Hilux 4x4 Forum

I just had to pay R4500.00 for a recon transfer box for the Suzuki due to water / mud getting in from the breather. So I am now fitting the diff breathers to my Hilux. My question is where is the Hilux IFS 2009-2011 breathers on the gearbox and transfer box and does one also have to extended the breathers as for the diff breathers or is this not required because they are already high enough or there is no breathers on them.

If this has already been explained just point me to the link please. I done a search but only found the post about the diff breathers. Thanks

Barry, the issue has come up briefly in discussion before but never really explored properly here yet. AFAIK the SFA doesn't have any breathers on the x-fer and gear boxes ... I've never found any, and suspect that expansion / contraction gasses are vented through the lever orifices. I've looked at perhaps drilling / tapping & fitting a nipple on the upper filler plugs but they're too low and will get fouled by the oil .... so not a good option. I also don't like the idea of drilling into the side of the boxes ... metal shaving falling into the boxes!

This might be an excellent opportunity to hear from others who are more knowledgeable in this area if it's viable, possible and what they may have done.

Let's hear!

Andy thanks for the reply so far. I just thought that seen as I was doing the diff breathers I would do them as well.

I also wanted to do them at the same time I did the diffs, but couldn't find any breathers on the boxes. It is a point of concern because the gearbox can get quite hot and if submerged during a crossing it's going to take in either water or air through the seals / lever portals, whichever is there at the time ... Of course I would prefer it to be air.

Barry my D4D 2005 has gearbox breathers, as far as I can see. They can be seen sorta close to your fuel filter

I speak under correction, but I thought somebody told me there are breathers on the gearbox and t/fer case. Never saw it myself. But the gearbox and t/fer case are already high enough from the ground, doubt that water will find they way up there.

Rebel 4x4 wrote:I speak under correction, but I thought somebody told me there are breathers on the gearbox and t/fer case. Never saw it myself. But the gearbox and t/fer case are already high enough from the ground, doubt that water will find they way up there.

To the best of my knowledge (on the SFA anyway), the boxes have no place to 'breathe' other than the lever portals. It's true that those sit relatively high up in the floor tunnel, so one would have to do a fairly decent water crossing before those areas were submerged, but I don't believe that such a situation is entirely uncommon. Water finds it's level very quickly and it's way into every nook and cranny.

Although I advocate the avoidance of unnecessary mud and water play, it sometimes is necessary. For those odd occasions it would be better to be prepared, especially in over-landing instances where one is far away from the opportunity to replace the box oils if they become contaminated ... meaning that the distances to be travelled with contaminated box oils is more likely to result in some level of damage.

I would certainly feel a lot more at ease with the knowledge that I was prepared, .... and in the event of having to perform such a crossing, that I didn't have to 'rush' it in order to minimise possible water ingress, which in turn could result in safer crossings with less probability of getting into trouble.

Mud Dog wrote:

Rebel 4x4 wrote:I speak under correction, but I thought somebody told me there are breathers on the gearbox and t/fer case. Never saw it myself. But the gearbox and t/fer case are already high enough from the ground, doubt that water will find they way up there.

To the best of my knowledge (on the SFA anyway), the boxes have no place to 'breathe' other than the lever portals. It's true that those sit relatively high up in the floor tunnel, so one would have to do a fairly decent water crossing before those areas were submerged, but I don't believe that such a situation is entirely uncommon. Water finds it's level very quickly and it's way into every nook and cranny.

Although I advocate the avoidance of unnecessary mud and water play, it sometimes is necessary. For those odd occasions it would be better to be prepared, especially in over-landing instances where one is far away from the opportunity to replace the box oils if they become contaminated ... meaning that the distances to be travelled with contaminated box oils is more likely to result in some level of damage.

I would certainly feel a lot more at ease with the knowledge that I was prepared, .... and in the event of having to perform such a crossing, that I didn't have to 'rush' it in order to minimise possible water ingress, which in turn could result in safer crossings with less probability of getting into trouble.

You are actually right Oom Andy, on our recent trip to the Baviaans we had to do a water crossing, water (prob. a half a cup) came through the gear lever into the cab. Doors were nice sealed. I did change every single oil on the lux 3 days later, just incase water came in somehow...

OOOOMS wrote:Barry my D4D 2005 has gearbox breathers, as far as I can see. They can be seen sorta close to your fuel filter

Mark are you saying that they have already been extended and are located near the fuel filters...(sorry if this is a dof question) or are you saying that if you look past your fuel filters toward the gearbox that you can see them.

Hi guys, just a revival of this thread to see if anyone has done breather extensions on a D4D of late? I have a Fortuner and I am keen to have all the breathers extended into the engine bay. Does anyone know where I could source kits or exactly what parts are required so I can have this done? Thanks in advance!


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You can use 1/8" BSP threaded fittings, either fuel or pneumatic types. The former a lot cheaper. I've used the quick fit pneumatic fittings on the diffs with button silencers in the engine bay.
From what I remember the IFS has gearbox breathers but very difficult to get to; not sure about the Vigo shape.

I bought everything from Pneumax in Pta; I think they have a branch in Jhb as well.

Stef wrote:You can use 1/8" BSP threaded fittings, either fuel or pneumatic types. The former a lot cheaper. I've used the quick fit pneumatic fittings on the diffs with button silencers in the engine bay.
From what I remember the IFS has gearbox breathers but very difficult to get to; not sure about the Vigo shape.

I bought everything from Pneumax in Pta; I think they have a branch in Jhb as well.

Thanks Stef,

Really appreciate the help but I may need a little more! I'm very challenged mechanically and not very experienced, but I would like to change this. Do you have a little more info or diagrams to share so I can locate and do these mods? I have a good idea of what I need to carry the job out but need to have a picture in mind to know what I need to do.

Thanks in advance!



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