The 5th gen 4Runner ran fifteen model years with almost no fluid spec changes, which makes it one of the easiest Toyotas to maintain. The traps are the part-time vs full-time 4WD split (different transfer case and front diff capacities), the transfer case's special oil, and an automatic transmission with no dipstick.
Every number below comes from Toyota's owner's manuals for the 2011, 2017 and 2024 4Runner, which list identical capacities, and the 2025 4Runner. Toyota publishes these as reference capacities: fill engine oil to the dipstick, gear oil to the bottom of the fill hole, and the automatic to its overflow plug at operating temperature.
5th Gen 4Runner (2010–2024)
| FLUID | TYPE | CAPACITY |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil, 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE) | SAE 0W-20 (5W-20 OK until next change) | 6.6 qt / 6.2 L with filter; 6.0 qt / 5.7 L without |
| Engine oil, 2.7L (2TR-FE, early 2WD) | SAE 0W-20 | 6.1 qt / 5.8 L with filter |
| Coolant | Toyota Super Long Life Coolant | 4.0 V6: 11.1 qt / 10.5 L. 2.7: 8.6 qt / 8.1 L |
| Automatic transmission (5-speed) | Toyota ATF WS only | 4.0 V6: 11.3 qt / 10.7 L total. 2.7: 10.5 qt / 9.9 L total |
| Transfer case, part-time 4WD | Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF, SAE 75W | 1.1 qt / 1.0 L |
| Transfer case, full-time 4WD | Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF, SAE 75W | 1.5 qt / 1.4 L |
| Front differential, part-time 4WD | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 1.6 qt / 1.55 L |
| Front differential, full-time 4WD | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 1.5 qt / 1.40 L |
| Rear differential, no locker | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 2.9 qt / 2.70 L |
| Rear differential, with e-locker | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 2.8 qt / 2.65 L |
| Power steering | DEXRON II (2011 manual: II or III) | n/a |
| Brake fluid | DOT 3 (SAE J1703) | n/a |
The capacity for "11.3 qt ATF" is the whole transmission, including the torque converter and cooler lines. Draining the pan only removes part of it (owners typically get about 4–5 qt out), so a full fluid change takes two or three drain-and-refill cycles. The owner's manual does not list a drain-and-refill amount for the 5th gen.
Part-Time vs Full-Time 4WD: Which Do You Have?
Toyota's owner's manuals split the transfer case and front diff by "part-time 4WD" and "full-time 4WD" without tying them to trims, so check your own truck:
- Part-time 4WD can run in two-wheel drive: the transfer case control has an H2 position. Most SR5, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trucks are part-time.
- Full-time 4WD always drives all four wheels through a center differential that you can lock, and has no H2 position. The Limited is the best-known full-time 4Runner; some other trims and packages offered it in certain years.
The full-time case holds more oil (1.5 qt vs 1.1 qt) and the full-time front diff holds slightly less. Both use the same fluid types.
6th Gen 4Runner (2025+)
From the 2025 4Runner owner's manual (2.4L turbo i-FORCE).
| FLUID | TYPE | CAPACITY |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil, 2.4T (T24A-FTS) | SAE 0W-20, ILSAC GF-6A (5W-20 OK until next change) | 5.9 qt / 5.6 L with filter; 5.6 qt / 5.3 L without |
| Coolant | Toyota Super Long Life Coolant | 12.7 qt (SR, SR5, TRD Sport); 12.8 qt (TRD Off-Road, Limited) |
| Automatic transmission (8-speed) | Toyota ATF WS | 12.2 qt / 11.5 L total |
| Transfer case, part-time 4WD | Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF | 1.2 qt / 1.1 L |
| Transfer case, full-time 4WD | Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF | 1.5 qt / 1.4 L |
| Front differential, part-time / full-time | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 1.4 qt / 1.3 L part-time; 1.3 qt / 1.2 L full-time |
| Rear differential | Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 | 5.9 qt / 5.6 L |
| Brake fluid | DOT 3 (SAE J1703) or DOT 4 (SAE J1704) | n/a |
The 6th gen's rear axle holds about twice the oil of a 5th gen rear, so do not reuse a 5th gen shopping list. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid 4Runner was not covered in the manual we used; check your hybrid owner's manual for its transmission and coolant figures, which can differ.
Service Tips
- Transfer case oil is not gear oil. Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF is a thin SAE 75W fluid. Diff oil (75W-85 or 75W-90) in the transfer case is one of the most common DIY mistakes on these trucks.
- Check the fill plug first. Break the fill plug loose before you pull the drain plug on any diff or the transfer case.
- ATF WS level check: level vehicle, engine idling, fluid in the narrow temperature window the procedure specifies, then check that fluid just trickles from the overflow plug. Doing it cold or hot gives a wrong reading.
- E-locker rears do not need friction modifier. The factory locker is an electrically actuated locker, not a clutch-type limited slip.
- After deep water, check both diffs and the transfer case for milky oil. Water gets in through the breathers.
- Regearing? You will be in the diffs anyway, so it is a good time to change the gear oil. See our Toyota regear chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much oil does a 5th gen 4Runner take?
6.6 quarts (6.2 L) of SAE 0W-20 with a filter change, or 6.0 quarts without, per the Toyota owner's manual. This is the same for every 2010–2024 4Runner with the 4.0L V6. Check the dipstick to finish.
What transmission fluid does a 4Runner use?
Toyota ATF WS. The 5th gen's 5-speed automatic holds 11.3 quarts total, and the 2025+ 8-speed holds 12.2 quarts total. Neither has a dipstick; the level is set at the overflow plug at operating temperature.
What fluid goes in a 4Runner transfer case?
Toyota Transfer Gear Oil LF, SAE 75W. A 5th gen part-time 4WD case holds 1.1 quarts and a full-time 4WD case holds 1.5 quarts. Do not use differential gear oil.
How much gear oil does a 4Runner rear differential take?
A 5th gen rear without the locker holds 2.9 quarts (2.70 L) and one with the factory e-locker holds 2.8 quarts (2.65 L) of Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5. The 2025+ 4Runner rear holds 5.9 quarts.
How much does the 4Runner front differential hold?
1.6 quarts (1.55 L) on part-time 4WD trucks and 1.5 quarts (1.40 L) on full-time 4WD trucks, of Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5.
What coolant does a 4Runner use?
Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (pink, pre-mixed 50/50 in the US). The 5th gen 4.0L holds 11.1 quarts. Toyota's schedule calls for the first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles.
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