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Recommended oil weight for rear differential

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Backinblack03, Jun 24, 2013.

  1. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:14 PM
    #1
    Backinblack03

    Backinblack03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It appears that everything else that rotates under the truck calls for 75W-90 gear oil. Rear end calls for SAE 90 or SAE 80 or 80w-90, all depending on the environmental temperatures. What do you guys run in climates where it will go above or below zero degrees depending on the day? Here in Vermont, anything can happen. I'm leaning towards 80w-90 full synthetic for the rear, year long unless somebody has a better idea. Oh, and the lack of rear differential cover is a bit creepy being a long time GM man...
     
    RiceBurrito likes this.
  2. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:21 PM
    #2
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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    I'd go 75-90 synthetic for Vermont... there's barely any difference but 80 might get a little gooey on those cold winter days. Either way it's not something that will make or break anything.
     
  3. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:38 PM
    #3
    ARB1977

    ARB1977 It’s a beaut Clark

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    Just like engine oil. The higher the number the thicker the oil. At opererating temp both are the same. Just thicker when cold. 75W90 and call it good.
     
  4. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:40 PM
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    Backinblack03

    Backinblack03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ABS sucks.
  5. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:49 PM
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    Alderleet

    Alderleet Ace of Spades

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  6. Jun 24, 2013 at 2:57 PM
    #6
    Backinblack03

    Backinblack03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ABS sucks.
    Manual trans for me...
     
  7. Jun 24, 2013 at 5:08 PM
    #7
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 Well-Known Member

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  8. Jun 24, 2013 at 5:14 PM
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    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Stay with the specified weight. If anything, you don't want to go thicker if you live up North. That just increases the wear. It's the same concept with motor oil. The colder it is, the "thinner" you'll want the oil to be.

    FWIW I use Castrol Synthetic 75-90 in everything that ain't combusting (you can get it at Oreillys). I don't seem to have the "clunky" shifting with the 5 speed anymore either.
     
    rackomint likes this.
  9. Jun 24, 2013 at 6:52 PM
    #9
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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  10. Jun 24, 2013 at 7:00 PM
    #10
    TACO TX

    TACO TX Well-Known Member

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    75-90 mobil 1 but i get it cheap at the local whole sale place for around $8 quart. Mobil 1 for all.
     
  11. Jun 24, 2013 at 7:06 PM
    #11
    bamadawg2009

    bamadawg2009 Member

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    Ok so what weight for rear end with detroit locker? Its getting time to change mine since I had the locker put in and I cant find anything from detroit's website as what weight to use.
     
  12. Jun 24, 2013 at 7:09 PM
    #12
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    Mine has the factory locker in the rear and while the manual says 80w-90 every knowledgeable poster here and other 4-wheel drive guys told me 75w-90 is fine. Especially for your climate in Florida
     
  13. Jun 24, 2013 at 7:17 PM
    #13
    Buckoma

    Buckoma Well-Known Member

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  14. Jun 24, 2013 at 7:26 PM
    #14
    Buckoma

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    I see you have a 1998. I don't know how many miles you have or how hard you've 4x4ed, but have you ever listened to your rear diff? After about 175,000 miles, especially if you have wheeled moderately, I recommend listening to the rear diff every time you change out the oil. Put it up and let it run with the wheels turning at idle. As best you can, stick your ear close to the diff and listen for rumbling/grinding coming from inside... an indicator things are getting pretty worn, It will also generate a little more heat. Doesn't mean the diff will explode driving down the road, but something to be aware of if it gets worse the next time and to eventually fix. I keep an "ear" on mine because I'm sometimes in some shitball trails very far from... anything.
     
  15. Jun 24, 2013 at 10:27 PM
    #15
    bamadawg2009

    bamadawg2009 Member

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    Thx Mike I've got to get on it. I need to put on diff drop and replace blown out cv boot I've got both cv axles (new) so I might as well change oils and everything while Ive got the front tore apart. I wish I had gone with a suspension lift instead of being cheap and going with spacer lift, this is the 3rd set of cv axles in 4 years since the lift was put on.
     
  16. Jun 25, 2013 at 3:27 AM
    #16
    TACO TX

    TACO TX Well-Known Member

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    How much lift you running?
     
  17. Jun 25, 2013 at 4:28 AM
    #17
    Petrol

    Petrol Well-Known Member

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    I don't think we're talking about huge differences here, 75W-90 v. 80W-90 but I will say that the rear end will "get up to temperature" fairly quickly, even in cold ambient temps. There's a lot of fluid friction and shearing action with hypoid gears (hence the GL-5 rating) I think for the life of a rear end, clean quality GL-5 rated oil is more important than the cold rating of two multi weights that are basically 90W when hot. If I recall correctly the manual transmission requires a GL-4 oil because of the brass syncro's, so using the same oil in all of the axles/gear boxes is not really a good idea.
    In the "for what it's worth" category - I run 75W-90 (GL-5) in the front differential, and transfer case, 85W-90 GL-4 in the tranny and 80w-90 (GL-5) in the rear differential. Everybody has their own opinions and sometimes is easy to start splitting hairs over little things.
     
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  18. Jun 25, 2013 at 4:31 AM
    #18
    Petrol

    Petrol Well-Known Member

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    By the way "Backinblack03", I'm running the same truck you are, 03, 2.7L, 5 speed.
     
  19. Jun 25, 2013 at 5:28 AM
    #19
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    I've wheeled pretty hard.

    And I've never listened to it.

    Thanks for the pointer. Will try to do this soon.
     
  20. Jun 25, 2013 at 5:30 AM
    #20
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    The synthetics I bought say they're good for a GL-4 and GL-5 application. :notsure:
     

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