Changing differential fluid - A step by step "HOW TO"

chris4x4 · 06-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianr

Sean, why not just put some penetrating oil on the bolt, and find a nice pipe for some extra leverage on your ratchet?

To add, many times tapping the wrench with a hammer will loosen the bolt. Tapps...not a Gorilla blow.

brianr · 06-04-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris4x4

To add, many times tapping the wrench with a hammer will loosen the bolt. Tapps...not a Gorilla blow.

indeed my friend.

EverTaco23 · 06-04-2009, 09:49 PM

Good news!!! I just did my diff. and t-case. about a week or so ago, and I just did a mpg check, and Im up to 17. Yippy!!!

Now to see what some TRD headers give me....

brianr · 06-04-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EverTaco23

Good news!!! I just did my diff. and t-case. about a week or so ago, and I just did a mpg check, and Im up to 17. Yippy!!!

Now to see what some TRD headers give me....

right on!

EverTaco23 · 06-04-2009, 09:58 PM

oh, and I was at 15.6mpg's.

luk8272 · 06-07-2009, 09:33 AM

Pic of front diff, drain and fill plugs.

ellocodetroit · 06-07-2009, 11:02 AM

Thanks for the write up guys. The Taco is my first truck and I did not know I had to change the diff fluid. It took me awhile to figure out I only had to change the rear. I have a prerunner so no worries about the front and trancase.

I used RP gear oil and the Taco feels like it rolls smoother from a stop.

I have 36,100 miles on my Taco and the diff fluid did not look that dirty. The hardest part was removing the plugs. I had to used a pipe wrench to hit my ratchet to loosening the plugs.

I left my drain pan inside the garage yesterday and this morning the garage stunk like diff fluid. I won't be doing that again.

Thanks again guys.

luk8272 · 06-07-2009, 11:33 AM

My rear fluid looked brand new to the point where I wasn't sure if I should change the front but I did anyway and damn thank god I did. The front was a dark grey and had some water in it. Haven't done the T-case yet because they didn't have enough oil for it. I could do the rear diff. and either the front diff or Tcase.

PT6 · 06-07-2009, 09:59 PM

Now I am confused. I saw it somewhere in this thread that the TRD Off Road did not come with a limited slip diferential. I got my window sticker out and mine says that I have an auto lsd. I also have the option of locking it via a button in the cab when needed. I thought they all came with the lsd? Do I need the additive ( I believe that I do)? I am nowhere near 15K yet, just curious. Thanks.

luk8272 · 06-08-2009, 07:02 AM

My advice would be to go look at your rear diff and on it it will say LSD if this is so you will need the additive. But seeing you have the locker you shouldn't need the additive.

chris4x4 · 06-08-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PT6

Now I am confused. I saw it somewhere in this thread that the TRD Off Road did not come with a limited slip diferential. I got my window sticker out and mine says that I have an auto lsd. I also have the option of locking it via a button in the cab when needed. I thought they all came with the lsd? Do I need the additive ( I believe that I do)? I am nowhere near 15K yet, just curious. Thanks.

The Auto LSD uses the brakes to modulate wheels spin, so no LS Diff addative is required.

PT6 · 06-08-2009, 06:29 PM

Thank you. I actually looked at your photos again and clearly saw the sticker. I climbed under mine and it did not have one.

I noticed in my manual that the 09 calls for 75W85 in the front and rear difs, but 75w90 in the transfer case. Anybody just running the 90 in all three? It would simplify things as I only saw the 90 at the parts store.
Would something this trivial void my waranty? (probably know the answer to that one).

Coheednme13 · 06-11-2009, 06:50 AM

ok so I've been reading through this and since I'm approaching 30K I'm wondering if I need to do anything different since I have an automatic reg cab. No 4x4 or anything crazy. Do I need the same fluid and process to change it?

Also, I live on a dirt road and I was wondering if anyone had done a write up on maintaing your suspension. I would like to know what I need to grease and tighten or check. Also, do I need to grease my drive shaft and if so can anyone recommend how to do this. I don't know a lot about maintaining my vehicle other than chaning oil and plugs.

kyle32963 · 06-11-2009, 07:11 AM

so if u never done it dont?? i got mine at 52k and i have 95k on it now

chris4x4 · 06-11-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coheednme13

ok so I've been reading through this and since I'm approaching 30K I'm wondering if I need to do anything different since I have an automatic reg cab. No 4x4 or anything crazy. Do I need the same fluid and process to change it?

