how do i change trans,differential fluid?

[taeytaey]

i have 2004 4runner sr5 130k and never changed transmission oil on it , how do i change the transmission oil and differential fluid? what type of oil should i use for transmission oil? im thinkink of using royal purple for differential fluid. but what can i use for transmission and how do i refill the trans, oil? can anyone help?
I don't know if it's true but, I read somewhere that toyota cars and trucks don't ever need to change the transmission oil .unless your transmission is slipping real badly or there's something wrong with transmission. Is it true?

 

[black_120]

there are quite a few writeups on the forums. Do a search and you'll find exactly what you're looking for.

 

[jmp55]

i have 2004 4runner sr5 130k and never changed transmission oil on it , how do i change the transmission oil and differential fluid? what type of oil should i use for transmission oil? im thinkink of using royal purple for differential fluid. but what can i use for transmission and how do i refill the trans, oil? can anyone help?

Here is a link for you on how to change gear oil and transfer case oil. It helped me a lot when I did it for the first time.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maint...ntial-transfer-case-fluids-pics-included.html

Royal purple is good. Personally I thought it is too pricey and opt for Mobil 1. It seems that's what most owners go with.

As for transmission oil, I would leave the job for dealers or professionals. As far as I know 4th gen transmissions are sealed system and involves complicated procedures. But there are a lot of threads in Maintenance section regarding this.

 

[Desert Fox]

I cant speak for a V6 but for the V8 it was a piece of cake to change diff and t case fluid.
Note- make sure you take the Fill plug out before you drain the fluid. If it gets stuck and you have already drained your fluid you will have a problem.

I had the tranny filter and 4 qts of fluid changed at a local shop $90. 160,000 on the odometer so it was due. I will drain the pan fluid about every 5000 miles now so the remaining old fluid gets mixed and replaced with new fluid.

There is a concern that debrie in the nooks of the tranny can get loose when you do a full fluid flush so I avoided that. If the debrie gets on the wrong part it can mess the tranny up bad.

My tranny is not sealed but I have heard of that. not sure which ones are.

 

[jimithing]

I cant speak for a V6 but for the V8 it was a piece of cake to change diff and t case fluid.
Note- make sure you take the Fill plug out before you drain the fluid. If it gets stuck and you have already drained your fluid you will have a problem.

I had the tranny filter and 4 qts of fluid changed at a local shop $90. 160,000 on the odometer so it was due. I will drain the pan fluid about every 5000 miles now so the remaining old fluid gets mixed and replaced with new fluid.

There is a concern that debrie in the nooks of the tranny can get loose when you do a full fluid flush so I avoided that. If the debrie gets on the wrong part it can mess the tranny up bad.

My tranny is not sealed but I have heard of that. not sure which ones are.

V6 was a piece of cake too. had a little trouble getting the drain plug out on the front but other than that easy.

 

[Ducman]

Here is a link for you on how to change gear oil and transfer case oil. It helped me a lot when I did it for the first time.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maint...ntial-transfer-case-fluids-pics-included.html

Royal purple is good. Personally I thought it is too pricey and opt for Mobil 1. It seems that's what most owners go with.

As for transmission oil, I would leave the job for dealers or professionals. As far as I know 4th gen transmissions are sealed system and involves complicated procedures. But there are a lot of threads in Maintenance section regarding this.

It's hardly a complicated procedure. Plenty of threads on how to do it.

It's not hard at all, I had no problem. :shrug:

 

[oblivionis]

I also want to change the transmission fluid (changed dif fluid to synthetic long time ago) so I called the local dealer and they wanted $160 for drain and fill. I asked them if that included the filter and they said that it is just a screen and it is not recommended to change it. So I decided to do the drain and fill myself. The only thing I'm not sure is if I should use aftermarket transmission fluid or go to the dealer and overpay for the Toyota stuff. Also, how much will I need for a drain and fill?

 

[MikeInNH]

I'm not sure is if I should use aftermarket transmission fluid or go to the dealer and overpay for the Toyota stuff.

You MUST use a fluid that meets Toyota's WS standard. There are very few that do. And everyone I looked at is as expensive or more then what I can buy it for at my local Toyota dealer.

 

[Ducman]

Easy

I purchased a case of the Toyota WS fliud from the dealer and had enough to do 3 or 4 drain and fills (cant remember which) a few thousand miles apart.

There is way more ATF in the torque converter/cooler/lines etc than that though.

If memory serves me right, I think that a person would end up with a concentration of around 70-80% new fluid after 3 or 4 drain and fills.

 

[oblivionis]

Just to clarify, I don't think my 04 4Runner has a sealed transmission (there is a dipstick). Do I still need the Toyota WS fluid?