Went to change the fluid in the transfer case on my 91 4Runner, V-6. The manual says it should take Dexron II, but the case is currently full of gear oil. Is the manual wrong, or do I have the wrong fluid in the case?? TIA

 

What transmission do you have? I believe that if you have an Automatic tranny, the transfer case should take ATF fluid. Those of that have manual tranny's use gear oil in the transfer case. Needless to say, you should follow what is in the owner's manual.

 

It is the manual tranny. I'm sure that the transfer is supposed to have the 90w in it, but the damn Haynes manual is sectioned out strangely, and reads different than it intends to. Just wanted to double check. Thanks

 

I thought you meant owner's manual, not the Haynes.

What does that say? I think my manual transmission requires 75W-90. I would have to check it to be sure. I put some kind of synthetic in long ago, but forgot what kind.

Toyota trucks with automatic transmissions use ATF in their transfer cases.

 

Haynes breaks it down like so (take note of the spacing).


Transfer case oil:
......1985 and earlier.................75w90
......1986 through 1989
.............Manual trans...............75w90
.............Auto trans...................Dexron II ATF
......1990 and later
.............4 Cyl Eng.....................75w90
.............V6 Eng.........................Dexron II ATF


I have a '91 with a V6. How would you read this chart?

 

The specs here are from the factory manual, and I put them onto a picture of the Amsoil that I use.
http://pnw4runners.com/tech/2nd_gen_fluids.jpg

Manual transfer cases do use gear oil, autos use ATF.
Weird huh?

 

Ya, like Corey said, a manual tranny uses gear oil in the Transfer case.

 

I use ATF in my power steering. ATF is wonderful stuff. If I were you I would stick with the gear oil in the t-case...

 

HammerDown6, check your PM.

 

Dug up an old thread as to not start a new one for my possibly stupid question. Searched and everyone says that auto tranny transfer case takes atf fluid and front and rear diffs take hypoid and regular gear oil (forgot which for which). Is it ok to use 75w regular gear lube for all three? Would it mess up anything if there was something different in there like atf in the transfer case and then it was replaced with regular gear lube?

 

With the auto tranny the transfer case is like part the the tranny, so ATF for the transfer case. What would the transfer case have to do with the diffs?

 

Oh sorry if I wasnt clear. Not saying that they have anything to do with each other. I just wanted to know if it was alright to put regular gear lube in all three things (the diffs and the transfer case) in an auto because everybody mentions that the transfer case in an auto takes atf and that one of the diffs should use hypoid gear lube and the other just regular gear lube.

 

ALL 4Runners 96 and up use gear oil in the transfer case

95 and previous Autos only used ATF

Go to Bob's write up