Also, I live on a dirt road and I was wondering if anyone had done a write up on maintaing your suspension. I would like to know what I need to grease and tighten or check. Also, do I need to grease my drive shaft and if so can anyone recommend how to do this. I don't know a lot about maintaining my vehicle other than chaning oil and plugs.

Nothing to maint. on the suspesion....Just keep it clean. For the diff, the procedure is the same, but you dont need the addative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle32963

so if u never done it dont?? i got mine at 52k and i have 95k on it now

You should ALWAYS service your vehicle propperly, and at the recomended milage.

Blaise22 · 06-18-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PT6

Thank you. I actually looked at your photos again and clearly saw the sticker. I climbed under mine and it did not have one.

I noticed in my manual that the 09 calls for 75W85 in the front and rear difs, but 75w90 in the transfer case. Anybody just running the 90 in all three? It would simplify things as I only saw the 90 at the parts store.
Would something this trivial void my waranty? (probably know the answer to that one).

When you change your oil are you going with synthetic?

Royal Purple dosnt even make 75W85 gear oil so it looks like im going with either the 75W90 or a different brand.

PT6 · 06-18-2009, 09:52 AM

Yes, Mobil 1.

hokiemule · 06-18-2009, 08:24 PM

I saw one post about this, but no follow-up: has anyone used Redline MT-90 in these trucks and if so, what were the results? It's a GL4, 75W90. I put it in my MR2 Spyder's tranny, and I'm very impressed with it; however, my Spyder doesn't have a LSD.

I don't have any personal experience with Royal Purple products, but I've heard some bad things about them. Shear was the most consistent complaint about their products.

Blaise22 · 06-19-2009, 10:28 AM

I have a trd offroad that does not need the additive, Is the redline oil listed below the correct one or should I get the 75W90 above it?

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_g...5&categoryID=6

chris4x4 · 06-19-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaise22

I have a trd offroad that does not need the additive, Is the redline oil listed below the correct one or should I get the 75W90 above it?

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_g...5&categoryID=6

It should work just fine.

06-07-2009, 09:33 AM	#166
luk8272 My 2 kids Name: Lucas Joined: Feb 2008, #4929 Location: Kaplan, Louisiana Age: 27 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,748 07 Silver4dr. 4x4, V6 Shortbed 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 5% Tint, Bug flector, vent Visors, Removed secondary air filter, Rear Spring TSB w/ Bilstein shocks, Toytec 3" lift, Debadged, Billet Grille, 17x9 Pro comp 6001 rims, BFG 285/70/17, Fog light anytime mod, Tailgate hose clamp mod, Prodry AFE filter. Extended Differential Breather, ABS on/off, 6000k HID heads/fogs, ScanguageII, Devil horns, Devil horns on third brake light, Mounted 60" Highlift, Mounted Tool Box, Wet Okole Front Seat Covers, TW sticker, Midland Handheld CB,Painted engine cover, Revenge Fab Sliders Painted in shed. Bed Cover or Cap? and Exhaust!	Pic of front diff, drain and fill plugs. __________________ Arkansas Superlift Park 4/10/09 Big Easley Run 5/17/09 Windrock Coal Creek OHV 6/20/09 Louisiana members

06-07-2009, 11:33 AM	#168
luk8272 My 2 kids Name: Lucas Joined: Feb 2008, #4929 Location: Kaplan, Louisiana Age: 27 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,748 07 Silver4dr. 4x4, V6 Shortbed 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 5% Tint, Bug flector, vent Visors, Removed secondary air filter, Rear Spring TSB w/ Bilstein shocks, Toytec 3" lift, Debadged, Billet Grille, 17x9 Pro comp 6001 rims, BFG 285/70/17, Fog light anytime mod, Tailgate hose clamp mod, Prodry AFE filter. Extended Differential Breather, ABS on/off, 6000k HID heads/fogs, ScanguageII, Devil horns, Devil horns on third brake light, Mounted 60" Highlift, Mounted Tool Box, Wet Okole Front Seat Covers, TW sticker, Midland Handheld CB,Painted engine cover, Revenge Fab Sliders Painted in shed. Bed Cover or Cap? and Exhaust!	My rear fluid looked brand new to the point where I wasn't sure if I should change the front but I did anyway and damn thank god I did. The front was a dark grey and had some water in it. Haven't done the T-case yet because they didn't have enough oil for it. I could do the rear diff. and either the front diff or Tcase. __________________ Arkansas Superlift Park 4/10/09 Big Easley Run 5/17/09 Windrock Coal Creek OHV 6/20/09 Louisiana members

