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

Now my tacoma will spend pretty much all of its like on road. Maybe an hour or two towing a 1500lbs boat and occasional 4wd during the winter and getting up to and back from the cottage (in the winter)

The amsoil recommended change interval for their Severe Gear 75W90 is 100,000 miles normal and 50,000 mile severe service.
I would probably stick to the 50,000 interval.

Would this be OK since most of the notes seem to be recommending 30K changes (although maybe thats for dino not synthetic?)

Also, is this just something the dealer is recommending? I checked the toyota maintenance schedule all the way out to 200,000 miles and there was no mention of changing the diff oil at all (except forone reference if you had the actual LSD diff).

That isn't going to be stopping me from changing it but it would make me think that you could decline this service if the dealer is pushing it and not have to worry about warranty issues since its not on the toyota official list of required services..

 

OK, I've been reading threads and taking notes. I'm getting ready to do the Front and Rear differentials and my transfer case on my 1999 SR5 TRD 4X4 with V6 and 5 speed. I've got the rear diff locker because it is the V6. I'm planning on getting 6 quarts

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 non-synthetic gear oil and all the new crush washers and the screw on fluid pump to ease the job on the front diff and the tranny. While I'm under there I'm hitting all the zerks. I'm getting the moly fortified grease and a new grease gun just for it for the cardan joint. I have a grease gun with regular lithium based greased for all the other zerks. I'll see what else I should grease by reading other threads. I dont need any additives in my diffs correct? Anything else for this basic first service. I just got the truck three days ago with 192,000 miles. I'll put her up on 4 jackstands to start. Thanks!

Biggest question here is on the 75w-90 gear oil. I'm just going to use straight up gear oil here. The same type in the differentials and the transfer case. Right?

The more I read the more confusing the fluids question gets in my mind. Am I OK to just use Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 in the differentials, transfer case, and the manual transmission?

 

Yes for diffs and transfer case, but a maybe for the transmission (check owners manual)

Most transmissions use GL-4 oil like

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...and-transaxle-gear-lube-75w-90/?code=MTGQT-EA

GL-5 is to slippery for use in manual transmissions and the EP additives (sulphur based) will actually eat bronze synchro rings

 

Thanks babylon5! I'm headed out to buy the fluids!

 

I did it yesterday and though it was very easy to do, I managed to make a complete mess. Even dropped the spare and got oil all over. Thanks for the thread, though

 

Next time, one of these might help?

 

could have used one of those today

 

Oh Susan

 

Rear diff and transfer case done. Like one of the previous posters noted the rear diff on my 2015 took at least 3.5 quarts until it started to dribble out of the fill hole. And from every note I have read this is how you tell its full.
So why does the manual list 3.12 quarts when it seems that everyone is squeezing more in there.
I gather the way we are doing it is exactly that same as the dealer would (fill till it drips) and that they don't measure out and only add 3.12 quarts.
I went back under this morning and undid rear diff fill hole just to be sure and nothing came out so its not overfilled.

 

I bought one of those yesterday. FWIW, it didn't fit the Redline MT-90 quart bottle threads. But the pump at least fit inside the bottle and I was able to get the job done.

I think it was like 120 pumps per bottle. Oy.

 

Interesting it didn't fit the threads. Sorry, and yeah, regardless it's a lot of pumps. I know it fits Mobil 1, Valvoline, and Polaris bottles, those are the ones I've used it on.

 

Been getting geared up for nose to tail fluid changes. Finally located some Amsoil products here in Englewood, Florida. Still struggling to find a GL-4 product for the transmission. Using this in my front and rear differentials and the transfer case tomorrow: http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/gear-lube/75w-90-long-life-synthetic-gear-lube/?code=FGRQT-EA. Is the consensus that I can use this in the transmission? Its GL-5 but OK in rear axles where GL-4 is recommended. I'm still looking for a true GL-4 product for the tranny. I did grease 8 zerks today and pretty sure I got the moly in the two zerks that needed that. I've never had to bring two grease guns under a truck before today. Truck is getting smoother!

Edit: Just ordered some Redline MT-90 onlne for the transmission. Problem solved.

 

notice that had the same normal/severe recommended change frequency for light trucks as the severe gear version 100,000/50,000 miles. and it isnt listed as an EP gear lube.
Its still one that amsoil recommends.
Dont even know if the toyota diff lube is EP rated either.
And it probably smells better since the EP additive is sulpur based.

 

Need help please. I bought the differential plug gasket at my local dealership. It was a

$21 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010, which agrees with the P/N on this thread. Last week I ordered a box of 10 engine oil drain plug gaskets from Amazon. When it arrived the box listed the same part number. Are they in fact the same? Don't want to use the wrong gasket on the engine oil drain plug. If it is the wrong part number, then I guess I have enough diff gaskets for 300,000 miles. Thanks!

 

I think the engine oil drain plug is smaller than the differential fill and drain plugs. Your engine washers should be smaller than your rear differential washers. I just had all these off in the last two days but never had a chance to look at them side by side. I had no washer/gasket on my oil pan plug so I bought a half inch drain plug gasket at Advance. I reused my differential washers. Picking up new washers and a fill plug for the rear differential when I do it again in 20 or 30k. Someone got pretty happy with a 12 point 24 mm on my differential fill plug at some point.

 

the engine oil drain plug gasket is

$9 90430-12031 Genuine Toyota - Oil Drain Plug Gaskets (QTY10)

90430-12031

 

Thanks Bablyon5 and MainerDave. I asked the same question on an oil change thread and got that answer. Ordered 10 of them just now. But I'm told the diff gasket may be copper. Is that your recollection? The (supposed) diff gasket

$21 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010 the dealer sold me was silver in color.

 

Just went to Camelback Toyota's website and they say

$9 90430-12031 Genuine Toyota - Oil Drain Plug Gaskets (QTY10)

90430-12031 has been superseded and is now 90430-12028.

 

Just did mine last weekend and the diff gasket was silver

$21 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010