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Rear differential fluid

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Frankenstein09, Mar 4, 2019.

  1. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:23 AM
    #21
    DriverSound

    DriverSound Señor Member

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    What's the reason for no synthetic?
     
    AR15xAR10[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:27 AM
    #22
    AR15xAR10

    AR15xAR10 AR10 is 5 ARs better

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    You’re correct. My mistake.

    Its the same as the axle nut on my motorcycle, just had to check since its the one i always leave out on the top of the tool box haha
     
    Frankenstein09[OP] likes this.
  3. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:31 AM
    #23
    AR15xAR10

    AR15xAR10 AR10 is 5 ARs better

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    Can cause seal failure.

    Lots of people running synthetic end up blowing out pinion seals or axle seals. The more sliperry the fluid, the easier it can leak.

    I had it happen to me and East Coast Gear Supply told me to run Lucas 85-140w conventional in my drivetrain. Switched to that and have had no issues since.



    Horror story, i ran synthetic in mine (BG synthetic) and my pinion seal failed. Had a shady shop replace it because i was afraid to do it myself. Less than 10k miles later my pinion bearing failed because they didn’t set the backlash on the pinion properly when they replaced the seal (VERY IMPORTANT that the nut goes back where it was!!!). Ended up replacing the whole third member (center section) with a new one from ECGS.

    EDIT:
    I have since learned more about toyota factory rear ends. They use a crush sleeve on the pinion to set the backlash from the factory. This is a one time use item. So, that means if you take the pinion apart, you have to replace the crush sleeve or reset the backlash with spacers.

    so when i replaced the third member, i replaced it with an ECGS factory replacement with spacers instead of a crush sleeve. 1000% better.
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2020
    KTM753 and DriverSound[QUOTED] like this.
  4. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:45 AM
    #24
    MattCowsmasher

    MattCowsmasher ( -_・)ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘

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  5. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:45 AM
    #25
    Accipiter13

    Accipiter13 Well-Known Member

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    Wrong. Sample size n=1 does not mean everyone that runs synthetic will blow axle seals as a result. You run conventional and rarely change it for 150k+ miles and then switch to synthetic? Sure, you might see some leaks That are exposed by a change and the inherent proprieties of synthetic. That isn’t the fault of the synthetic, it’s your fault for improper maintenance.

    Run a syn at the 30k recommended intervals? Likely Enjoy a functional, leak-free diff for as long as you operate the vehicle.
     
    dipstiktaco and CanisLupus like this.
  6. Mar 4, 2019 at 11:50 AM
    #26
    Armkb

    Armkb Well-Known Member

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  7. Mar 4, 2019 at 12:11 PM
    #27
    Lester Lugnut

    Lester Lugnut Well-Known Member

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  8. Mar 4, 2019 at 12:22 PM
    #28
    GMan8402

    GMan8402 Well-Known Member

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    You must be getting oil squeezed from the finest gears in Japan for that price.
     
  9. Mar 4, 2019 at 12:30 PM
    #29
    la0d0g

    la0d0g Its 4 o’clock somewhere

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  10. Mar 4, 2019 at 1:27 PM
    #30
    Accipiter13

    Accipiter13 Well-Known Member

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    Hyundai recommends Quaker state motor oil. Ford- motor craft, etc. same situation.

    They likely get a discount/and or other benefits for recommending Lucas oil. Notice how it’s not just conventional, but LUCAS conventional? Please.

    Run a syn or conventional at the 30k change interval and don’t worry about it. But let’s not go down the “syn will make your diff leak and that we should only use conventional” road. Total hogwash.
     
    blu92in99 likes this.
  11. Mar 4, 2019 at 1:41 PM
    #31
    la0d0g

    la0d0g Its 4 o’clock somewhere

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    I'm not worried about it and was simply sharing the link for folks to reference. I'm running four diffs from ECGS and with the difference in pricing across oil brands being negligible I choose to use what they recommend.
     
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  12. Mar 4, 2019 at 3:25 PM
    #32
    AR15xAR10

    AR15xAR10 AR10 is 5 ARs better

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    Negative. Whats wrong is your improper assumption of my mileage. I didn’t even have it in my truck for 20k miles before it started leaking. So you know nothing.

    I did not say, “don’t run synthetic.” I said its not recommended.



