Rear Differential

I am at 60K miles on my 2010 v6 4wd and am planning on changing oil in the front and rear differentials and the transfer case. The manual only requires inspection of the fluids but I plan on changing them anyway. My question is do I need to use an additive to the oil? I asked a guy at the dealer service department this question and he said yes before I was able to tell him what I was driving. The manual says to use LT75W-85 GL-5 oil but does not mention any additives. I have not been able to find this viscosity oil at the auto part stores so I guess I will purchase the oil from the dealer. Any help on the need for an oil additive would be appreciated.

 

There would be a sticker next to the fill plug stating that it needs LSD additive, but if you have a 2010, you don't need additive.

 

Def go buy what the manual states, even if you pay a premium from the dealer.

 

I wouldn't be at all concerned about using

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

75w-90. No additive.

 

I didn't know gear oil came in 75w-85. But I guess it makes sense. I wouldn't have any problem with

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

75w-90, that's what I put in my diff/t-case since my manual says it's good to go.

 

I agree with the above- your good to go with 75-90. Thats what I did as well.

 

Toyota most likely specs 75W85 because they know you will have difficulty locating any and will give in and go to the dealer and pay their ridiculous pricing.

I haven't personally priced it, but I've read of people claiming $50 a quart. Unreal. Redline does make an excellent gear oil and have a 75W85 GL-5 spec gear oil that costs about $14.

Most of the guys here run 75W90 and for good reason. It's everywhere and your diff won't realize the difference between 85 or 90 weight. Amsoil, Mobil 1, Royal Purple, and Valvoline all have 75W90 GL-5 oil.

I'll be using Amsoil Severe Gear 75W90 becaue I have an actual Amsoil store near me that stocks everything and it's only $11 with preferred customer pricing.

 

Is there a way to find a list or locations of these Amsoil dealers ? I used to buy from a dealer/buddy but he's moved away .
Sarge

 

Kevin,
Try this locator. Just type in your zip.

http://www.amsoil.com/locator/index.aspx


I'm jealous you have an FJ40. When I lived in San Diego I searched and searched for a clean, non-rust bucket FJ40 and I gave up the chase. I ended up getting a very clean '82 CJ-7 and it's now looking pretty darn good. But my heart was set on an FJ40.

 

i just went to a speed shop and bought redline..

i stay ontop of my fluid changes since is use my truck hunting and can get into some messes..

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I didn't think I needed the additive since the manual didn't mention it and the differential cover didn't have the LSD sticker. I just wanted to make sure since the douche service tech told me I did.

Thanks also for the feedback regarding the viscosity of the gear oil. It sounds like most of you would just use 75W90 even though the manual specifies 75W85. I hate going against mfgr specs so I was planning on buying oil from the dealer until DirtEater mentioned $50 a quart prices. I called my dealer to check on the cost and was told they buy in bulk and don't sell quarts. He also told me if I brought my truck in for service they would use 75W90 anyway so I should just buy my oil at the auto part store. The fact that a service tech told me to use LSD additive without even asking what the hell I am driving and that they would use non spec fluid to do an oil change on my differential has really caused me to lose confidence in my dealer.

I guess I will try to hunt down some Redline 75W85, probably not worth the hassle but that's just me being me. Thanks again for all of your replies to my thread.

 

Hmm? Carefull here? Are you a sport or offroad? Guess it doesn't matter too much cause your 2010 and your limited slip rear is not a mechanical rearend (LSD) That was a waste.
Now if you where an 2005 sport with an LSD ya put the additive in. The additive just lubes the clutch packs to make it more slick. It makes them slip not grip. Though grip is good, it's a LSD and they need to slip a little and not act like a locker or spool. Without the additive it could cause premature wear on your clutch packs. (Older mechanical rear LSD diffs)
Hope that makes sence.

Thanks,

Brett

 

No additive, just get limited slip approved (will say right on front of bottle) 75w90 and be done w it.

 

I changed out my factory fill at around 11K and used Redline 75w90. I got 4 qts. pretty cheap so I couldn't pass it up. I did a used oil analysis with just under 29K on the gear oil. You can see it here -
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2938891#Post2938891

 

Additive won't hurt an open diff so it doesn't really matter but you don't really need it. Probably any place you take it will use

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

75w-90. In the end it won't make a difference. I've been running 80w-90 and 85w-90 for a while now and 75w-90 before that and there are plenty of guys running 80w-140 and other oils, plenty of toyota 3rds out there with hundreds of thousands of miles still kicking. The bearings and gears probably appreciate the thicker oil except at extreme cold (140 weight). I wouldn't hesitate to run that 75w90 in most any climate in the continuous 48. Just saying...

 

Amsoil Severe Gear® 75W-110

 

A) All 2009 + Tacomas DO NOT HAVE SPECIAL LSD ADDITIVE NEEDED, their limited slip (TRAC/ AUTO LSD) is electronic and ABS brake created.

Speed Freek (Toyota Tech) recommended Mobil 1 75/140, for best performance in the hard working rear diff.:

When my truck was 6 months old, I drove into a muddy bog, 1/4 mile long... upon return home from that Baja adventure, Toyota inspected my differential, and it was water contaminated... milky... so the fluid was changed... and I performed the rear differential breather mod... DO IT (photos in signature link below).

I had the diff oil changed the second time at 40,000 miles and the fluid was normal looking for 30,000+ miles on it, and no metal on the magnet. I changed it to Mobil 1 (75/140 in the rear)... and 75/90 in the front and transfer case... which looked like new oil in it!

 

I'm using Lucas oil non synthetic 75/140 oil in my diffs..Havnt had any issues since I switched to the Lucas from the royal purple I used to run..

 

There is a how to on here. On my phone and cant find it at the minent. All 2009+ do nit need any extra additives. I had the same ? Last weekend when I did mine.

EDIT: Here's the link.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/24545-changing-differential-fluid-step-step-how.html