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

This might be a dumb question, but I was at autozone yesterday and bought gear oil to do both my front and rear differential. At the time, for some reason I didn't think I had the Limited slip differential, so I just bought regular synthetic 75-90W gear oil. To my dismay, I looked under the truck and scraped away some dirt and found the "LSD Oil Only" sticker. DOH! Thinking back to the parts store, there were bottles of gear oil that said "LSD Gear Oil" in various weights, which I steered away from at the time because of my ignorance. I was gonna return the gear oil I bought yesterday and go back and buy the LSD gear oil. Is that the right stuf to get or would I be okay with using the regular gear oil that I already have and just buying the tube of additive?

 

You da man Chris. So I already bought the Mobil 1 synthetic gear oil 75-90w, without the additive. Should i return it and get a non synthetic gear oil in the same weight?

 

Thanks for the info

 

I'm running Mobile 1

$29 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 and I had to add a 2nd bottle of the

$12 FORD XL3 Genuine Ford Fluid XL-3 Friction Modifier Additive - 4 oz.

FORD XL3 friction modifier....no more chatters.

Just an option for ya....

 

Hi folks. I am new to this forum, and my 2000 tacoma with 142K miles. I want to change my rear diff oil(4x2). Reading the manual mentions about the LSD type. I am not sure if I have a lsd. Any input is welcome.

 

Just look for a sticker on your rear axel that says LSD if you dont have one you dont need the additive

 

Have a few questions before i do this. I am wanting to change the front dif, transfer case, and rear dif. fluids all at the same time.

Here is what i have.
2010 4x4 with the little push button locking dif. 57,000miles on it


so from what i have read so far i need the following
about 4qts of 75/90w Royal Purple or Mobile 1
1) 4oz LSD additive
and the crush washers for all plugs

Important steps:
Soak all plugs with WD40 the night before
bust fill plug loose before even touching the drain plug

Is this correct

 

Thank you Chris4x4

 

my '08 4x4 now with 45000 miles, and I just changed the oil & air filter today. no idea if the previous owner did the front / rear Diff so that'll be my next project.... next weekend I hope.

 

Might as well do your transfer and tranny while you're at it!

 

Hate to be a dead horse but Im a little confused. I have an 06 Sport 4x4. do i need the additive?

 

Do you have the LSD sticker?

 

what do you do with the used diff oil? is it same as motor oil? drop off at nearest Oreillys?

 

Yep... I usually store all my fluids/oils and drop them all off at local hazardous waste events. You can find a schedule on the OC city website.

This saves multiple trips to the store and no hassle to have to dump liquid yourself... Just load in your bed, drive through the event, and they take the fluid.

 

Went to the Toyota of Round Rock dealership down here in Austin and asked him what kind of rear diff oil I needed. I figured I'd get it from them since I wasn't sure (I am now, after reading this whole post). Can you believe he gave me 2 QUARTS (wrong, I needed 3) of 75W-140 (NO! I needed

$29 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90) and the tube of friction additive (NOPE! It's a 2009 with the Auto LSD. The stupid dealer couldn't even get that right! Not just one, not just two, but three separate mistakes that could have boned my rear diff. I was so mad when I found out. I have to go back in for some minor warranty work tomorrow (the squeaky rear springs TSB), but honestly, after that major screwup I'm never going to that place again. What a joke! On the plus side, after reading this post I got three quarts of Valvoline synthetic 75w-90 and did the job myself in about an hour. Piece of cake. Thanks for all the help here. I'll never believe that "The Mighty Dealer" has a clue again.

 

Chris, Brian,

Your contributions and patience on this forum are incredible to say the least.

I have read this entire post and wish many members would. It would eliminate a lot of repeat questions about servicing the fluids. I lost count of how many times you had to repeat in different posts 3 quarts of fluid for the rear diff.

Great job gents!

Thank you!

Dave

 

Just drained mine until it stopped dripping (about 2.75 qts came out), then put the new oil in. However, it only took 2.5 qts of the new oil before it began running out of the fill port. I jacked the rear tires off of the ground, spun them backward and forward for a few minutes, then tried adding more oil - it only took about 1 more ounce. I waited several more minutes, tried again, but it only took about half an ounce. Is it always this slow of a process trying to fill the last 1/2 qt?