Which ATF are you using in 3rd gen?

[wm69]

Ok, I've been reading thread after thread on the flush vs non flush here. I even contacted Toyota directly and they said "drain and fill" on my 01 4runner, 116K (drain and fill was done at 30, 60, 90K). I'm thinking I will do what I've done on my Honda (Hondas do NOT like flushing) and drain, fill, drive around for a few days, drain, fill, drive around a few day, and then drain, fill one more time. I know that doesn't get all new fluid in there, but it would get the fluid MOSTLY new.

I DO intend to drop the pan on the first drain/fill and clean it out, and I'm kinda sorta thinking about disconnecting the tranny line and putting all new fluid in there like the writeup on yotatech, but my main question is.....which fluid should I use? I know Hondas are pretty much ONLY supposed to use Honda fluid if you don't want your tranny to explode, but what about 4runners?

Is there a special "toyota" tranny fluid or can I use mobil1 or Castrol (I've always used Castrol GTX oil in my vehicles)?

If I were to use, say, Catrol ATF, would it mix ok with what is in there, or do I really need to do a flush and put all new stuff in there?

 

[toto]

If the book calls for Dexron III, then any brand should be fine. Toyota sells their own, but there's nothing special about it.

If the book calls for Toyota Type T-IV, then that's a proprietary synthetic blend that until recently was only sold at Toyota dealers. There are now a couple of aftermarket T-IV equivalents, but shop around carefully to make sure it clearly states that it's T-IV compatible. Personally, I'd buy T-IV at a Toyota dealer, as the price is reasonable there.

 

[wm69]

If the book calls for Dexron III, then any brand should be fine. Toyota sells their own, but there's nothing special about it.

If the book calls for Toyota Type T-IV, then that's a proprietary synthetic blend that until recently was only sold at Toyota dealers. There are now a couple of aftermarket T-IV equivalents, but shop around carefully to make sure it clearly states that it's T-IV compatible. Personally, I'd buy T-IV at a Toyota dealer, as the price is reasonable there.

Thanks.
So I could put the newer fluid in my 3rd gen 4runner or no? If so would I would need to do the DIY flush to get all of the DEXRON III out, or are the two compatible?

 

[toto]

You can't mix Dexron and T-IV, and they're not interchangeable. Use the correct one for your truck, per the maintenance documentation. I'm not sure which year they made the switch the T-IV on the 4Runner, so that's why I mentioned it.