Transfer Oil Change?

[RatKat]

Hi, everybody! This is my first post so be gentle with me!

I had my oil changed on my '03 V8 Limited with 20k on it and of course the grease jockey said I should change my transfer case oil. Ok, I was NOT about to let him change it but I was uncertain as to when it should be done. When I checked the Toyota maint. schedule, it just says to CHECK it...I did search through here but I must be missing something--I apologize if I am asking something that has been discussed.

I just got this baby a few months ago...with only 14k on the clock. I have wanted 4R since I test drove one in 1989! I LOVELOVELOVE this truck! This truck is the culimination of a dream for me! I kinda like when guys do a double take when a chick jumps out of her truck!

This is great site!

RatKat

 

[Bobby]

Welcome to the forum!!!

Congrats on your new (to you) 4runner. It's a good idea to change the oil in your transfer case, diff and transmission every 30k miles even though Toyota states that they're lifetime fluids.

 

[RatKat]

Thanks, Bobby!

I had a feeling he was BS'ing me! He made it sound like it was going to drop out from under the truck if I went another mile w/o changing it! But, I guess that is how they get business.

That is why forums like this are so valuable! I would have RTFM but I didn't get one!

Best,

Kathy

 

[Bobby]

No prob. With 20k miles, you shouldn't have any problems. I usually change the diff and tranny fluids at ~30k miles. I don't know much about transfer cases but it should be the same even if they say its lifetime fluids. Then again I do a ton of preventative maintenance on all my cars.

 

[greasefingers]

Being that you have a 2003, the tranny fluid is not the same as the 2004. It will take AFT-T-IV. There is nothing Lifetime about this stuff. Toyota uses Valoline 75w-90 oil in the transfer case. As Bobby stated change them both, as well as the diff, at every 30,000 miles or earlier if needed.

 

[bulldog-yota]

I changed my diffs, transfer case and tranny fluids at 20k. My 4R does work a bit offroad. The tranny flush was probably overkill, but oh well. I noticd that my diff fluids were completely black and I think an early change on those might not be a bad idea. The transfer case fluid still looked like new, so my guess would be that it just doesn't work as hard as the diffs.

I would agree 30k is a good interval and you might want to use synthetic oil in those.

 

[JB.]

I don't find it too hard to believe that lifetime doesn't literally mean lifetime, but the difference between 30k intervals and lifetime is huge. I'll defer to those with more experience and technical knowledge than I, but I can't help but consider that, perhaps, materials, fluid chemistry, and manufacturing techniques are advancing faster than general automotive knowledge can keep pace with.

 

[RICK]

transfer and differencial fluid change

i changed my diff and transfer fluids at 15ki put in mobil 1 synthetic75 90 gear oil,i even use synthetic grease to lube the drive shaft and u joints, mobil one 5w30 in the engine,will drain and refill trans at 20kand flush at 40k i believe synthetic is far superior and the 4runner deserves it.

2004 titanium se
bridgestone revo's
silverstar high's and lows

 

[bulldog-yota]

I don't find it too hard to believe that lifetime doesn't literally mean lifetime, but the difference between 30k intervals and lifetime is huge. I'll defer to those with more experience and technical knowledge than I, but I can't help but consider that, perhaps, materials, fluid chemistry, and manufacturing techniques are advancing faster than general automotive knowledge can keep pace with.

I wish I did an oil analysis of the diff fluids. They defintely did not look like fluids that would last a long time. The new WS ATF is supposed to be lifetime fluid, but I would bet if it never gets changed you will be in for some big bills at 120k miles or so.

I way up the cost of changing the fluids vs repalcement of the part. The new engines, transmission, transfer and diffs are very expensive. SO I would rather not risk it.

I agree a lot of things have changed and improved maintenance wise, but I have yet to see fluids lasting more than 5 years and 120k miles in the driveline and still be OK. The only way to truly know is to have the fluids analized from time to time, but if you look at the cost of doing it vs just changing it you can do the math.

 

[Bobby]

I don't have analysis on the fluids but after changing the diff and tranny fluids on my M3 (which used to spend a fair amount of time on the track), I couldn't believe what came out of the diff. I now change the diff and tranny fluids every 15-20k on my M3 but I plan on changing the fluids at ~30k miles on my 4runner, depending on how I drive it.

