Diff fluid change

They don't often last hundreds of thousands of miles.
Poor comparison, at best.

 

What are you even talking about with the first part of your post? And the claimed contradiction?

Engine oil - change every 5K. Coolant - change @ 5 years and then every 50K thereafter. Differential gear oil - change after 30K and then leave it be.

 

So Mobile 1 Full Synthetic 75w90 will work for front and rear diffs? I have it readily available at work

 

I was also planning on buying the Toyota OEM transfer case fluid, unless there is an alternative?

 

Yes, here is one qualifying alternative.
I just used it, albeit unnecessarily, as my transfer case fluid was still pristine @ 127K.

$27 Red Line 50604 MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 High-Performance Full Synthetic Gear Oil Lubricant for Manual Transmissions & Transaxles - 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-RL-MTL-Oil/dp/B07V1VW32J?crid=1DECJVLK11JHB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VahIafMA0zOEKfqNLPdbDrTlLri3HP97RLcyRIISTbkK5cy2rA9hBU_h03FAhYBWgE6CdBrG0wYS_FRi_-YN4tBmmts88Bbc2-I9tAuXG_a7EQp_U96yj_wmW0dDeXgVj_sGsq2oReqVi1NxVLKWMzbxg8OWVYJOohUKho0EUbxACYlg8DTYmQ-67cuHl7h8vdqD3X2R_sE7zKFEmme-dmjjjspzVCToDsYA_-GS0L4.yTBgPWosYUUYXUiL2edumDuT_nyOafgHhg08dG5ArvA&dib_tag=se&keywords=toyota+transfer+case+fluid&qid=1712704096&sprefix=toyota+transfer+case+fluid%2Caps%2C540&sr=8-3

 

And if you watch the video it says its just 75W GL-5. Designed to eek out a non measurable MPG increase, just like toyota's rear diff 75W85 vs 75W90. You can use ANY gl-5 rated lubricant. 75w90 is just fine or any of the aftermarket 75W Gl-5 oils. You will pay more for toyota's 75W than you would ever save in gas compared to a 75W90.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3le9ZT5HUlk&pp=ygUVQ2FyIGNhcmUgbnV0IGdlYXIgb2ls[/QUOTE]

 

here ls another source for hex magnetic drain plugs

https://drainplugmagnets.com/cars/toyota-lexus/

https://goldplug.com/

Just dont use the Gold Plug one for the front diff drain pug. Hex is so large you can't even get a socket around it since its so close to the differential casting. I used the one from the company above. I know, i have one sitting unused in a tool box.

 

I've yet to see anyone regret doing too much maintenance... But I've seen plenty of regret for not doing enough.
Maintenance is comparatively cheap. Replacement/repairs are not.

 

Those look nice…..are they worth replacing the factory rear drain plug?

 

Ok , you caught me... I am a sucker for anything stainless...

Worth it, probably not but they look nice... except for my 2nd gen where the rear diff drain plug was a round domed shaped allen key so wanted to get rid of that just like the front diff and its 10 mm allen. Didn't know till later that the lexus hex drain plug was available.
I even replaced the engine oil pan and the TC drain plug with one. The gold plug versions were available on Amazon... As mentioned , stay away from the one for the front diff drain plug ... Hex is just to big. All the rest are fine





Even my Remington 700 mountain is stainless/synthetic.

 

ANYTHING with the correct viscosity will work. Why does it have to be so hard? Cmon folks

 

Its not the rating for us (only 100,000 miles normal service) but Amsoil Severe gear is rated for

Heavy-Duty
Class 8
Line Haul
Follow the OEM drain interval (miles or hours) for
synthetic oil up to 250,000 miles (402,500 kilometers)
or three years, whichever comes first.

https://amsoilcontent.com/ams/lit/databulletins/g2043.pdf

IMHO these big rigs would put more stress on the differentials than us and our measly 4500 or so pounds we haul around. If they can recommend a 1/4 million miles on those I am more than satisfied with going the full 100,000 miles on mine (following the initial break in change). There is NO contamination (unless you take your tacoma swimming). I am like several others that believe that after the initial change the gear oil is go to go for quite a while. And the same goes for the TC.

Buts its only $$$ and more frequent wont hurt of course. And as always its your truck to treat anyway you wish...

 

OR Three Years, whichever comes first....
$160 in fluids every 3 years. Or $1500 per axle to fix them.

 

^lol

 

You mean the both diffs, and surely the transfer case are gonna blow if you miss that interval?..

My limited experience:

2) early / mid '90's F150 pool delivery and service trucks- (2WD) sold with 350K miles and counting - original fluid in the rear diffs - no related issues
2) 1st gen Tundra pool delivery and service trucks, (2WD) both sold with over 300K on the clock - original fluid in the rear diffs. - no related issues
1) 2018 (4WD) Tacoma - original front diff, rear diff and transfer case fluids changed @ 127K - all three fluids could have been re-bottled and sold as new.

Not my personal experience, but my brother past 250K on his (4WD) 3rd gen Tundra last week. - original diff and transfer case fluids - no related issues.

With the exception of the Tacoma, all these were / are work trucks that rarely had the engine started without a load in the bed, and were as often as not, pulling a trailer adding a few more thousand pounds to the equation.

I have other samples, but these would be the highest mileage of the bunch.

Maybe just 1.7 million miles of good luck... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Your money, your circus.

 

Indeed.

 

This is so easy, any brand of fluid with the proper viscosity and at the recommended intervals is fine. If you go longer it will be fine also.

 

That was only for big rigs unless thats what you are referring to. For normal vehicles like ours

Drain at 100,000 miles
(161,000 kilometers)
of service or according
to the owner’s manual,
whichever is longer

Notice the whichever is longer note which is sort of unique. Not time based or whatever is shorter

 

The only reason I changed my diff fluids is because I regeared to 5.29 (spins faster) and the shop filled w/ conventional oil (I wanted synthetic). My take on diff fluid, if stock, and truck driven like how it should be - check after 100k miles.

I also changed the TC fluid, because I was already underneath. The truck has 80k miles - TC fluid looked brand new. My take on TC - unless it is leaking, no need to replace.