DIY repair · Toyota 4Runner 5th Gen

Front and rear differential + transfer case fluids

DIFFICULTY 2 / 5TIME A morningCOST Fluids and crush washers; Toyota transfer fluid runs $60–90 per litre (Trail4R)

Symptoms

Due at 15,000 miles under severe service (towing, roof loads) per Toyota, or at whatever interval you set — Trail4R's author does all driveline fluids every 30,000.

The fix, step by step

  1. Warm the drivetrain with a 5–10 mile drive.
  2. Always crack the fill plug before the drain.
  3. Front diff: 10 mm hex plugs, about 1.6 qt (part-time) or 1.5 qt (full-time) of 75W-85 GL-5; drain 48 ft-lb, fill 29 ft-lb.
  4. Rear diff: 24 mm plugs, 36 ft-lb; Trail4R quotes about 2.9 qt with locker / 2.8 qt without, but Toyota-Club's owner's-manual table lists 2.70 L without and 2.65 L with the locker confirm in manual — fill to the bottom of the fill hole either way.
  5. Transfer case: 24 mm plugs, 27 ft-lb, about 1.1 qt (part-time) or 1.5 qt (full-time) of Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF 75W (Red Line MT-LV is the commonly cited alternative).
  6. Clean the magnetic drain plugs and use new crush washers.

Tools & part numbers

  • 10 mm hex bit
  • 24 mm socket
  • fluid pump
  • torque wrench
  • Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5
  • Toyota LF 75W transfer oil
  • washers: transfer case 90430-A0003, front drain 90430-24003, front fill 12157-10010

Where to buy the parts

Toyota Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 (qt) (Toyota 00279-DGOLT-01)ToyotaPartsDeal (Toyota OEM) ↗Amazon ↗
Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF 75W (1 L) (Toyota 00279-DGOLF)ToyotaPartsDeal (Toyota OEM) ↗Amazon ↗
Crush washer — front fill, rear drain & fill (Toyota 12157-10010)ToyotaPartsDeal (Toyota OEM) ↗Amazon ↗
Crush washer — front diff drain (supersedes 90430-24003) (Toyota 90430-24017)ToyotaPartsDeal (Toyota OEM) ↗Amazon ↗

Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota 4Runner 5th Gen parts →

Before you start

Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.

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