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

Rounded side goes towards the differential.

 

Thannks @SwampYota - I was just ready to put them in!

 

Bought my Tacoma just over 1 year ago, had 65,000 on it. Getting around to the basics not sure of the previous service on it. This guide made it a snap. Have 1 question, only got about 2 1/2 qts out of the rear dif. Should I be concerned?

 

Lower than expected out, no longer matters as you're replacing & filling going forward. Remember to check/clean the drain plug magnet as this would be more telling of the state of the internal gears (i.e. Large or small or no fillings)

 

Just some fine particles on the magnetic plug. Really liking this truck so far.

 

did mine yesterday and got very small filings and what looks like some kinda round spacer/had a funny stamp in the middle. about a 1/4 inch in diameter.

 

Big thanks to OP, did mine this weekend. Piece of cake! Fluid had 50k on it and seemed clean coming out, but looked dirty when pooled in the collection bucket.

 

Changed my gear oil a week ago. It has not been changed since I got the truck with 67k miles on it. It had 196k miles on it when the drain plug was pulled. I was amazed to see the oil was still somewhat amber in color and light was passing through it. The drain plug did have metal covering it much like the other pics posted by others. I added 3 quarts of the Mobil 1

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 Synthetic. I didn't have any flow out of the fill plug so I looked it up and it takes a bit over 3 quarts to reach capacity. Glad this went quickly because it started flooding as the fill plug was getting its torque treatment.
Thanks to the OP for the how-to and all the feedback. One tip I have is when it's time to fill it back up, grab your tire tools and drop the spare to the ground. It will give you the clearance needed to tip the bottle up and get all the oil in if you don't have a pump or a fill tube to push onto the nipple.

 

I have. 2011 TRD sport. Do I need to put lad addative in bothe differentials?

 

You don't need it in either.

 

Just changed my rear for the firsts time at 60k miles. Discovered a crush washer in the strainer in my catch pan after......

The fill plug was the safest to pull and it didn’t have one, so my question is: should they both have them ?

 

For those interested, both have them. I learned that after draining and refilling.....

And always make sure that you borrow working tools. I borrowed a 40+ year old torque wrench from my dad and am 100% sure it isn’t accurate. I torqued it to somewhere around 40 because the needle was bouncing around, then decided to back it off and it only took 15 to loosen.....going to buy my own on the way to work tomorrow and double check.

 

My 2013 AC TRD OR 4x4 4.0 V6 requires the following (should be the similar for your 2015)

Front diff drain plug washer (copper) = part #

$7 90430-24003 Front Differential Drain Plug Gasket

90430-24003, 48 ft lbs, ($1.74)
Front diff fill plug washer (crush style) = part #

$14 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010, 36 ft lbs, ($1.23/ea)

Rear diff drain plug (crush style) = part #12157-10010, 36 ft lbs, ($1.23/ea)
Rear diff fill plug (crush style) = part #12157-10010, 36 ft lbs, ($1.23/ea)

Transfer case fill plug (aluminum) = part #

$7 90430-18008 , Used for Change Transmission Fluid

90430-18008 / 90430-A0003, 27 ft lbs, ($1.51/ea)
Transfer case drain plug (aluminum) = part #90430-18008 / 90430-A0003, 27 ft lbs, ($1.51/ea)

Transmission drain plug (aluminum) = part #90430-18008 / 90430-A0003, 27 ft lbs, ($1.51/ea)
Transmission drain plug (aluminum) = part #90430-18008 / 90430-A0003, 27 ft lbs, ($1.51/ea)

 

Anyone ever have more than the required amount of oil go in and still not have any start to leak out of the fill hole?
I stopped at just over 3 quarts. Wondering if I should keep going or stop there because I believe the recommend amount is just over 3 quarts.
I have. 2011 TRD sport 4x4

 

It holds 3.1 quarts, so you’re just about there.

 

I would say I’m at 3.5 quarts. I’m just not sure if I should keep going until it just starts to come out the full hole or stop where I’m at.

 

Weird. Is the truck parked on level ground? Or is the nose pointed downhill?

 

It was in my driveway which might not be dead level but thought it was close enough.

 

Hmmmm. Maybe drain it and measure how much comes out? Maybe a seal is shot and it’s leaking into the axle?