I understand that the newer fluids don't break down as easily as earlier types but you will need to get the crap that's floating around in it out before it damages the internals.

 

[Kanab]

Re: transfer and differencial fluid change

i changed my diff and transfer fluids at 15ki put in mobil 1 synthetic75 90 gear oil,i even use synthetic grease to lube the drive shaft and u joints, mobil one 5w30 in the engine,will drain and refill trans at 20kand flush at 40k i believe synthetic is far superior and the 4runner deserves it.

2004 titanium se
bridgestone revo's
silverstar high's and lows

Rick I see you have a 2004, it uses a special Toyota WS ATF and there is currently no compatible fluid on the market. Just make sure you don't mix any other fluid with it. I would not try and replace the WS ATF with anything else or you might have a warranty problem if you have a failure.

 

[Koz]

Put the good stuff in, should be good for 100K miles.

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx

Koz

 

[Bobby]

Amsoil seems to be very popular but I just don't like thier products. For tranny and diff, I use Redline D4 ATF and 75w90 in my M3. I've heard really good things about Mobile1 75w90 so I might try that since it's much easier to come by. Sounds like I'll be sticking with Toyota fluids for the tranny.


Koz - nothing will last 100k unless it's in a lab environment .

 

[TranceKrayz]

how do you know whether or not you have WS ATF or something else? I have a 2003 V6 4runner. why did toyota have to keep changing things....so confused!!

 

[Koz]

If Toyota sealed the trans and recommends 100K mile maintenance, and oil analysis prove oils are still good, I tend to think differently.

Koz

 

[Bobby]

I haven't taken a good look at the tranny in the 4runner. Is it really sealed? Most of what I'm talking about is my past experiences with my M3 and Maxima before that. I understand that most makers are now putting in "lifetime" fluids for the tranny and diff. I'm leary about these fluids lasting at long as they claim. I also haven't seen the oil analysis and what they check to claim it will last 100k so I'll stick with my past experiences.

I'm getting better though. I don't replace ALL the fluids in a new car after 1500-2000 miles now. Just the motor oil .

 

[Kanab]

how do you know whether or not you have WS ATF or something else? I have a 2003 V6 4runner. why did toyota have to keep changing things....so confused!!

In 2004 for the 5 speed transmission they got rid of the transmission dipstick and went with the WS ATF. A good way to tell if you have the WS ATF is if you don't have a dipstick on your Transmission then you have the "sealed" transmission with the WS ATF. Hope that helps. The stuff is expensive, I plan on doing the regular pan drain and fill at around 50K miles with the WS ATF. I would not want to do a flush with the WS ATF, it would cost way to much to flush the machine and then replace all of the fluid in the torque converter and the 5 speed transmission. Hope this helps

 

[greasefingers]

I recently changed the diffs, tranny, transfer-case, & radiator fluid. So easy since drain plugs are provided. My jeep has no drain plugs on the diffs or the tranny, so one needs to pull all of the pan bolts. Still it is easy; just takes ten time times longer to perform and one needs a couple of gaskets and a tube of Permatex for the diffs.

Eventually I will pull the pan off the T4R tranny to see if there is a filter in there. Can anyone confirm this? There must be one

 

[Kanab]

No filter just a screen to catch the big chunks

 

[GalacticRunner]

originally posted by kanab:

In 2004 for the 5 speed transmission they got rid of the transmission dipstick and went with the WS ATF. A good way to tell if you have the WS ATF is if you don't have a dipstick on your Transmission then you have the "sealed" transmission with the WS ATF. Hope that helps. The stuff is expensive, I plan on doing the regular pan drain and fill at around 50K miles with the WS ATF. I would not want to do a flush with the WS ATF, it would cost way to much to flush the machine and then replace all of the fluid in the torque converter and the 5 speed transmission. Hope this helps


I have a 2004 SR5 with the V-6 and just looked under my hood, there was the yellow oil dip stick and a red one that has clips holding it in place. The red one is closer to the firewall. I am correct in believing this is a transmission fluid dipstick, right? I was just curious after browsing synthetic fluids and finding this thread that said 2004's have a sealed system without a dipstick. Was just curious since I paln on synthetic fluids all around. Already using Mobil 1 5W30 in engine and 75/90 Mobil 1 in the diff's.