How often do you change the differential fluid?

30K

My front diff seized this past December and needed to be replaced. I attribute that to a fluke and not the gear oil.

 

Ouch! Assuming you had to get a new one, how much did that run you?

 

Ouch is right.

Right around $3K for a new one including labor.

My dealer tried to locate a used one through LKQ, but there were none available - that's how rare this was.

That gear oil had only been in there for 5K miles.

 

Geez! Any idea why it seized?

 

I changed mine at 20k(rear diff 2013 with e-locker). It was dark grey with a ton of fine sparkles like a nice metallic paint. I got scared, bought a gold plug(really strong magnet plug) and changed it 2 more times over the following year. Now it is staying very clean looking and no sparkles.

 

Nada...the tech showed it to me and it just wouldn't turn.

 

I would’ve been sick...you never know I guess.

 

Yup...crappy feeling, but what can ya do.

None of the techs had ever seen that happen.

 

Yeah, I tow like 6 hours a year. I don't do any real off roading besides the beach and I am always in 4Hi, never lock the rear. I hope that it isn't trashed.

 

ALWAYS change out the original oil within the first 10k miles, preferably 5k miles. Then every 30k after that. Gear oil is cheap, pinion bearings and ring and pinion gears are not. Most that go a long time on original oil end up trashing ring n pinion due to worn pinion bearings.

 

I run it hard only a few times a year, so I change the differential fluid every 60,000 miles using synthetic 75w90. Mine is the base with the open differential so the LSD is a non-issue.

 

I try to change between 60-80k. I just put 80w-90 (mixed with a little bit of 85-140) in the rear and 75-90 in the rest. I do not care about synth/non-synth as it doesn't matter to me, just get the proper API rating. FWIW Supertech full syn 75-90 is about $6 a quart at walmart.

Make sure to clean off the drain plug magnet really well before reinstalling so that it can effectively pick up crap.

 

I changed front and rear dif at 30K miles. The front dif did not need it. From here on out I am planning to do the rear dif at 60K (every 30K miles) and the front dif at 90 K (every 60k miles).

 

I noticed the same. Went for a drive to warm up the oil before dumping, and when I got to the front diff, it was cold. I put in 4hi and did another highway run, then drained. Nice and warm, but fluid looked brand new.

 

50k

 

this a little overthought, think about all the tow rigs that have never been changed. Family has an 03 F250 with a Cummins, 235k miles on truck body, all that work and never a differential oil change.

In my tacoma I have ARB's front and rear, so I'll probably do it once I hit 50k miles then have the free time.

 

Wow, so many opinions. I was scared that at 65k and not knowingif it had been ever changed that I might have worn the diff down prematurely and harmed it. But doesn't sound like I have. No lsd, tow 2 times a year, beach driving is about all the off road I do

 

I have never changed different oil in any of my vehicles except my VMAX.

Maybe at 200k I'll do it along with first sparkplug change. 192k miles and running strong .

 

Toyota recommends to change it every 30K miles. If you tow or off road often then you should follow that plan. If you are driving under normal conditions then every 50K should be fine. Honestly the service is ridiculously easy, you don't even need to jack up the truck. It's cheap insurance in my opinion.

 

if you have a Gen 3 (2016 or later), I strongly urge you to change the rear end differential fluid at 30,000 miles and have the technician look carefully for shavings and a cracked spline. I waited till 90,000 miles and Toyota bought me a brand new differential gear labor included. The engine change in the Gen 3 changed the drive train and it looks like more stress is put on the rear u-joint and the spline gear.

I was lucky and my service manager talked Toyota into comping the whole thing. You might not be so lucky.

Just sayin'