Fluid loss while removing 4WD actuator - 2nd gen tacoma

Hi All,

My first post. I am in a pinch. I am in the process of trying to fix the common 4WD actuator issue on my 2nd gen tacoma. I want to pull the actuator and open it to solder the connections etc as per the process. Yesterday I pulled the actuator from the front differential and when I got it off I lost some fluid. I am assuming this is front differential fluid? I ran out of daylight and had to put the actuator back on WITHOUT replenishing the front diff fluid. The earliest I can work on it again is in one week. Am I able to drive the truck in 2WD for a week knowing that I lost this small amount of fluid from the front diff?

A few questions I know, thanks for any help

 

By "some" are we talking a teaspoon, a cup, or a quart?

 

Hard to say, around 2 cups (0.5 qt) at the most. I didn't expect any fluid to come out so I didn't have a drain pan ready.

 

You're fine to drive it in 2wd. I doubt you drained much. You can check the fluid level by removing the fill plug and sticking your finger in if you're concerned about it. It takes about 5 minutes to top it off

 

You should have watched this first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJESG91GbCQ

 

I highly respect whatstcp, but I disagree. If 1/2 quart really did leak out, do not drive it with it that low. The ring gear does not spin in 2wd, so there’s no splashing from the ring gear. The spider gears are higher up in the diff. If it’s low enough that they’re not splashing gear oil, you’re gonna have an expensive problem.

 

So it was in fact front differential fluid I lost when I pulled the actuator off? I figured just want to be sure. Yeah all good, I am going to end up topping it off just to be sure. I just didn't want to have to top it off to ultimately lose it when I pull the actuator again .. because I haven't fixed it yet

 

thanks for the video spitdog (love the name). I did watch that video ages ago when I first looked into the 4WD issues of the Tacoma, but yesterday when I pulled it I completely forgot that portion of the video where diff fluid leaks out. Thanks for the replies team I appreciate it. I will top the diff fluid up for now before I pull the actuator again.