3rd Gen Differential and Manual Transmission (6MT) Fluid Change

I'm leaning towards risking it for now. I promise I'll report back at the first sign of trouble , scouts honor

 

Just a PSA, if you use Redline 75w-85 GL5 gear oil for your differentials this pump

$9 Plews 55001 Lubrimatic Fluid Quart Pump, Fits Standard Quart Bottles

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQW5LK?ie=UTF8&psc=1 will not fit the Redline quart bottles. It’ll fit down in the bottle but not screw on the smaller neck. It pumped a little over half. With a bit of refilling the half spent bottles then finally cutting the last bottle’s neck down to where the the pumps tube could reach the bottom I made it work.

On a side note the used oil that was drained from my 2016 OR with 25,552 miles looked pretty decent with no big metal shavings.

 

Looks like you had a nice assortment there brother!

 

That is the same one that I grabbed and used. A minor PITA, but no big deal. I did clean and refill a Redline bottle with diff lube to do those once I couldn't draw more out of the gallon jugs.

Worth the effort considering the cost of the pump and lube. I may hit it again at 60k unless we get a trailer before then.

 

There's other stuff in the background...lets just call it the 2500 dollah 100k kms proactive maintenance refresh

 

Ouch, but its also worth it too as the truck will last you a long time and give peace of mind.

 

Oils were about 800, rims tires 1200, brakes 3 hundy, spark plugs 1 hundy...bilstein rears 1 hundy, ADM, shit adds up. I went over board but figured it's on the hoist, may as well do it

 

So I just changed my rear diff fluid after a 500 mile break in on my new gears. Filled it till it came out the fill hole, waited for it to stop dripping and torqued to spec. Drove around for a bit, went to check level. When I took the fill plug out, fluid spewed out me. I let some of it come out and then replugged the hole. This was right after driving so the fluid was warm.
Is this normal? Part of me is wondering if I need to refill it now to make sure the level is right...

Any advice?

 

Expansion heating...should be fine

 

Should I top off when it cools? Or just leave it alone.

 

I dunno dood. I changed mine up and didn't burp it otherwise when hot. If you're uncomfortable with present state, top it up when its cold,cap it and fuggetaboutit

I'm not a mechanic lol

 

You're going to get a lot of entrained air when driving and with heat. I'd top it up cold and leave it.

 

Changed the rear diff fluid at 23k. Jacked up from the hitch to give me more room but it wasn’t necessary. Fluid came out ok and a normal amount of sludge on the magnet. Transmission and front diff up next.



Awesome writeup, thank you!

 

6MT fill and drain plug gaskets/flat washers are the same as the transfer case ones shown in pic (top right corner)?

Can someone confirm they have used these with no leaks?

 

@TacoTim85

$13 GENUINE TOYOTA GASKET KIT FOR TRANSFER AND DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017V4BAXI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used the T-Case washers for the MT and seemed to be identical to what I pulled out. No leaks at all (used the same kit at two different changes).

OA

 

Thank you! Just wanted to double check.

 

Can confirm

 

Thank you, sir.

 

Been a while since i've visited this post---but im coming up to 30k this spring and thought i'd start to get the oil and supplies ready for the fluid changes, what is everyone recommending for the manual trans and diff fluid? Last i read, for the MT some really loved the Ford

$34 Ford Genuine Fluid XT-M5-QS Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid - 1 Quart, Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NUES82 or RL

$23 Red Line 50304 MT-90 75W-90 GL-4 Manual Transmission and Transaxle Lubricant (MTL)- 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPCBEQ

And

AMSOIL Full Synthetic Severe Gear Lube 75W-90 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/AMSOIL-SYNTHETIC-Severe-75W-90-Quart/dp/B008SBHXJ4 for the diffs

Thoughts??

 

Well, those are the three that everyone recommends. The only experience that I have is with Redline on three vehicles so far. One had notchy shifting and struggles getting into 1st at a stop that three different versions of OEM fluid didn't help, but Redline solved it long term. It was a natural choice for the two that followed, esp after the Taco struggled a few times getting into 1st. The Taco has about 25k on the MT-90 at this point. I have zero complaints.