1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Transmission fluid change

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Slopemaster, Jul 25, 2021.

  1. Mar 6, 2022 at 7:26 PM
    #61
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster [OP] Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    Your not in my head. I’ve had heavy maintenance performed by my Toyota dealership many times with a good outcome. Besides if they jack it up then they will fix it.
     
    2Toys and TrailGuy2016[QUOTED] like this.
  2. Mar 6, 2022 at 7:27 PM
    #62
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster [OP] Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    I wouldn’t send my enemy to a Jiffy lube.
     
  3. Mar 7, 2022 at 3:55 PM
    #63
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,453
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    Another idea is to drain and weigh whatever you take out.

    This eliminates any discrepancies from heat expansion of the fluid.

    Fill with the same weight and you're :burnrubber:
     
  4. Mar 7, 2022 at 5:33 PM
    #64
    Smar969905

    Smar969905 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2021
    Member:
    #23842
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zach
    Vehicle:
    Me- 96 dodge ram 2500 cummins. Wife- 16 T4R
    Brake controller
    If a shop, be it dealer or independent, underfills trans fluid, how much wear happens before it is caught? At that point, they likely fill fluid properly, then send you on your way. Some damage is done, but probably not enough to justify rebuilding or replacing the transmission. You wind up with a shorter lifespan on it.

    I would. My enemy can suck a fat tub of their crappy pennzoil.

    While that sounds good, the fluid carries particulates after going through the transmission. This causes the fluid weight to be more. Granted, that's a small difference.
     
  5. Mar 7, 2022 at 5:52 PM
    #65
    Trail Runnah

    Trail Runnah New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2020
    Member:
    #14189
    Messages:
    2,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 T4R Trail Edition
    Stock
    That's about what I paid last summer to have a drain and fill done on mine. When I called the dealer they said Toyota didn't have a specific interval, they say it's a lifetime. When I told him I rather change the fluid, they had no problem doing it.
     
  6. Mar 7, 2022 at 8:04 PM
    #66
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    As the Car Care Nut says, Do the overflow drain properly at the correct temperature like a professional. I use an iPhone and bought a Carista OBDII dongle ($30) to customize various 4R settings. Then I got the app “Car Scanner OBDII”, created a dashboard to directly read various parameters from the sensors such as battery voltage and coolant & transmission temps. This is how I pick the sweet spot for draining out the excess WS fluid. I run the engine until the pan temp is 107F, get out of the driver seat, crawl under the truck, and drain the excess via the overflow. Very easy.
    Here’s the dashboard I set up on the app.

    1D6A2829-B6F7-4758-BEFB-2D9464C5BE05.jpg
     
  7. Mar 7, 2022 at 10:10 PM
    #67
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    I have car scanner app! I never really figured out how to set it up to read AT temp on my highlander.

    I just updated it an looked and saw they added some “connection profiles” but there isnt one for the 4runner. What did you do to get it to read AT temp?
     
  8. Mar 8, 2022 at 12:21 AM
    #68
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    I’ll fire mine up and check it out later today. Do you have a compatible OBDII interface plugged into the port and connected through Bluetooth or WiFi?
     
  9. Mar 8, 2022 at 11:53 AM
    #69
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    I had to experiment with several of the Toyota connection profiles. The one that worked best and captured and displayed all the sensor data I want is “Toyota 2016+ OBD-II / EOBD + AT”. I haven’t updated the app to the latest version so there may be more profiles that will also work.
    9DCDEAA3-C570-42D7-8C40-6CBD62C3C4FC.jpg


    C57C8733-B030-45C9-B149-3EB2B568C5B7.jpg

    D0AA1351-F590-4B4F-ABCF-6ADFBB20E991.jpg
     
  10. Mar 8, 2022 at 12:21 PM
    #70
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    when I looked last night, it was not connected to the dongle, but yes I do have a wireless/bluetooth obd dongle
     
  11. Mar 8, 2022 at 12:25 PM
    #71
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    To you or anyone else that knows… when using profiles that dont name your vehicle specifically, have those numbers been verified somewhere. I’d be paranoid about the possibility that the numbers actually belong to the description, and that the numbers are correctly comminicated to the app from the car.
     
  12. Mar 8, 2022 at 1:50 PM
    #72
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    Try it and get confident in how it reports.
     
  13. Mar 8, 2022 at 5:50 PM
    #73
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    will do. Id like to learn to use this effectively. I tried a couple of years back but got lost in the weeds lol.

    would be nicer to check temp on the phone while under the car, compared to waiting for the D and then scurrying underneath.
     