06-08-2009, 07:02 AM	#170
luk8272 My 2 kids Name: Lucas Joined: Feb 2008, #4929 Location: Kaplan, Louisiana Age: 27 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,748 07 Silver4dr. 4x4, V6 Shortbed 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 5% Tint, Bug flector, vent Visors, Removed secondary air filter, Rear Spring TSB w/ Bilstein shocks, Toytec 3" lift, Debadged, Billet Grille, 17x9 Pro comp 6001 rims, BFG 285/70/17, Fog light anytime mod, Tailgate hose clamp mod, Prodry AFE filter. Extended Differential Breather, ABS on/off, 6000k HID heads/fogs, ScanguageII, Devil horns, Devil horns on third brake light, Mounted 60" Highlift, Mounted Tool Box, Wet Okole Front Seat Covers, TW sticker, Midland Handheld CB,Painted engine cover, Revenge Fab Sliders Painted in shed. Bed Cover or Cap? and Exhaust!	My advice would be to go look at your rear diff and on it it will say LSD if this is so you will need the additive. But seeing you have the locker you shouldn't need the additive. __________________ Arkansas Superlift Park 4/10/09 Big Easley Run 5/17/09 Windrock Coal Creek OHV 6/20/09 Louisiana members

06-11-2009, 06:50 AM	#173
Coheednme13 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4172 Location: Elgin, SC Posts: 198 08 Regular Cab Impulse Red 2008 Regular Cab Automatic 2.7l I4 vvt-i Have 20% tint, AFE Drop in, Secondary filter removed, Premier 800PRS headunit	ok so I've been reading through this and since I'm approaching 30K I'm wondering if I need to do anything different since I have an automatic reg cab. No 4x4 or anything crazy. Do I need the same fluid and process to change it? Also, I live on a dirt road and I was wondering if anyone had done a write up on maintaing your suspension. I would like to know what I need to grease and tighten or check. Also, do I need to grease my drive shaft and if so can anyone recommend how to do this. I don't know a lot about maintaining my vehicle other than chaning oil and plugs. __________________ Pics of my ongoing audio install check them out

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06-04-2009, 09:49 PM	#163
EverTaco23 Senior Member Name: Evan Joined: Feb 2008, #4544 Location: Brush Prairie, WA. Age: 23 Gender: Male Posts: 1,442 02 Dcab TRD 4wd Limited 2002 Double Cab Automatic 3.4L V6 K&N CAI with AFE filter, Toytec C/O, TC UCA's, 1" diff drop, toytec AAL's/1" block, Bilstein 5100's, 285/75/R16 BFG A/T, Ultra wheels, New sound system/ipod jack, Custom sub box with 2 8" pioneer subs, Gray wire mod, Gibson cat-back, Tom Wood's DS. Tinted Windows, and TRD Headers!	Good news!!! I just did my diff. and t-case. about a week or so ago, and I just did a mpg check, and Im up to 17. Yippy!!! Now to see what some TRD headers give me....

06-04-2009, 09:58 PM	#165
EverTaco23 Senior Member Name: Evan Joined: Feb 2008, #4544 Location: Brush Prairie, WA. Age: 23 Gender: Male Posts: 1,442 02 Dcab TRD 4wd Limited 2002 Double Cab Automatic 3.4L V6 K&N CAI with AFE filter, Toytec C/O, TC UCA's, 1" diff drop, toytec AAL's/1" block, Bilstein 5100's, 285/75/R16 BFG A/T, Ultra wheels, New sound system/ipod jack, Custom sub box with 2 8" pioneer subs, Gray wire mod, Gibson cat-back, Tom Wood's DS. Tinted Windows, and TRD Headers!	oh, and I was at 15.6mpg's.

