96 V6 transmission / differential fluid – separate or shared?

[PatrixUSA]

I know this has been covered before, but now I am getting different answers to the question of whether the transmission and differential share fluid. Having read here they are separate and require separate service and having never asked for the differential fluid to be changed, I asked the dealer where I take my car to change it. They informed me that for my vehicle, a 96 model V6, the transmission and the differential share fluid. They stated the differential fluid is changed when the transmission fluid is changed and the two do not require separate fluid service when draining, filling. I also found this article on the web:

http://www.startribune.com/131/story/736431.html

They did mention that the 4-cylinder engine for this year (96) does require separate fluid service.

So, now I’m thinking some models and engines share fluid and some don’t. If anyone has a definitive answer on this please feel free to advise. Thanks.

[PatrixUSA]

Possible final answer > An Eye8Pussies post from 03-18-2007, 02:38 AM sounds definitive enough for me and seems to match all the info I've gathered.

Eye8Pussies post:
"It was most likely me who posted the original fact, as I asked my mechanic about this years ago when there was basically no way that I could get my diff drain bolt off after so many years of not being touched.

the 4banger tranny has entirely separate diffs and tranny
the v6 transmission shares the same fluid with two different drains and refills, so technically, enough changes of the regular tranny drain and fill will change all the fluid in the tranny eventually including the differential"

[dc_98_cam]

See section on Gen 3 ... V6 automatic transmission :


http://www.camrymanuals.com/index.ph...=106&topicid=0

[Eye8Pussies]

they're shared even though there is a separate diff drain/fill for the v6.

And the manual doesn't say if they're shared or not.

[sintox]

Originally Posted by PatrixUSA

Eye8Pussies post:
"It was most likely me who posted the original fact, as I asked my mechanic about this years ago when there was basically no way that I could get my diff drain bolt off after so many years of not being touched.

the 4banger tranny has entirely separate diffs and tranny
the v6 transmission shares the same fluid with two different drains and refills, so technically, enough changes of the regular tranny drain and fill will change all the fluid in the tranny eventually including the differential"

Is the 1996 V6 (Gen 3.5) system is exactly the same as the 1994 V6 (G.3) ?

I just want to be sure.

Does this apply to a 1994 Camry V6 as well (my father's car) ?

If I drain the differential fluid without removing the differential-fill plug, will a fill-up through the transmission-fluid pipe fill up the depleted differential too ?

Thank you everyone.

[JohnGD]

I think it would be safer if you check for the drain/fill plugs. On earlier Aisin A540 series for the V6, there are different drains and fills for the pan and the differential. Later on (not sure when exactly, maybe with Gen 4??), they share the dipstick tube for filling, but still have separate drains.