Front & Rear Differential Fluid Changed / Serviced (2026 4Runner 6th Gen)

[FloridaPhotog]

Drained and refilled the front and rear differential on the 4Runner today, it had 5529 miles on it. I decided to not use OEW gear oil and opted for Amsoil 75W85. I was shocked on much fine metal was on the magnetic drain for the rear differential. The gear oil was dark black. The front probably didn’t need drained but I like to get the break-in oil flushed out before 7,000 miles.

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[Snowball]

I did the same thing (but with Redline fluid) at 5k miles and had a pretty similar amount of particles on the magnet.

 

[YotaMerchant]

doing mine this afternoon, decided to wait till 15k miles and hopping i dont regret that but i havent towed since i got it a year ago. did you have to drop spare tire to do Rr?

 

[FloridaPhotog]

doing mine this afternoon, decided to wait till 15k miles and hopping i dont regret that but i havent towed since i got it a year ago. did you have to drop spare tire to do Rr?

I didn't have to drop the spare and was able to refill the rear directly from the Amsoil bag. However, the front I used the this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSZ7Z4D5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Which fit perfectly on the bags.

 

[YotaMerchant]

I didn't have to drop the spare and was able to refill the rear directly from the Amsoil bag. However, the front I used the this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSZ7Z4D5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Which fit perfectly on the bags.

ill have to do this next time, i spent a little extra to get the valvoline flex fill bags instead of the rigid ones

 

[MikeK]

How much oil was required to refill the rear diff?

 

[FloridaPhotog]

5.9 quarts

 

[Fishing]

Drained and refilled the front and rear differential on the 4Runner today, it had 5529 miles on it. I decided to not use OEW gear oil and opted for Amsoil 75W85. I was shocked on much fine metal was on the magnetic drain for the rear differential. The gear oil was dark black. The front probably didn’t need drained but I like to get the break-in oil flushed out before 7,000 miles.

Three of the "12157‑10010" (silver) fill and drain for rear and fill for the front
and the front uses "90430‑24017"(copper) for drain.
Wait so is the bottom ones the old ones? they all look the same

 

[MikeK]

5.9 quarts

I thought that may have been a typo in the manual. I was thinking that it was supposed to read as 5.9 pints, not quarts. Almost 6 qts in a Toyota rear diff is pretty insane!

 

[Joe Dirt]

How come no one's talking about the transfer case fluid. That requires a lighter grade.

I'll probably do 15 to 20K change all soon.

 

[FloridaPhotog]

How come no one's talking about the transfer case fluid. That requires a lighter grade.

I'll probably do 15 to 20K change all soon.

The transfer calls for 75W. The dealership I talked with said they put the same weight in all three holes. That being said my research found that the transfer case calls for GL-4 and stated that
GL-5 has some reacton with yellow metals. However, some say modern GL-5 won't harm yellow metals. The Toyota spec call for GL-4 for the transfer case so that's what I went with.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I'm going with Ravenol (pick included) they make a specific oil for our transfer cases.
For sure there is different Metallurgy going on in the transfer case. .

These transfer cases need a very light specific oil so they work properly.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Snowball]

I did the transfer case at the same time, and it was by far the cleanest of all the fluids.

I’ve been running 75W-85 GL5 in all three since my previous Tacoma and plan to do so in the 4R as well.

Supposedly the Redline GL5 doesn’t have the harmful stuff that damages brass like the older GL5 formulations, and that is only really a concern in manual transmissions with brass synchros anyways.

To each their own though.

Also, you don’t have to drop the spare tire to do the rear diff (I didn’t), but hindsight it probably would have made it much easier. Especially since you’re putting quite a bit of fluid in there.

 

[ROBERT18452]

I called the local dealership today and they want to charge me $1500.00 to change the diff's and tranny

 

[SteveS]

$1500 - OUCH. That is nuts. What was the $1500 consisting of, or what was the breakdown in parts vs labor?

Google's AI reported $400 - $700. Not that I trust anything AI.

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