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

Are crush washers needed on the plugs? I plan to change mine in the near future but didn't see any mention of washers being needed. This may have been addressed but I'm too lazy to read through all 85 pages.

 

Yes, they have crush washers. I re-used mine but all depends on the condition of the old one.

 

Changed mine today and picked up the crush washers for $1.50 each at the stealership. I'm sure I could have picked them up cheaper online but didn't want to wait. Great writeup and made the process very simple.

Keep up the good work and thanks for saving me $$$. Changed my plugs last week thanks to this site also!

 

Yes.... FYI - they're two different sizes.

I went to my dealership and told the guy I needed 1 for each (front & rear) and he gave me two of the exact same size.

It wasn't until my diff was empty that I discovered there are two different sizes. I had to reuse the one - luckily, it hasn't leaked yet.

 

LOL yea i have the oh so great mechanical LSD that came factory installed on my 06 Prerunner

 

Crush washers are no big deal, i still have the original oil pan washer. 11yrs and 190,000mi later still using it.

 

Don't know if it has ever happened on a truck or not, but I've seen many cracked aluminum engine cases on motorcycles from reusing crush washers. Some of the washer gets pushed into the hole between the bolt and the female threads and eventually wedges a crack

 

Ok so I have a 2011 TRD off road Prerunner no sticker on the diff. My question is do I need the LSD additive or not ?

 

Nobody from i believe 2009 and up needs LSD additive, they are not mechanical LSD's. You being a TRD off road definatley do not.

 

Yea i definatley need to replace it, better safe that sorry i guess.

 

Ok awesome . Thanks for the info !!

 

I've been reading for hours most of the pages on this thread.

I have a 07 trd sport pack with the lsd sticker.

Been to autozone today and could not find any non syntethic oil.

By experience I would be curious what specific non syntethic oil would you guys recommend for the rear and what specific ls aditive

Few options that I came up with so far, but please add to it. Would appreciate others input by experience.

Aditive:

GM 1052358 - some say they like it

CRC

$15 SL2411 -4 fl oz

SL2411 Equa -Torque Differential Friction Modifier, 4 Wt Oz - as the post mentions

$16 CRC 402508 Trans-X Posi Trac Limited Slip Gear Oil Additive - 7 Fl Oz

CRC 402508 Trans-X Posi Trac Limited Slip Gear Oil Additive, 7 Fl Oz - looks like would do the same job as the crc 4oz option

Oil with aditive:

Dexron LS

$26 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 Gear Oil - by Gm with aditive already added in it

Oils:

75W90 NS GL-5 Gear Oil RedLine

MT-90 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil RedLine

Severe Gear® 75W-90 Amsoil

Any one experienced better results with a specific?

Would like to purchase one of this and change the diff oil asap.

Last q: what would be best option for the front diff oil?

thanks in advance

 

I use

$14 FORD XL3 Ford Genuine XL-3 Friction Modifier Additive - 4 oz.

FORD XL3 friction modifier - bought at Ford dealer (with Mobile

$26 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90). You can actually buy this stuff online/ Amazon.

We've used Amsoil Severe Gear in our Corvette - has done nicely in the corvette.

Each situation is different. Amsoil is a synthetic. Since I use synthetic, I've had to use extra modifier to keep the diff / prevent rumbles & such.
If you use synthetic and/or a synthetic oil with the friction modifier already in it, you may (or may not) need to add more modifier.

 

Isn't Mobile 75w90 a synthetic oil? Is it ok to use synthetic oil?

thank you

 

Yes its OK but you may have to use more friction modifier as stated.

 

Great write-up! Just did this today on my 07 Sport. Used Castrol non-syn with LSD additive. Also did the t-case and front diff but used Mobil 1. Thanks!

 

I had clutch grab(inside tire grabbing on a turn) with Mobil 1 LSD and RP, but smooth as silk with RP plus MOPAR LSD additive

 

I was at the Toyota dealer yesterday, and I was told they use the FORD additive!
I've been using MOPAR

 

Thxx

 

I have a 2014 tacoma prerunner 4.0.. Do I need the lsd additive? And should I buy the fluid at the dealer? Or what do you guys recommend? Thx a lot