    I said a reputable company, told me, they do not recommend people to run synthetics in toyota differentials. I didn’t develop that opinion solely from my one sour experience. I was given that informed opinion from a company that specializes in drivertrains and has done tens of thousands of these trucks.

    I service my shit more often than anyone you know or can bring me. Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups.
     
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  13. Mar 4, 2019 at 5:58 PM
    #33
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    I run nothing but synthetic. 120K and no seal problems. Runs significantly cooler
     
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  14. Mar 4, 2019 at 6:17 PM
    #34
    AR15xAR10

    AR15xAR10 AR10 is 5 ARs better

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    You have temperature readings to prove this? ;)
     
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  15. Mar 4, 2019 at 6:30 PM
    #35
    DirtTaco

    DirtTaco Well-Known Member

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    Not sure what temp mine runs at, how about with the synthetic? How do I measure that?
     
  16. Mar 4, 2019 at 6:38 PM
    #36
    Chiloquin_Car_Care

    Chiloquin_Car_Care homie dont play that

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    350!!!!! yikes!
    the fluid is $40-50 for synth
    get 4 of these-
    https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...COiEwVZHOCl1KeYU0QUaAsw7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

    its a no brainer
    you will need a 24mm socket, torque wrench & a pan to catch old fluid & replacement crush washer for drain bolt
    it will smell helllllla bad...get ready to barf....especially if you are overdue for fluid swap

    remove fill bolt first
    place pan under drain bolt & remove drain plug & let it drain

    drink a beer
    examine the drain bolt magnet for large chunks of metal
    (there will be a fine gray dust/paste on the magnet...this is normal...any big flakes or chunks could be a sign of future diff issues)
    drink another beer
    shake the truck (not necessary but always fun)
    reinstall drain bolt with new crush washer
    refill the diff via upper fill bolt (you will put in more than 3 but less than 4 of the quarts)
    fill until fluid is running out of fill hole (steady 1/8' wide stream roughly)

    torque both bolts to 40 ft-lb (I believe one is 36 & the other is 40, but I just do them both to 40)

    it is most ideal to do this procure on level (or near level) ground

    enjoy the fresh lub on the rear end...I always feel slightly more peppy after changing the rear end gear oil
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  17. Mar 4, 2019 at 6:53 PM
    #37
    Chiloquin_Car_Care

    Chiloquin_Car_Care homie dont play that

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    as far as the synth convo....
    here is my story
    I ran the stock factory fluid from 2 miles to 90k miles (I missed 5 rear fluid swaps, as the manual calls to change it every 15k miles)
    then I put in valvo synthetic 75w-90 every 15k miles (started to follow the every 15k maint guide from 90k to 305k)

    never had a single drop of gear oil leak from any seal associated with rear diff/carrier/axle

    I dont think it matters whether you use standard or sythn gear oil
    rather that you change it every 15k miles as toyota specs

    furthermore, if yo plan to keep a tacoma for 100-150k miles
    you could probably get away with never changing it
    but if you want to get into high mileage with a taco its best to keep up on this
    critical powertrain point
     
  18. Mar 4, 2019 at 7:03 PM
    #38
    TacomaSport86

    TacomaSport86 2010 Tacoma/2016 4Runner Pro

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    I follow the guidelines from Toyota, every 30k miles. 174k on it with zero issues using the cheapest fluid i can find.
     
    TacomaMike37 likes this.
  19. Mar 4, 2019 at 7:12 PM
    #39
    Accipiter13

    Accipiter13 Well-Known Member

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    Irony. I see it.

    I won’t bother with any response save for: at Toyota’s recommended interval (30k), you could run whatever you wanted without undue wear. Your outlier experience does not mean that synthetics aren’t perfectly acceptable for Toyota diffs - the dozens of high mileage examples of that (within this thread and throughout the site) are a larger sample size than your n=1.

    Also, one company recommending a single brand should be cause for a rationale observer to pause and take note. Could they have ulterior motives? Perhaps a monetary agreement? It’s a small company, maybe the owner is a dirt track fan and appreciates what Lucas oil does for that scene (I know I do). Any one of a million possibilities other than “synthetics make Toyota diffs leak.”

    Relax dude.
     
    dipstiktaco likes this.
  20. Mar 4, 2019 at 7:15 PM
    #40
    Markcal

    Markcal Well-Known Member

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    When I changed my rear, front, transfer, and manual transmission oil I never took it out for a drive right before changing it. Does it matter if I didn't do this?
     
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