    ElectroBoy[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Mar 8, 2022 at 6:58 PM
    #74
    captrussia253

    captrussia253 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2020
    Member:
    #15320
    Messages:
    518
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ruslan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tundra Platinum 2016 T4R SR5P
    Just received 6 quarts of Toyota WS fluid. Going to attempt the basic drain and fill on the GX
     
    nimby and McSpazatron like this.
  15. Mar 8, 2022 at 7:47 PM
    #75
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    Let me know if I can help you with this. A lot of apps don’t really give you an instruction manual. You have to poke around and experiment to figure them out.
     
    2Toys likes this.
  16. Mar 8, 2022 at 7:51 PM
    #76
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Thanjs! Once I get some time to poke around the app with some focus, Ill definitely hit you up!
     
  17. Mar 9, 2022 at 4:34 PM
    #77
    4-Funner

    4-Funner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2020
    Member:
    #16854
    Messages:
    22
    Vehicle:
    2007 Limited 4.7L V8
    That video shows Faye Hadley the goth technician from Motor Trend, All Girl's Garage, Motor Mythbusters, etc using the official Techstream diagnostic module connected to a laptop to monitor her trans temps and she compares doing that with just using an IR thermometer gun aimed at the pan which in her example from ~3" away showed a few degrees cooler than the actual monitored temp.

    I did not see where she used an OBDII interface dongle and a cellphone app. That official Toyota techstream setup is not anywhere nears cheap.

    Like you mention though it is possible to monitor trans temps using the ~$5 Torque Pro cell app and a ~$10 OBDII dongle. You will have to add a custom PID to get it to work. If you want to go this route Google is your friend: https://www.google.com/search?&q=toyota+4runner+Torque+Pro+PID+transmission+temp

    All that said, the 'jumper wires and flashing dash light' method is an official check method explained in the Toyota Factory Service manual. It's safe and easy and as cheap as a paperclip or 3" piece of wire. I'd posted the page with the step-by-step a few posts back on this thread. (EDIT) Actually it was quite a bit more than just a few posts back and I'd buried with a lot of other info. Here's just the Toyota Factory Service Manual explaining the jumper method with the jumper stuff highlighted. Combine this official written form with Car Care Nuts tips in the OP video and it's easy peasy.

    04 AT fluid temp check.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2022
  18. Mar 9, 2022 at 7:49 PM
    #78
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster [OP] Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    I was at the dealership today to pickup some 0w20 which they were out of. Just had bulk oil that their service center uses.

    Anyway, the parts guy told me that they had been completely out of transmission WS oil and just got some in. So I guess customers were having to wait to get their transmissions serviced.
     
  19. Mar 10, 2022 at 12:14 AM
    #79
    4-Funner

    4-Funner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2020
    Member:
    #16854
    Messages:
    22
    Vehicle:
    2007 Limited 4.7L V8
    Just got delivered a case of 12 QTs of AISIN WS today. The OEM runs just a little bit cheaper than what Toyota wants for it after they rebadge it with their name. Now I'm just waiting on new gaskets that tracking says have been stuck at a post office for almost 2 weeks now and I think I've got everything lined up for a full tranny flush, diffs and transfer case changes.

    AISIN 0WS.jpg
     
    2Toys and captrussia253 like this.
  20. Mar 10, 2022 at 6:58 AM
    #80
    Smar969905

    Smar969905 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2021
    Member:
    #23842
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zach
    Vehicle:
    Me- 96 dodge ram 2500 cummins. Wife- 16 T4R
    Brake controller
    Here is to help you learn from my mistake. I didn't plan ahead and order the new crush washers. Don't forget to order them for the drain and overfill plugs. I think it was on the first page, somebody called out the part numbers for them.

    Crush washers too? I used to have a 2nd gen tacoma and did transmission, transfer case, and both diffs. Hope you've got a couple drain pans for everything. When I went after the transmission on my Tacoma (5 mt) it took a 10mm Allen for the drain plug. I broke one, bought a better quality one, then I had to put the front end on ramps because the cheater bar over the breaker bar was hitting the ground before breaking the drain plug loose. That was ridiculously tight. Different transmission though. Make sure you've got at least a 6 pack of beer (probably should have a 12 pk) to get through all the drains and fills.
     
    4-Funner[QUOTED] likes this.
  21. Mar 10, 2022 at 7:32 PM
    #81
    4-Funner

    4-Funner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2020
    Member:
    #16854
    Messages:
    22
    Vehicle:
    2007 Limited 4.7L V8
    Yeah gaskets = crush washers.

