What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Yeah see, but that requires some gumption lol. I just decided to leave mine off during the rebuild of the front end. I have the OME 883's and I don't do fast corners anyway... it doesn't seem to have much roll for what I do anyway

 

I run stock suspension with a spacer on the 99 am without a sway bar, doesn’t bother me.
But this is my commuter for school so I better not.

 

How often do you guys change your diff gear oil? Preferably for those who wheel their trucks.
Cause I know you can get away with a lot longer intervals if you're just driving it to and from work & all that.

 

I do it once a year, so every ~15k miles give or take

 

30k miles. That's with ADD too so my front diff is always moving when I'm moving

 

I just found it was easier to replace the diff.

 

Ooof

 

It modded a drain hole into Itself

 

Do you run diff breathers? Synth or Dino oil? Wheeling isn't all equal IMO. I assume you are meaning a more hardcore style of wheeling, in which I could see that having a much greater impact. Otherwise I "wheel" my rig but I doubt I abuse my diff oil much more than street driving.

The way I see it is, folks usually approach it one of two ways. They either run Synthetic and try to go longer intervals between changes and hope for improved protection during that time. Or they run Dino, tried and tested and change fluid more frequently.

The way I handled this during my trucking days was to test the oil to figure out interval. So I might likely do something the same with my Tacoma. Pick a reasonable and conservative change interval to start and save a sample of the fluid for examination by a qualified lab. If you get the results back and no issues and oil stability is still high, add more time before the next change. This will give you other insights into the condition of your diff also.

But I bet someone will be along soon to explain a much better and simpler means of doing it

 

True. Lots of variables. I run Lucas 85w-140. ARB air lockers f&r. Definitely hard on them.

I currently get my engine oil analyzed, but should really do that for all the fluids ideally.

 

Just take it off long enough to figure out if it’s causing the noise. Don’t corner hard while it’s off and you should be fine.

 

How much does it cost to get your oil done? Do you use blackstone? I think that’s the name

 

I think you nail the explanation!

 

I’ve changed mine once in the last 40k who knows how many times it was done before. Wasn’t my truck then.

 

Sway bar??? Whats that? Should i add that too my list?

I was doing every 25k.....i may be way over now. My back issues had made me a lazy fucker. Those skids are heavy..lol

 

I’ve got a spare if you need it

 

Did my Downstream sensor today on my 02’ manual V6.

Thanks to a swivel ratchet with a long socket I did the job in less than 30 mins. Ofcourse I didn’t have to deal with any rust.

 

Once a year... actually, this year I've done it twice on the rear axle. lol

I change the oil in the diff, and tcase in the winter. Also drain and fill my trans at the same time. (this year the rear has been done twice because I had to replace the axle bearings) (I'm not to worried about replacing front diff oil, cause I'm manual hub)

 

I think it's $30 now. You can have them send you a free kit.

I'm manual hub as well. So the front diff will be a way longer interval than other fluids in the truck.

Seems like 25-30k is a good round number to shoot for based on the range that everyone does theirs at. Thanks for the input guys.