Transmission Fill & Drain Ports

[AYM707]

Need / want to change my transmission oil. I will use Redline MT 75W-90 GL4. Just wanted check / confirm my assumptions for the transmission / gear box, the fill / drain points are

looking from the left side of the vehicle and for the transfer case, looking from the right side of the vehicle..

Please confirm my understanding.

I am not sure how to open the fill port; I struggled to get a socket on it. and more importantly, how am i supposed to fill it with oil? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thinking of using one of those squeeze bottles, with the plastic hook straw on top. need a simple / cheap solution.

Appreciate your inputs / suggestions.

 

[brian]

yeap.
just put the hose in the fill and pump till it starts dribbling out at you.

 

[DangerNoodle]

The tcase fill should be on the back of case, drain on the bottom.

I think you have a detent circled on the top.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Use like spray carb cleaner, a small wire brush, and a rag to clean the plug and surrounding area so you don't get crap in the case. Use sockets or box end wrenches to remove the plugs, may need pounded on to fit. Do the fill first. After the case drains, fish around inside with a magnet on a stick to look for shavings ok and worse chips bad. Use a file to dress the flats on the plugs, before putting them back.

Seal between tranny/transfer often goes bad - oil will pump up from transfer into tranny. @shipmag sells a bypass hose that allows the oil to drain back.

Free download manuals

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

Factory service manuals (FSMs) for your Toyota Land Cruiser ! From the 1950s to the present!

www.cruisercult.com

Coolerman's wiring diagrams and parts.

Cruiser Wiring

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Correct on the trans, and Tcase drain. But this is the fill on the BF1 tcase

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I assume you are using Redline MT-90 transmission oil (which is 75W90 GL4)? Or are you actually using the Redline 75W90 gear oil? Just curious.

 

[Pighead]

Picture in Hayne's...

 

[3_puppies]

ALWAYS, ALWAYS GET THE FILL PLUG LOOSE BEFORE DRAINING.
from the looks of the fill plug on the trans, seems it may already started to round off
6 point socket only
grind it flat so you get full engagement between socket and plug

 

[AYM707]

I assume you are using Redline MT-90 transmission oil (which is 75W90 GL4)? Or are you actually using the Redline 75W90 gear oil? Just curious.

Yes, confirmed; its Redline MT-90 transmission oil (75W-90 GL4)

 

[AYM707]

Picture in Hayne's...

View attachment 4171927

So looks like the transfer case fill plug is on the front of the unit. I will go back and have look.

 

[Pighead]

So looks like the transfer case fill plug is on the front of the unit.

No, rear. View is from rear of vehicle.

 

[nabbasi]

Picture in Hayne's...

View attachment 4171927

This looks right. Does your Haynes manual have this like mine does?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

So looks like the transfer case fill plug is on the front of the unit. I will go back and have look.

Negative. See my pic above. That is the same t-case you have and the exact location of the fill plug.

 

[shipmag]

Use like spray carb cleaner, a small wire brush, and a rag to clean the plug and surrounding area so you don't get crap in the case. Use sockets or box end wrenches to remove the plugs, may need pounded on to fit. Do the fill first. After the case drains, fish around inside with a magnet on a stick to look for shavings ok and worse chips bad. Use a file to dress the flats on the plugs, before putting them back.

Seal between tranny/transfer often goes bad - oil will pump up from transfer into tranny. @shipmag sells a bypass hose that allows the oil to drain back.

Free download manuals

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

Factory service manuals (FSMs) for your Toyota Land Cruiser ! From the 1950s to the present!

www.cruisercult.com

Coolerman's wiring diagrams and parts.

Cruiser Wiring

 

[shipmag]

View attachment 4172656

View attachment 4172657

These are pics of the transfer bypass hose. 17.5" and 12.75" are lengths I have in stock.

 

[AYM707]

Negative. See my pic above. That is the same t-case you have and the exact location of the fill plug.

Thank you @cruiseroutfit ...confirmed, looking from the back of the vehicle (towards the front)...just like you said.

Spent the rest of the evening cleaning the dirt off....

@shipmag - i thought the drain plugs are supposed to be magnetic? I got filters to check the discharge oil and then will use the magnet on the outside. Considering my luck, i would lose the magnet inside.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I think there are magnets in the differential drain plugs. My T/T didn't have magnets in the plugs.

 

[shipmag]

I think there are magnets in the differential drain plugs. My T/T didn't have

Thank you @cruiseroutfit ...confirmed, looking from the back of the vehicle (towards the front)...just like you said.

View attachment 4172721

Spent the rest of the evening cleaning the dirt off....

@shipmag - i thought the drain plugs are supposed to be magnetic? I got filters to check the discharge oil and then will use the magnet on the outside. Considering my luck, i would lose the magnet inside.

This is from copilot

Yes — FJ40s did come with magnetic drain plugs in the transmission and transfer case.
Both your search results and long‑time Land Cruiser parts catalogs confirm this.

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Direct Answer

Toyota used magnetic drain plugs on FJ40 transmissions and transfer cases up through 1990. These magnets collect fine metal shavings from normal gear wear, helping protect bearings and gears. tpi4x4.com

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Evidence From Parts Listings

• TPI 4×4 Land Cruiser Parts sells a drain plug listed specifically as:
“DRAIN PLUG, MAGNETIC, F&R AXLE, TRANS & TRANSFER, UP TO 1990” — meaning the same magnetic plug fits the FJ40 transmission and transfer case.
tpi4x4.com
• Aftermarket replacements (eBay, etc.) also list magnetic transfer‑case drain plugs for FJ40/FJ45 years 1975–1984, confirming Toyota used them originally.
eBay


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What This Means for Your FJ40

• If your plugs are original, they should have magnets.
• If someone swapped them over the years, you can easily replace them with modern magnetic versions — they’re inexpensive and widely available.
• Toyota used the same plug style across axles, transmissions, and transfer cases, so replacements are straightforward.


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Want me to identify which plug your specific year uses or cross‑check part numbers?

 

[AYM707]

The hardest part was opening the fill & drain ports. I was really struggling to get them open; without breaking the bolts. Used plenty of penetrating oil and a beaker rod to "break" them open. It was a real struggle.

Confirmed both drain plugs were magnetic. This is what the transmission plug looked like

a small mountain of metallic shavings. There was nothing on the transfer case drain plug.

Used a hand pump to pump the new transmission oil until it came out. All done / closed now.

Thanks for all your help and support.