FJ Cruiser: looking for some opinions on fluids...

Pennzoil motor oil
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Bumpside 427

Bumpside 427

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Howdy fellas. Been a while. But I got a new old FJ Cruiser. 2007 with 34k miles, extended warranty and Toyota Certified. Couldn't justify the $10 k more to get new.
Thinking of going RP or M1 with my usual Pure1 or 'Yota filters.
So...looking for some thoughts on fluids. I've tried lots of oils, many that I liked. However, this is my first truck-like vehicle, so wondered if you have any experience or insights for me. Calls for 5w30.
Also, any other maint items you may have done/do. Much appreciated.
 
Originally Posted By: Towncivilian
You absolutely should change the rear diff fluid if it hasn't been done yet, I believe some early models had problems with differential failures. Luckily there is a drain plug.


Thanks, Towncivi. The thing was driven 6k a year and looks like new. I can only guess what was done as it was the proverbial old lady that owned it. I guess I should assume nothing was done and go from there.
 
Your owner's manual will tell you what fluids you need to use.
Originally Posted By: PurplePride
Howdy fellas. Been a while. But I got a new old FJ Cruiser. 2007 with 34k miles, extended warranty and Toyota Certified. Couldn't justify the $10 k more to get new.
Thinking of going RP or M1 with my usual Pure1 or 'Yota filters.
So...looking for some thoughts on fluids. I've tried lots of oils, many that I liked. However, this is my first truck-like vehicle, so wondered if you have any experience or insights for me. Calls for 5w30.
Also, any other maint items you may have done/do. Much appreciated.
 
Mobil 1 5w30 and PureOnes. Good choice.

Mobil 1 75w-90 in the differentials and transfer case. Be sure to wipe off the magnetic plugs. They will likely be covered with metallic gunk.

The transmission, when you get to it - I used Maxlife ATF in my Tacoma. I authored a thread on that over the summer if you'd care to read it.
 
I dont think you can go wrong with M1 in a toyota.

For the diff? We always ran RP in the diff in our previa. Id use that, SVG, M1, etc...
 
Cheers Bandito and JHZR2.
That's what I was looking for. Found a couple good YouTube vids on the transfer case and rear diff fluid changes. Easy peasy.
As for your thread Bandito - yes, please link me!

Thanks guys.
 
Last edited:
Bandito,

I've got the AT, and it looks like it needs this:

Oil type:
Hypoid gear oil API GL-3
Recommended oil viscosity: SAE 75W-90

I've heard it's tough to find the GL-3, so I'll have to go out hunting...
Thanks a lot for the info. Good news is that I logged into Toyota to get the manual (mine's in the FJ) and the 1 owner had done services religiously at 5k mile intervals. Since it just hit 35k, nothing major appears to have been done or needed.
 
I pulled up the relevant section of your owner's manual.
http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM35873U/pdf/8_1.pdf

Transmission : ATF WS (or MaxLife if you decide to go that route)

Transfer case with full-time 4x4: 75w-90 GL-5
Transfer case with part-time 4x4: 75w-90 GL-3 (this is interesting)

Differentials, both front and rear: 75w-90 GL-5

I think that Mobil said that their 75w-90 is good for all uses except for transmissions where GL-4 is specified due to brass/bronze parts (link) . I couldn’t find any reference to its use in a GL-3 application, so it may be worth contacting them, and also Toyota to ask what to use. I couldn’t even find GL-4, so good luck if you really need GL-3.

I use a larger oil filter in my Tacoma, which may or not be of interest to you. It’s the PL20195. If you've got an extended warranty, it's up to you whether the risk is wirth it.
 
On the phone with Toyota - they don't know what the h3ll is going on!
Now that's funny, and sad. I'll continue looking...
As for the filter, given it's easy spot on the top, I decided to try changing it out at 3k miles for a new one. Not too expensive, and I figure two new filters on one OCI is better than one clogged one
smile.gif
 
Last edited:
PurplePride,
You may already know, as you have been to the Toyota website.
You can register your vehicle for FREE and see all service that was done at any Toyota dealership.
Also any open recalls that may be present for your vehicle.
This also gives you FREE access to the owner's manual.

As for the larger oil filter, the PL20195 is the same number that I use as a slightly oversized filter for my 1MZFE V6 engine.
I switched from the Pure One to the Bosch Distance Plus D3422.
They are both made by the SAME company and I like the pressure bypass on the Distance Plus better as well as the slightly thicker can.
However, both are very good filters.

The actual difference between the Bosch D3330 / Pure One PL10241 filters listed for both of our applications is ONLY the extra length.....slightly more media.
The pressure bypass is exactly the same and the gasket & thread dimensions are also exactly the same.
So the only thing you need to verify is if there is the room for the slightly longer can.

Power Steering fluid.....I know in my 2003 Sienna, it was a slightly amber color.....it is ATF without the red dye.
Mine calls for a Dexron III ATF fluid.
If your Power Steering fluid is not red......don't worry about changing it to the RED ATF fluid.

As for oil.....I see that you are located in Ca, so you may or may not be interested in checking into if 0W-20 was listed as "acceptable" for your engine.
However, you should be able to use 0W-30, which would be an upgrade from 5w30 in most cases.
If you are leaning toward the Mobil 1, then their AFE 0w30 might be worth looking into.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: PurplePride
On the phone with Toyota - they don't know what the h3ll is going on!


Another good reference for specifications and capacities is the Amsoil site.


Agreed.
 
Thanks guys for the replies. Good info as always.
I did register on toyota's site when looking for the fluid specs. Found the one owner had done all the maintenance on schedule for the first 30k miles, then the dealer did the 35k during the toyota certification process.
I'm doing the xfer cases and diff's this week. I'm likely going M1 on fluids. I'll ponder the options on filters you posted. There's room for a big filter under there. So as long as the valves are in there, I might give those a try.
I have one niggling toyota issue I have to see about addressing - the transmission "bump". There's a TSB on it, but replicating is hit and miss, and you know what that's like when you hit up a dealer for warranty work!
Some say its a simple,yoke greasing. Some say a tyranny flush/fill will help.

4WD Rear Propeller Shaft (Driveshaft) Clunk/Thunk Noise (T-SB-0046-12)

Some 4WD equipped 2007 – 2012 model year FJ Cruiser vehicles may exhibit a clunk/thunk noise from the rear of the vehicle or a “bump-from-behind” sensation just before a stop or when accelerating from a stop. Improvements have been implemented on the rear propeller shaft (driveshaft) to reduce this condition.
 
Just back to report the FJ is a happy camper. Been using Pennzoil Platinum every 5-7k miles and a PureOne filter. I see there is a new Pennzoil oil now so I will be trying that in the next month or so when I'm due.
Got the driveshaft thing fixed free under warranty and it's been great for over a year now.
Nothing much to say - it's a Toyota and it's been awesome for another 25k since I bought it. Aside from poor gas mileage - which I knew it had - it's been a gem and one of my favorite vehicles ever.
 
I used Valvoline in my differentials in our Sequoia it has the additive in it. I used Valvoline in My rear differential in my Tundra.. We use the vehicles every day and they work the Valvoline has worked great. My Tundra I did the Diff at 25k the Sequoia was done at 50k and 100k
 
If something calls for GL-3, it can be replaced with GL-4 without harmful effects.

Sometimes and OEM will have their own GL-3 lube just for a manual transmission, and when someone uses Amsoil or Redline GL-4, they get good results.
 
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