Diff oil change while level?

Going to change out diff oils soon. I know why it's important to be level while doing this but is it ok to be a tad unlevel. I have a gravel driveway that isn't totally level. No drastic downhill or leaning of the truck. Eyeballing, it is mostly level. Can I just fill it up until dribbles out and call it good?

 

Yep, only drastic angles are a concern, it will be more than good.

Make sure not to over tighten the front diff plugs, they can seize over time and you'll hate yourself in 5 years.

 

^^ that. My townhouse parking lot is unlevel also,. Since theres no dipstick check and you gotta use the good old finger in the diff method, or the dribble. I did find when I went to open up the fill plug on the tcase it was seeping out kinda quick, so next time I'll Park the truck with the front end angled downwards. Im a stickler about over/under filling and so I measure what comes out and compare the numbers to how much should be in there to know if last time it was too high or low.

 

Great. Thanks! Just wanted to double check...since I just did my tranny the other day and kept track of oil out. Thnx for easing my mind.

 

You'll be fine. This is a job that's actually tough to screw up lol.

 

Why did you change the tranny fluid out already?

 

Read on here somewhere to change out tranny fluid at 500 miles on new vehicle and diffs shortly after. Then engine oil at 1000. Seems logical to me with new high speed moving metal parts to drain and fill early? Not really sure if it matters but doesn't cost all that much to make me a little more at peace with everything.

 

Switched to red line mt90. First day after change everything was super smooth even more so than before. Then next day thing we're pretty notchy. Then after another few days was back to being pretty silky smooth. Not sure what was going on in there.

 

I used to change out my fluids quickly after purchase, but I never keep my vehicles for more than a year or two due to my low attention span haha. I've always agreed to getting rid of factory oil, but there's nothing wrong with any method as long as its consistent.

 

I plan on keeping this truck till the wheels fall off. Hopefully that will be quite a way down the road. Never owned a brand new vehicle before so pretty excited knowing everything that has been done to it.

 

Use a floor jack or jack stands if you are concerned it is at too much of an angle... ramps are easier if you have them. If you have a lift kit, it is okay to overfill slightly to keep your pinion bearing lubed, otherwise, just fill until it dribbles out slightly. And, a personal preference... torque your plugs so you don't have a miserable time getting them off the next time you do it.

 

Thanks for the advice! Will torque to spec.

 

That's cool, just curious.

 

Well my 2002 Tundra V8 AC ran as good as it did when I bought it off the dealer fourteen years ago. Hopefully this Tacoma will follow suit.

 

You had to bring up the Tundra! Had mine for 16 years. This pic was taken the day before I sold it, still looked and drove like new. Sniff sniff.

 

Where did you use the MT90? I have it in my xfer case as it's GL4, but the diffs need a GL5. For the Diffs, I used their

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 GL5 gear oil

 

Yes you want to fill it till it starts running out fill hole. 75-90 synthetic gear oil

 

automatic transmission is the one thing where it has to be dead-perfect level


the rest of the fluid items can be 'hmm, sorta ok level'

 

Used the mt90 in my manual tranny.

 

Hope so. My 2002 sport 4Runner is at 180,000 and running strong. Had my timeing belt and water pump changed on it last year and hope it lasts well in to the future. Plan on this taco to do the same.