    (x3) Front diff fill and rear diff fill and drain plug gaskets: 12157-10010
    (x1) Front diff drain gasket: 90430-24003
    (x2) Transfer case drain and fill gaskets: 90430-A0003
    (x2) Trans drain and overflow plug gaskets: 35178-30010
    (x1) Trans fill plug o-ring: 90301-15004

    FWIW I also picked up a Lexus 90341-24016 front diff drain plug to replace that Toyota 90341-24014 because it's the same except has a hex bolt head instead of the allen you and a gazillion others have struggled with. I have it, but still waiting on the gaskets listed above that are stuck for weeks now in KC's USPS hub. Already talking with the seller how much longer before we consider it 'lost' in the mail so I can refund or re-order.

    Lexus 90341-24016-800x600.jpg
     
    ElectroBoy and captrussia253 like this.
  22. Mar 10, 2022 at 8:54 PM
    #82
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster [OP] Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    That’s a great idea replacing the original plug with the hex.
     
  23. Mar 12, 2022 at 8:48 AM
    #83
    Smar969905

    Smar969905 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2021
    Member:
    #23842
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zach
    Vehicle:
    Me- 96 dodge ram 2500 cummins. Wife- 16 T4R
    Brake controller
    When you say gaskets, my thought is the seal between pan and case, like on transmission. Didn't occur to me to think about between bolt head and pan. I think I need more coffee...

    Just make sure to use a 12 point socket on it to properly round the head and make it impossible to take off...
     
    4-Funner[QUOTED] likes this.
  24. Mar 13, 2022 at 1:52 PM
    #84
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Even though it wasnt on today’s To-Do list, I decided to get sidetracked by spending
    a couple hours poking around with this app with the car on. I picked the same connection profile that you did (thanks!)

    From a cold start (ambient temp is around 40deg) I was a bit surprised it took over 20 min for the AT pan temp to get to into the hundreds. Thought it would go faster. Most of the time it was in park or neutral. Sometimes i bumped into drive to check the thing was alive. On all the AT fluid change vids it seems to suggest it all happens really fast…but maybe they are talking about just the “target checking” range?

    But it looks like it works. The same connection profile should also hopefully work on my 18 Highlander.

    appreciate the help @ElectroBoy !
     
  25. Mar 13, 2022 at 2:14 PM
    #85
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    I’m glad it’s working for you.
    My tranny temp takes about 10-15 minutes to reach target temp of about 110F, starting from 60F.
     
  26. Mar 13, 2022 at 2:19 PM
    #86
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Is that in N or D ?
     
  27. Mar 13, 2022 at 8:07 PM
    #87
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    Mostly in N. But I did drive slowly around the block once to warm it up faster.
     
    McSpazatron[QUOTED] likes this.
  28. Mar 13, 2022 at 8:17 PM
    #88
    Glenn Goodlett

    Glenn Goodlett New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2020
    Member:
    #14894
    Messages:
    175
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Glenn
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Pro
    Paid for
    20 minutes is about how long mine took too. P and N while occasionally shifting through the gears. Cold start on a cool day.
     
    McSpazatron[QUOTED] likes this.
  29. Mar 14, 2022 at 10:31 PM
    #89
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Well, durn it, the connection profile didn’t work on my 18 highlander to read transmission temps.

    @ElectroBoy or anyone else savvy with these things… Ive heard of PID formulas to unlock certain sensors on these OBD scanners. I tried searching but went crosseyed trying to understand what I need or how it works. Any of you know a good resource for figuring out how to access these sensors so they can be read? I dont want to derail the thread with non-4runner info, so please feel free to PM me with any ideas.
     
  30. May 11, 2022 at 8:41 PM
    #90
    standard

    standard New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2022
    Member:
    #26512
    Messages:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    1999 4Runner SR5 4WD
    stock so far, what could he possibly need
    from the owners manual of the 1999 4Runner, for the transmission it says to use ATF D-11 or DEXRON III or DEXRON II. The transmission has a dipstick, but no fill pipe that i've found. It says the drain and refill capacity is 2L. so is this the method of measuring what comes out when the plug is removed and adding that amount of fresh fluid back? does someone know the total capacity of the transmission on the 4WD SR5?

    as far as flushing, or replacing all the oil at once, I think if the 2L drain and refill were done like oil changes, then eventually the transmission oil is replaced. hope someone using DEXRON can weigh in. thanks! kind of like older old cars. keep adding oil and changing the filter occasionally, and the oil is getting cleaner. old school for people who remember that far back. :)
     

Products Discussed in

To Top