Oil capacity

Fewer items on the bill of materials can mean huge savings, even for relatively minor parts. And when you advertise the fluid as "lifetime" it makes sense to most consumers. That, and I believe they wanted to reduce warranty-related costs due to dumb dumbs pouring the wrong fluid in the wrong hole.

 

I can understand draining the wrong pan.
But getting confused between the oil cap and transmission cap/stick?
If you can’t tell the difference in those 2, you probably aren’t doing your own service anyways.

I do see how the parts cost add up. And I can kind of agree there.
But I’d rather them go cheap and leave something else off.
Like something that doesn’t pertain to the ability to check and maintain your vehicle.

 

Just imagine the average person. And then consider that half of people are dumber than that.

Many people top-off their fluids, even if they do zero real work on a car. When people see more than one dip-stick, they get confused hah.

I imagine that it's a mix of reasons, but I'd bet that a big part of it was Toyota wanting to save money on warranties and to bring more maintenance in-house.

 

The 4.0 trans doesn't bother me, it's not like I'm messing with the fluid level constantly. Ive been in there once in 142,000 miles

 

I’ve done my fluid once in 155k

I’ve just gotten in the habit of checking fluids.
I guess growing up with older folks and their older cars, the habit stuck.

 

2015 here and 5.5 is what the manual says but 6 its perfect per dipstick