# 2006 Toyota Highlander - Which fluid for this vehicle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140 "2020-04-20T18:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jrbirdman07\_166596](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jrbirdman07_166596/32/23676_2.png) [@jrbirdman07\_166596](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jrbirdman07_166596)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/1 "2020-04-20T18:54:13Z")
I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander (V6 Limited) and I am going to be replacing my rotors and pads and doing a brake fluid flush soon. My question is can I use DOT 4 to replace the DOT 3 in the system? I know the manual calls for DOT 3 but I am considering using DOT 4. I know they are compatible with each other but are there any cons to using DOT 4 in a DOT 3 system? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/2 "2020-04-20T22:37:37Z")
DOT 4 is the latest and greatest. So that’s what you use. Tester ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/3 "2020-04-20T22:37:47Z")
I’ve had quite a bit of maintenance items related to the brakes in my '07 V6 Sport. I can’t speak to your specific issue. I’d stick to the script. I’d check each caliper to ensure it’s not frozen (look for uneven wear on one side/corner of the vehicle and excess brake dust). I’d also give the parking brake a full service as well. Good luck! Here is a story about my Highlander you may find of interest. [https://www.torquenews.com/1083/real-world-costs-maintain-toyota-highlander-100k-miles-will-shock-you](https://www.torquenews.com/1083/real-world-costs-maintain-toyota-highlander-100k-miles-will-shock-you) We love our Highlander and I hope that when my last son goes off on his own to take it back and do a full overhaul on it and make it our utility vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/4 "2020-04-20T23:30:22Z")
Dot 3 and 4 mix just fine. Dot 4 has a higher wet and dry boiling point. There is no downside to using Dot 4. Just change whatever you choose every 3 years to keep it fresh and dry and help prevent internal corrosion of your brake system. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/5 "2020-04-21T02:00:05Z")
If you haven’t changed the fluid before, buy enough to do a full brake fluid change. The first change in my last car, I bought the DOT4 fluid with the highest boiling point I could find. It worked very well. ---
**Author:** ![CapitalTruck](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capitaltruck/32/16592_2.png) [@CapitalTruck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapitalTruck)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-highlander-which-fluid-for-this-vehicle/163140/6 "2020-04-24T19:45:56Z")
My mother has 228k on her 2007 Highlander. Recently discovered a frozen rear caliper. Front one blew up a while back. The 3.3 V6 is awesome. I’ve had to do valve cover gasket, a couple of coil packs (the rear ones are a real treat). I put all new hoses in at 200k as preventative maintenance. There is a rubber coolant hose mounted UNDERNEATH the intake manifold. That was kind of a disappointing design decision. However, to their credit, Toyota put protective sleeves on all of the hoses that are in areas of excessive heat or friction. Had to have a new A/C condenser in also. Overall I think Toyota was really on their game with this vehicle. Hers just happened to come with the towing package which included an auxiliary trans oil cooler. I really believe that those can be the difference makers in trans longevity, regardless of towing or not.