GL5 Fluid Now Acceptable for Manual Transmissions?

I am wanting to change the transmission fluid on my Tacoma.

(2009 Extracab 2.7L 4WD 5 speed manual)

Toyota recommends either GL4 or GL5. However, dealers only have GL5 fluid in stock and are clueless of the whole thing. Some have told me that this is an aftermarket idea and OEM is just 75W90, no GL4 of GL5.

Historically, it has been known that GL5, while providing greater ferrous gear protection, can damage brass components in synchronous transmissions.

I understand Toyota in the past has had a good reputation for reliability, but I wonder why they are allowing GL5 here. It could be that the average vehicle owner puts 10,000 miles/year on a vehicle, at this rate the powertrain will outlast the chassis, and it is easier for them to just tell the "techs" to use one fluid in both transfer case and transmission.

Does anyone have a solid answer from Toyota on this, other than "Toyota recommends this fluid."

Do you have a second generation Tacoma with R155f transmission and 200,000+ miles on it that you used GL5 fluid with?

Thanks

 

so we should take our own oils in when we get the tranny fluid, diff fluids, transfer case fluids done at the dealer?

i'm about to do all of mine for the first time at 50k miles on the truck. so i need some info on this too.

should i just go to autozone or somewhere and buy 8qts of GL4 and take it to the dealer for them to use?

 

I researched this a few years ago and decided not to use GL-5 in my transmissions. I imagine any damage which would result with GL-5 probably would not show up during the warranty period, so manufacturers feel safe recommending it.

 

does the tranny, diffs, and transfer case all use the same gear oil? 75w90?

it seems like they do.

 

Yes they do. I used regular Valvoline 80w90 when I did mine.

 

ok i'll buy my own oil before i take it in to get done. gonna use GL4 rating.

 

Most gear oil I have seen carry both gl5 and gl4 specs.

 

I used Valvoline Synpower 75w 90 for everything in my 02. By around 120,000 the shifting was beginning to get rougher even after a new clutch. I don't know for sure if it was because of the GL5 rated oil or not. But I decided to change over to Redline synthetic for my 13 after a bunch of research.

I used Redlines 75W85 for the diffs and their MT90 for the transmission and transfer case. The shifting improved slightly even though my truck only has about 10,000 miles on it. I figure oil is a lot cheaper than any part of the powertrain.

 

well i was looking at the owner's manual and it says use GL 4 or GL 5 75w90 for the tranny and transfer case but it says use toyota GL5 75w80 (or 85?) for the diffs.

 

Checkinbg the redline application guide MT90 is recommended for the transmission but 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil is recommended for the transfer case.

 

75W90 comes in gl-4 and gl-5.
Most manual trannys use gl-4 (or even ATF).
Differentials and transfer cases use GL-5.

In general Gl-5 is NOT recommedned for manual transmissions.
And thats whats in the owners manual for my 2015 and on the redline and amsoil web sites for the tacoma.

 

Redline MT90 for the transmission. You will thank yourself later.

I used Redline 75W90 for diff's and transfer case. The one I used said GL5+ and rated for limited slip or non.

 

Yep, Redline is MT-90 75W90 GL-4

• Safe for brass synchros, as it lacks the reactive sulfurs found in most GL-5 oils that cause damage

For 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil Redline notes the following

• This product is not designed for use in most manual transmissions or transaxles in passenger vehicles, since the extreme slipperiness may cause synchronizer mesh issues that lead to shifting problems

 

I dont think there is such a thing as 75w90 without a GL-# rating...

From my owners manual page 530
Manual transmission api gl-3 (gl-4) 75W90