Differential fluid change

Yes and the fact that there is an oil pump with with a fine screen filter makes the use of the thicker lubes questionable.

 

Honestly, for how often you change your transfer case oil, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t just put the litre of LF fluid in. Unless it’s simply unavailable. I ended up with 75/90 in my T-case because I couldn’t buy LF in Canada at the time. Now it’s readily available at my dealer.

Anyways…….no shame in saving a dollar, but why bother with a litre of fluid you might change once every 2-3 years?

 

The Redline MT-LV is supposedly equivalent to the LF and only costs $20/qt.

 

Yeah….but still…..why chance it? Like, the Toyota stuff is shipped from Japan. Why would they bother if it wasn’t somehow special? I dunno. They don’t use Japanese engine oil.

 

Question: If I am in 2WD is the transfer case even working and is the oil pump pumping?

 

Yes, it is driven by the output shaft. If the rear wheels are turning, the pump is pumping.

 

Thanks! I better get the good stuff then. Just for perspective, my '93 4Runner has 413,000 on the odometer and I have only changed the transfer case oil once. The motor oil got it every 3K until it turned 350,000. Since then it gets it every 5K. Still going strong.

 

Question... Below is what I see from the FSM for differential gear oil.


What is SAE 90? is that

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

75w-90? Why does it recommend 80w or 80w-90 for low temperatures? I assume all of these should be fully synthetic.
Any ideas?

 

I do not recognize the chart you posted. It does not seem like it is for a 3rd Gen. For example, a rear diff in a 4WD 3rd Gen will take 4-4.2 quarts depending on model. I am not aware of any exceptions to this.

Edit: I now see there are diffs that take less than 4 quarts...? My bad. I did not think there were that many variations.

As for weight or viscosity, toyota recommends 75W-85 GL5 for both front and rear diffs in a 3rd Gen but many of us use

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

75W-90 because it is easier to find.

I do not know the answers to your other questions.

 

Ah. My bad, I did not realize this was a third gen thread. This is a chart from a 2nd gen service manual.

 

I'm not calling out anyone, just a general comment on what you see on forums like this. Members here throw so much money at custom parts made by random people in their basement with a 3D printer, custom suspensions that cause endless problems, hundreds spent on cosmetic changes, drastic changes to electrical systems, yet they won't spend an extra $50 for the spec'd lube for an expensive and critical assembly in their drivetrain. These vehicles cost tens of thousands of dollars, I don't believe a single one of you can't afford it. It's just a curious thing that's all!

 

Spending less on important shit lets you spend more on non important shit like a 2k bumper or 5k suspension

 

Stop making sense, this is the internet damnit!

 

i am having a hard time finding oil that checks all the boxes for spec's.
most include the limited slip additive.
see link, should i cancel and keep looking for the exact required oil?

$47 Valvoline SynPower SAE 75W-90 Full Synthetic Gear Oil 1 GA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B4WG2CR?ie=UTF8

 

Dang it! There I go again! Sorry everybody, carry on...

 

$117 Red Line 50105 75W85 GL-5 Full Synthetic Gear Oil for Hypoid Limited Slip Differentials - 1 Gallon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6GS5HV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

$94 Toyota Genuine Transfer Case Gear Oil LF 75W 1 Litre 08885-81080

https://www.amazon.com/TOYOTA-Genuine-Transfer-Litre-08885-81080/dp/B086R57CRP

 

AMEN

 

This stuff works great in the 3rd gen TC.

https://www.redlineoil.com/mt-lv-70w75w

 

so the red line has the limited slip additive so i assume that is not such a big deal. seems to be on most all the oil i find and if it is not the oil is not GL5.

 

I have a 2015 is this service on the service schedule? I was under the assumption it was done at the dealer but looking back in the records it hasn’t been done…. I’m going to do it myself as I’m at 65k miles. I would have imagined the dealer that recommends every little thing would have recommended doing a diff, transfer, and transmission fluid change.