NCSU-4runner

how much oil is supposed to be in there? i took the shifter out to get it welded ( refer to this post for why LINK ) and i cat see any visible oil down in the mechanisms. theres a good coating on all the parts but i dont see any actual volume of oil visible from the top. is that normal? just want to know cause i ran it without the shifter sealed real well for about two weeks and i know i lost some cause the top of the tranny had oil all over it when i took the shifter boots off.

the oil was replaced back in november with some other routine maintence by the stealership (before i got involved in offroading and do-it-yourself maintinence) so ive never seen the top when it was full.

rimpainter.com

That's normal not to see it from the top. If you have a hunch it might be low, undo the fill bolt and stick your pinky finger in there, you should have nice clean gear oil on the end of your finger. Just remember to put a new fill bolt gasket on before tightening it back up.

NCSU-4runner

uhh . . . where exactly is the fill plug. i looked around and i see alot of bolts, dont wanna just start undoing them randomly

rimpainter.com

Without access to any pictures or the FSM, this will be tough...

Its facing the driver side door if you are looking at the transmission...a 19mm socket is required to get it off/on...that's about the best I can do.

Anybody have any pics?

NCSU-4runner

19mm socket should help me track it down, be back in a few min

NCSU-4runner

well the only large size bolt i found on the driver's side took a 15/16th socket (same as the diff drain bolt) but it was the only big one around so i loosened her up and oil started leaking around the edge immediatly. good thing i didnt think to check if my car was sitting level first. i was parked on a slight hill so that the drivers side tires were slightly declined with respect to the passegner side tires. guess that means its still pleny full ehh? and it wasnt perfectly clean oil, but good enough for now.