1.5qts, just as expected (fill plug is directly beneath the rear driveshaft flange on the back of the case).

I triple checked to make sure that I wasn't imagining things, but it's pretty hard to confuse the look, smell, and feel of ATF vs. gear oil.



Now you have!

Just had to check, haha. There's so many "drained my atf instead of oil" threads on TW it's ridiculous. So did you refill with ATF or gear oil? If you did gear oil, I'd do another change within 5k miles to make sure you got all the ATF out.