New Truck. Very low oil level in rear differential.

I just purchased a new 2010 4 cyl Tacoma, 2 WD.
Checked oil levels when I brought it home. Rear differential hardly had any oil. I could not reach any oil when I stuck my finger onto the inspection hole. Drained the oil and measured - 1.3 Qts. The manual calls for 3.6 Qts.
Local dealer that sold the truck said they don't check diff and manual transmission oil during predelivery inspection.
I'm concerned about the rest of the truck quality. Manual tranny shifts crappy too and gas mileage sucks.
Do you guys check fluid levels after new vehicle purchase? Did anyone else had similar low oil problems?

 

Haven't checked it, honestly never really crossed my mind to check the rest minus the engine oil every fill up to look for consumption like normal.

As for the shifting, you did test drive it right? Most people dislike the manual setup on the Tacoma as it's not a normal setup.

 

Yes I test drove it. It was stiff to shift but it seems to be getting worse. Not it shifts with a clunk from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3rd gear. Shifting feels very notchy too. Can't engage first gear unless the truck comes to complete stop. Sometimes reverse is very hard to engage. I'm affraid to brake the shifter lever. I ordered MT-90 GL4 manual transmission fluid and will change soon.
I wanted a manual tranny only. That was one of the major reasons I bought a Tacoma. Nissans have no leg room and their interior sucks.
I think this is the last japaneese vehicle for me. I owned new Hondas, Toyotas. Nothing but problems and warranty sucks too. Proving that there is a problem is like pooling teeth.
So far the best vehicle I ever owned was and still is a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Still have it and after 12 years of frequent off-roading and trailer towing it still runs like new. Can't say that about Toyotas. I'm very frustrated.
But back to the subject. Check your rear differential fluid level! There is a good chance my truck was not the only one.
There was another thing that was weird. The diff case had air pressure in it. It almost seems like the breather is not working properly. Or do they have a spring loaded breather valve (very unlikely)?

 

have you tried a short throw? i dont know if they make one for your truck though

 

I think they make a short throw add-on for my truck. Is it worth it?

 

Well shit. You wanna buy my 00' WJ?

 

Considering the ammount of floods we have yours maybe flood truck with plugged rear diff breather. that would explain low oil level and air. Hardly function of toyota more like the crappy dealer. Call Toyota

 

Yes, the air pressure is normal. It's a spring loaded breather. If you look on the mods and tutorials, there is the cheap diff breather mod relocation if you plan to drive through any higher water (being a 2wd 5 lugger I doubt it). Mine had air pressure too and the truck was off probably about 2 hours at that point, though still almost 105F out. The relocation mod replaces the spring load with a straight through one way breather to where-ever you chose to relocate. Common spot is to drill a hole in the gas cap area so it's out of the elements, out of sight, and secured well.


As for the shifting, keep in mind the truck does a rev hold and doesn't just drop rpm's like most cars do. The clutch also feels very disconnected and is a pretty sloppy setup. I know a lot of people put a short shifter on and were much happier, getting crisper shifts, making the gates all the time, removed the slop.... something to consider. Also it's possible the clutch is mal-adjusted if you're not fully disengaging.

 

Does not look like it was flooded. Everything looked fine, no rust or mud on the underbody. The oil that came out had no water in it. I refilled it with Mobil 1 75-90 full synthetic. It took a little over 3.5 qts, just like the manual said.

 

What you said about the breather makes sense. Thanks, you saved me time to remove and inspect it.
I checked the clutch free play and it seems normal. Although it's a weird setup. It almost looks like they retrofitted the manual transmission into a truck that was designed for an auto tranny. The clutch cylinder is inside the cabin. I also removed the foot rest. It really interfered with the clutch pedal.

 

Ok but breather creates vacuum not a pressure, its a spring with rubber washer. pressure can only happen if breather is clogged so what did you had vacuum or pressure ?

Thats what you wrote

 

It could have been just over the axle and then pressure washed. So not really a proof.

 

Not sure if pressure or vacuum is normal, but I have had an axle seal go on a toyota rearend. I remember pulling the fill plug and hearing a hissing sound. There was oil leaking onto my brakes when this happened. I then cleaned the breather with solvent and changed the axle seals. I checked the fluids on that truck very often and I never heard any hissing when pulling that plug again.

 

Uh, technically pressure is correct. Vacuum just means the pressure is lower to the external source of pressure (in this case atmosphere)

Though I still think the diff would have a higher pressure as heat causes the gasses to expand, not retract.

 

My rear differential made the same hissing noise when I changed it. It was also low, while not as low as yours. Mine had maybe two quarts in it. There was not a lot of metal in the oil, so I am not too concerned. TBH, none of the oil (Front Differential, transfer case, or manual transmission) had the correct amount of oil in them. All were a least a quart low. Checked no leaks either. I suspect the robot that puts the oil is was off that day.

 

BUMP.
Anyone else checked oil levels in their new trucks lately?

 

i just checked my rear diff... pressurized but full.... 2010 AC 2.7 5spd 4x4

 

I recall mine having the proper amount when I ditched all the factory fills for synthetic at 1000mi.