06-07-2009, 11:02 AM	#167
ellocodetroit Junior Member Joined: May 2008, #6366 Location: Chino Hills, So Cal Gender: Male Posts: 12 SR5 PreRunner 2008 Double Cab Automatic Buddy Club grounding kit, Afe Pro dry S air filter, Rear suspension TSB	Thanks for the write up guys. The Taco is my first truck and I did not know I had to change the diff fluid. It took me awhile to figure out I only had to change the rear. I have a prerunner so no worries about the front and trancase. I used RP gear oil and the Taco feels like it rolls smoother from a stop. I have 36,100 miles on my Taco and the diff fluid did not look that dirty. The hardest part was removing the plugs. I had to used a pipe wrench to hit my ratchet to loosening the plugs. I left my drain pan inside the garage yesterday and this morning the garage stunk like diff fluid. I won't be doing that again. Thanks again guys.

06-07-2009, 09:59 PM	#169
PT6 Who's flyin this M#$&! outa here? Joined: Apr 2009, #16573 Location: Indiana Gender: Male Posts: 18 SR 5 Off Road Magnetic Gray 2009 Double Cab Automatic 1GRFE* I dont see any mods in my near future, but who knows!	Now I am confused. I saw it somewhere in this thread that the TRD Off Road did not come with a limited slip diferential. I got my window sticker out and mine says that I have an auto lsd. I also have the option of locking it via a button in the cab when needed. I thought they all came with the lsd? Do I need the additive ( I believe that I do)? I am nowhere near 15K yet, just curious. Thanks.

06-08-2009, 06:29 PM	#172
PT6 Who's flyin this M#$&! outa here? Joined: Apr 2009, #16573 Location: Indiana Gender: Male Posts: 18 SR 5 Off Road Magnetic Gray 2009 Double Cab Automatic 1GRFE* I dont see any mods in my near future, but who knows!	Thank you. I actually looked at your photos again and clearly saw the sticker. I climbed under mine and it did not have one. I noticed in my manual that the 09 calls for 75W85 in the front and rear difs, but 75w90 in the transfer case. Anybody just running the 90 in all three? It would simplify things as I only saw the 90 at the parts store. Would something this trivial void my waranty? (probably know the answer to that one).

06-11-2009, 07:11 AM	#174
kyle32963 Junior Member Name: Kyle Joined: Apr 2009, #16020 Location: lenox Gender: Male Posts: 26 03 SR5 2003 Xtra Cab Manual 3.4L v6 Head lights-hids rims-american raceing neon-red inside and out side of truck	so if u never done it dont?? i got mine at 52k and i have 95k on it now

06-18-2009, 09:52 AM	#177
PT6 Who's flyin this M#$&! outa here? Joined: Apr 2009, #16573 Location: Indiana Gender: Male Posts: 18 SR 5 Off Road Magnetic Gray 2009 Double Cab Automatic 1GRFE* I dont see any mods in my near future, but who knows!	Yes, Mobil 1.

06-18-2009, 08:24 PM	#178
hokiemule Junior Member Joined: Mar 2009, #14674 Location: Round Lake Beach, IL Gender: Chick Posts: 3 06 Tacoma 4WD 2006 Double Cab Manual 2GR-FE Bone stock, for now.	I saw one post about this, but no follow-up: has anyone used Redline MT-90 in these trucks and if so, what were the results? It's a GL4, 75W90. I put it in my MR2 Spyder's tranny, and I'm very impressed with it; however, my Spyder doesn't have a LSD. I don't have any personal experience with Royal Purple products, but I've heard some bad things about them. Shear was the most consistent complaint about their products.

06-19-2009, 10:28 AM	#179
Blaise22 Member Joined: May 2009, #17095 Location: California Gender: Male Posts: 50 09 Prerunner 2WD TRD OFFROAD 2009 Access Cab Automatic	I have a trd offroad that does not need the additive, Is the redline oil listed below the correct one or should I get the 75W90 above it? http://www.redlineoil.com/products_g...5&categoryID=6

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