Rear differential oil change. Help!

I want to change my rear differential fluid on my 2002 Tacoma 2.7L 2wd. How many quarts does it take and what kind of gear oil? 75W-90? Also what is the best way to add the new fluid? thank you.

$16 Mobil 1 Gear Oil, 75W90, Limited Slip Additive, Synthetic, 1 qt Bottle, Each

https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-104361...oil&qid=1578208006&sprefix=75w,aps,207&sr=8-3

$12 Slippery Pete 5cc Hand Pump Transfers Gear Oil, Transmission and Differential Fluids From Quart Bottles (Not for Red Line Quarts) (1)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CX4XKF...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

75w90 or 80w90 is fine to use, fill it till it comes out the fill hole then plug it up and call it a day. Personally I use supertech 80w90 and use a pump in the bottle for my rear diff. T case and front diff get supertech 75w90 full syn. Dyno for the rear cuz I have a mechanical lsd

 

how many quarts should I buy?

 

I always get the gallon jug but I also change my girlfriends 4runners diff out aswell. If I remember right it's right around 3 quarts I think

 

Always remove the fill plug first!!

It is a royal pain to drain what your working on then have getting the fill plug out turn into a week long adventure

 

!!! this is important!!

 

Yes remove fill plug first that way you aren't screwed if you drain it first and then the fill plug gets stripped. Also it's a good idea to replace the crush washers on the plugs, they're cheap even though a lot of people just reuse them.
75w90 non synthetic, the walmart stuff works well

 

Your local Toyota dealer should always have plenty of crush washers available always replace those. I'd recommend redline gear oil!

 

I just did mine a month ago, make sure to pull the fill plug first. It is a 24mm hex head bolt, DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THAT! The previous owner seemed to have used a 1" 12point to get it off and I got lucky to hammer my 24mm 6 point on and sit on a 1/2" impact lock enough to rattle it off. Spend the money on good 6 point socket sets and a stout breaker bar if you dont have an impact. Never use an drill/power tool to put parts like these back together. Check the DIY thread for exact measurements, but I bought 4 quarts incase I spilled any which ended up being a good idea. Your local dealer will have the washers you need, and in my case they also had the bolts. Make sure your truck is on jack stands at at least level. I jacked my rear end up a little higher than level to make the filling g process faster, it takes time for the oil to make it's way through all the gears and axle so there is a period at the end where it's literally a couple oz's then wait.
All these notes will make sense when you read through the DIY Sticky on the 1st gen page.

PS, wear long sleeves and long rubber gloves if you have them, eye protection, and a hat. This stuff gets all over, and it smells like what you would imagine dead dinosaurs to smell like. It does not come off easily.
Edit* here is a link https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/changing-differential-fluid-a-step-by-step-how-to.24545/

 

If you want to drain all the fluid.
Jack up one end of the axle the get all the fluid to drain toward the drain.
Lower that side.
Then jack up the other side.
Not really necessary. But a buddy of mine used to do his that way. : )

 

Are the fill and drain plug crush washers the same size?

 

Thank you!

 

Those little transfer pumps are handy, but it you have some clear hose you can just snip of the pour spout a little smaller than the hose diameter, slip the hose over the spout, tape it, and hold the container up near the bottom of the bed and drain it into the diff. Just did mine that way last weekend. Once I raise it up there, I give it one squeeze, then poke a few holes in the bottom for entry of makeup air. Otherwise, it will not flow.

I just use the clear so I can see when the hose is well drained. Black will work too.

 

I like my pump that sits on a 5 gallon bucket .

I guess I am spoiled using one for so long .

Simple matter to switch to different weight gear lube

 

I have a 2004 Toyota Tacoma with v6 4wd in the manual it has sae 90 for the rear differential gl5 for California Bay Area. I am having problems finding the oil what are other people doing ?

 

Walmart 80/90 Blue bottle cheap stuff.

 

$29 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 is basically the new (80w)90 gear oil. (80w)90 is harder to find nowadays and usually just conventional. You may not notice the difference unless it gets cold but 75w-90 synthetic will out protect, last longer and even give you a little fuel economy bump

 

I agree, remove fill plug first.

The FSM or Owners manual will have the fill quantity and grade required. I just did my 1st Gen diff fluids and used Valvoline full synthetic

$29 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 in the soft squeeze packaging which is so easy to use for filling. I highly recommend the squeeze packs for ease of filling.

Alternatively, you can buy a pump top that will fit a traditional quart bottle and pump with the quart bottle on the ground.

Mike

 

not my favorite job to do. but it is easy. messy but easy.

i use the handpump. it is cheap and it works fine. but it does work on the bigger bottles better. i buy 1 gallon and two loose quarts and i can do the transfer case, front and rear diffs. i pour the two quarts into the gallon jug when i get the chance. a tiny bit left which goes to the haz mat dump with the dirty stuff.

like above. always remove the fill plug first. wear gloves, and make sure the truck is level. i put my fronts up on ramps and jack up the rear and put down big jackstands. i get it as level as possible. oh, buy a pump with a longer hose so you can get out from under the truck to do the pumping. i go until i get a drip. the nozzle has a barb that keeps it from popping out of the fill hole, but keep an eye on it and dont tug on the hose. i pull out a torque wrench to install plugs.