Transfer case service on the 2016+

Hello all. I have driven tacomas since the beginning. I now have a 2016 tacoma and tow a travel trailer a lot. Just getting comfortable with servicing the gen3 tacomas. A lot is the same. But much is different. I love how they deleted the zero fittings on main driveshaft. Thanks for that toyota. But that's a different subject.

I headed off into the manual for the oil specs on the new 3rd gen tacoma driveline service. 75w-85 gl-5 in the differentials. No problem. Redline makes a great 75w-85 gl-5. Ordered up 6 qts from Amazon. Then I looked up to the transfer case oil in the manual. It states "Toyota Genuine Transfer gear oil LF or equivalent". It states sae 75w. No problem right. Just find 75w LT. Started my internet search. 75w LT does not exist! Local auto parts suppliers never heard of it. It appears toyota is the ONLY supplier that makes this evidently special oil. I called redline and one of their engineers said toyota is refusing to release a specification for this oil so no other manufacturers can make it. So they cannot offer or recommend an equivalent. My suspicion is the transfer case on the 3rd gen is the same as 2nd gen but they went to a thinner oil than the old 75w90 for fuel economy. But I don't want to get into a potential warranty issue. Book says check with the dealer. So I went to the dealer. They have never heard of this oil. I had to search up the part number of the oil online for the parts department to find it. $79/qt! And transfer case uses 1.1qts which means 2 qts needed.

Not wanting to spend that much I drained the transfer case oil and ran it through a filter. It was nearly clear when it came out, as is usually is in the transfer case. Then I put the oil back in. So I'm good for now. Oil like this doesn't really break down.

Wanted to hear how others are handling this situation. I've found the toyota oil online for $57. With shipping it's almost the same price.

 

That was pretty cagey of you to use a filter, i like it lolo!
And I believe your assessment on it being different and slightly different weight is correct. They did this with the diff going to 75w85, I changed mine at 10k with mobil1 75w90 and 12k later, all is great.
And I will be using the same as the 2nd gen transfer case oil. No way I'm spending that kind of $$ for a qt of oil, unless it breaks, then I'll change it (save the old one in a glass bottle hehe!) and take it in for warranty.

Cheers!

 

Royal Purples Synchromax is a direct replacement equivalent for Toyota LF transfer case fluid. There is a concern using any other type that may have high phosphate levels will cause damage to the soft metal bushings.
I changed out my fluid after the first 5K with the Synchromax and have put on another 13K driving across the country and in all types of conditions from blizzards in Northeast to high heat in low desert of California. No issues.
I also went to a dealership in the northeast and asked for LF transfer case fluid, the parts guy treated me like an idiot and told me they use 90W gear oil from a drum. Maybe he was new.

 

Maybe Toyota should provide the transfer case oil for free if they are not willing to provide specifications. Clearly the high price has nothing to do with the cost of this fluid but instead based on the impression that they have a monopoly on the product and you have no where else to turn.

 

The FTC says as much.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance

 

As far as I know - there are NO legit replacements for Toyota's 75W LF fluid. There's some discussion here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-6mt-fluid-change.481719/page-3#post-14712154 (posts 43-45).

I've heard, anecdotally, the same thing about Royal Purple but I have yet to see any documentation from them regarding equivalence. I'd change my tune if I saw the documentation but I don't think it exists.

About the dealer, he could have been new but what he stated is quite often the reality. There are likely countless tacos out there with the different weight fluids in their diffs and transfer cases that were all serviced by dealers. Those trucks are all fine and still on the road. That doesn't mean that there aren't long term side effects but it's probably not a risky gamble either.

OA

 

It on their website and I sent a question to them on line and they answered it for all to read in the questions section of the same website.

 

I had my hopes up when I saw the royal purple chart posted. But that chart says toyota genuine LF gear oil. Toyota is calling for Toyota Genuine Transfer gear oil LF. It specifically says "transfer". In the toyota parts manuals these are two different part numbers.

Also in my original post I didn't mean to insinuate that the dealer people didn't know what they were doing. They have so many cars to deal with I'm sure they get caught. When I had gone on and explained to service advisor he said "do you want us to just change the transfer case oil for $60". I said no let's see what the oil cost. Then I introduced them to the great oil mystery and it took even the lead mechanic by surprise. He said I'm the first 2016 to ask about it. I drive 30k a year so in a new model I've often been the first to get to challenges like this. On the way out I asked the service advisor if I had said yes what would they have put in. He was hesitant but said 75w90 conventional gear oil same as last gen. So they would have messed up. That always makes me nervous which is why I always do my own maintenance. However the first 25k are free so I have them do those and then check them to make sure all correct. After 25k my dealership has free oil and filter changes for life of truck for people who bought their vehicles there. At the prices of the synthetic oil and new style filters I do allow them to change the oil while I watch through the window. $0 is cheaper than the $40 to $50.

Long story shorter, if I went ahead and had them do the change and didn't bring up the oil mystery with them they would have put in the wrong oil. Doubtful it would have done any damage as I can't see any differences between the gen2 and gen3 transfer cases. I bet toyota went to the thinner oil for fuel economy. Every little bit helps in getting fuel economy up. I always wonder if all these thin oils are doing harm now, but they are forced to use them to meet the govt fuel economy standards. This is the reason we now have a Hylander engine instead of a real truck engine like the gen 2 v6. I'm not a big fan of this new engine. But that's for a different thread.

 

LF and LT fluids has been around for at least 7 years...

Ask the dealer what diff oil they use.
99% they'll say

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

75w-90.

Dealers do what is convenient and profitable, not necessarily correct.

 

Kind of my thoughts too. Does the transfer oil have a shelf life once opened? If not would it be a big deal to buy the 2 quarts initally, use the 1.1, assuming the bottles have those lines to let you know how much is in them, then put the lid back on and store the bottle in a dry location until next time? Then you'll just buy one next time around and use a little more of the open one again. It's not like you buy it every month.

 

I bought 2 cans when I changed mine at 5,000.
I only used 1 can; there was enough residual left in the TC for the capacity discrepancy.
I think rule of thumb on oil is 5 years, unopened.

 

Thought I read 1.1 somewhere. I'll see if I can find what I saw.

Edit: here you go https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/

Also I mentioned quarts in my original. 1.1 quart is right at 1 liter. So buy two quart bottles if available and only use a small amount of the second then store away for next time.

 

Pretty much all new cars go 100k without maintenance with the exception of motor oil, I wouldn't even worry about it till then, you will be fine, I am an older guy who was a mechanic and working on cars the better part of 40 years.. relax and just enjoy it ...

 

1.1 qt=1 L

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-transmission-6mt-fluid-change.481719/page-5

This is where I was seeing people mention quart size. Mentioned a few times but post 84 is one example I'm sure other users will be happy to see it can be had by the liter and only have to get one.

 

80W-90 In everything for me, never any problems. It's a T-Case that will most likely never see 1,000 miles.

 

Has anyone actually confirmed the quantity that came out? I'm thinking of just using the royal purple 1qt, so I'd be short 50ml which isn't much at all.