I recently purchased a 1998 Limited 4Runner with an automatic transmission (A340F) and an elocker in the rear. I want to make sure all the fluids are fresh and ready to go. A mechanic at a local toyota dealership said I need to put friction modifier in the rear differential along with the fluid. I have some questions:

What for?

How much? (hopefully it will say on the bottle...)

Should I put it in the transfer case and front diff as well?

Any direction would be greatly appreciated!

 

Well, Ive never even heard of it before...

 

hahaha... a friction modifier.... I'd call that lubricant... aka oil, but to say you need that in addition to oil ruins the joke. Maybe there is such a thing called that, but it could be anything such as Lucas additive or something.

 

some clutch type limited slips require a friction modifier to be added to the oil to prevent clutch chatter, but an e-locker doesn't need it

 

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/ada.aspx
okay, so i did some googling.... (and it does exist, and products are refered to as Friction modifiers)
Click here to see Google results

 

Yeah that friction modifier is for clutch type limited slips only. You don't need it. BUT I can tell you this, for years I have been putting that exact same stuff in high mileage auto transmissions that have a little slip and it works wonders. Even in computer controlled transmissions.

James

 

Hey thanks a lot everyone for all your comments. I really appreciate it.

Yeah before I had a chance to check back here, I went to the autoparts store. The only friction modifiers they had were for limited slip or positraction differentials. It looks like I don't need it because my locker is electronically actuated--not automatically. I'm going to call the mechanic back tomorrow and ask him why he recomended it--but it's starting to sound like he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Maybe I shouldn't have let him touch my truck!

 

i get to take my 98 sr5 in for the recall on thrusday, im telling them upfront that i want nothing else done, and if there is a problem "where we cant let you take it unless we fix it" i want to go look at what the problem is.

i hate this stealership, we have delt with them before and its nothing but the worst. but the only other one i could get into is 20 miles away, unless i wanted to wait 2 weeks for an appt.

 

What recall are you referring to?