Educate me - fluid changes after off roading

Was reading some good posts here about tranny temps and it got me thinking should i be changing any fluids after a week or two off roading. For example, the wife and I just did Moab recently and were off roading every day for a week, then drove 800 miles home. Should I have changed any fluids - tranny, diff etc when I got home? For the record, i did change the diff fluid with Red Line before we went to Moab.

 

Unless you watched your transmission fluid temp skyrocket I'd say you're perfectly fine to stick with the 60k transmission fluid interval.

As for the differentials, only if water got in so if you crack the fill plug and it's not milky (or however people like to check it, I'm guessing) I'm sure it's fine. (or if you didn't wade through deep water)

 

thank you. Yeah i do change diff fluid, regardless of miles, when I go through high water. Ive been thinking about doing that air breather relocation kit. I am not sure the tranny temps i get when off roading, I need to get an OBD2 reader that displays that. Yeah listening to The Car Care Nut he does say tranny fluid is one of those fluids NOT to change too often. On a side note, his shop is 5 minutes from my house. Ive stopped up there, he is really a nice guy

 

I have a Scanguage2 mounted on steering column. It provides lots of real time outputs including tranny temp. Can also check and clear CE codes.
For high speed driving 85+ I really pay attention to my 4 tire pressures. When using engine/tranny hard I monitor coolant and ATF.

 

Lucky you!

But yea, for the transmission, I'd just change it every 60k miles and call it a day unless you were revving it to the moon at low/steady speeds for an hour plus.

 

thats bad ass. Does it just plug into the OBD2?

 

Yep, I plugged it in and wrapped the excess around my wiper stalk. Works well enough at keeping it tidy.

It's set to power off when engine's shut off too.

 

apologies, does it monitor the trans fluid. I know you said for tire pressure

 

Yes, it will do trans fluid (pan) and torque converter temps

 

+1 for a Scan Gauge II for monitoring trans temp. If I see my transmission temp go over 230 I'll do a drain and fill when I get back home. I'll be adding a trans cooler soon since this happens fairly often during the summer months.

For everything else, following Toyota's service intervals is sufficient.


Here's a nice write up on these services.
https://trail4runner.com/2018/12/24/4runner-driveline-fluids-how-and-when-to-change-them/

 

Little 3D printed mount keeps the scan gauge nice and tidy

 

Damn it

I wasn't tryna spend any money...

 

Been thinking of a ScanGauge ever since I've been eyeing the pics here showing all of the stats you can monitor.

 

You'll need to go through a convoluted process to code transmission temp into the SCII but it's doable.

 

lmao. I so feel your post

 

How long are you guys driving for when you’re showing these temps?

I live in south Florida, and use Scangauge 3, unloaded and a good drive, meaning 1 hour + my pan is around 180 and torque converter temps get 195 and climb down quick once I get moving and lockup happens.

isn’t normal operating temp for the trans around 190-195? I have seen converter temp get 200 in stop and go Florida traffic, but if I’m on freeway or a 55 mph road, it stays same as pan.

I’ve really never done off roading or was hard on my truck. I did a drain and fill at 30k, and drain 3.5 QTs of dark atf. Refilled with 4 QTs, started truck, drained out like maybe 10oz or so from 104-113. so I know it’s level. But man it was dark.

 

I just go off roading and think nothing of it and stick to 30k intervals for the fluids

Can you imagine hitting the trails and then getting home and draining your trans fluid? Lol..

 

Those numbers are pretty good and low TBH. I have gotten to 221 and higher when towing and loaded in the back. The scanguage has also saved me several times when the ECU throws in a code, I can actually clear it right away so worth to me doing that.

@morfdq - I would just stick with the recommended intervals on changing the fluids. Too often of a change gets expensive and a pain to do IMO.

 

Recently I saw a preowned scanguage at a fair price listed on one of these runner sites. Try looking around and you might pick one up.

 

IMO: You generally don’t really have to monitor transmission temp unless towing a lot, tackling things in 4Hi when 4L is recommended or just being particular like me.

 

Yeah, people here forget they're driving a Toyota truck designed to be maintained by cavemen in Afghanistan. I bet that's an OEM Panasonic battery:

 

Does off roading increase transmission temperatures?

 

^In 4low? Not really. Because you're revving higher, the transmission fluid pump runs faster and allows the fluid to cool.

 

not going to lie, that is pretty sweet

 

can you customize the screen so that the "values" you're interested in appear on one screen

 

Just drive it unless you know you got water intrusion.

 

Yes, I have coolant temp, transmission temp, voltage and something I don't recall.

 

Getting one's head and hands under the dash to place wires, cables, plug-in electronics is almost impossible. I assembled a small step ladder and plank of plywood to lay upon on my back. Success - no destroyed neck or back from twisting.
I used it to install my brake controller wires and my Scanguage2. I was able to neatly tie up extra wires. I padded it with a fluffy small rug.

 

I wished I had seen your "engineering" skills/idea last week. Had to replace a part in the steering column of a Hyundai. Absolutely miserable being in that position for over an hour.

 

Was it some chewed up rubber gear?