Recommended Replacement Oils

4-24-22

Hi all...so good to be back on this great forum. You are all so helpful. I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4 Access cab. I am getting to the point of changing Front and Rear Differential oil as well as Transfer Case oil.

My Tacoma has Automatic Limited-Slip Differential as well as Locking Rear Differential. Here is where it gets a little confusing for me:

1. My parts manager at my dealership told me that I have non-synthetic gear oil in the Front
Differential and that is the oil that was placed in the Front Differential at the factory. I purchased Valvoline non-synthetic High performance

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 gear oil that contains limited slip additive and API Service GL-5. When needed, is it OK to place this oil in the Front differential?

2. Do I place this same oil in the Rear Differential when needed? Or since it is a Locking Rear
Differential, do I just place non-synthetic oil, minus the Limited Slip additive, in the Rear
Differential? And what should the Oil Type and Viscosity be for the recommended Rear
Differential oil?

3. Does anyone know what type of oil and viscosity was placed in the Rear Differential at the factory?

4. What type oil and viscosity should be placed in the Transfer Case when needed? Same as what I am placing in the Front Differential? Rear Differential?

5. Can anyone shed some light as to what mileage should the oil in the Front and Rear Differential as well as the Transfer Case be replaced?

I cannot find specific answers to the above questions. I sure would appreciate your knowledge and comments to the above questions.

Thank you in advance.

 

RTFM

 

non synthetic and synthetic oils are interchangeable, you just shouldn't mix them. So when you do a fluid change use synthetic oil because it lasts longer, just don't top it off with conventional oil. This truck takes a gl-5 75-85 oil. Its not that common and parts stores probably wont have it. Redline 75-85 is what I use. You don't need a limited slip additive in either diff. If you want to use 75-90, which is a much more common oil you can, just don't mix the 75-85 and the 75-90, do a full fluid change. The dealer is very wrong about the fluid type, it comes with 75-85 gl5 from the factory not 75-90. Dealers are NOT a reliable source for service data. These trucks do not have lsd, the trucks anti lock brake system mimics the action of a lsd by braking the wheel that is spinning. The transfer case take a sae 75 gl4 strait weight oil, it is very special and only 3 manufactures make a suitable replacement besides the oem fluid (it is 75 bucks a quart) I use redline MT-LV oil, I recommend the using the manual recommended oils. As far as when to do them, 80k is when I did all mine and they came out looking like new. Do with that what you will.

TL DR
75-85 gl5 in both diffs
sae 75 in the tcase

 

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

 

Stock weight is 75W85 GL-5 for front and rear diffs. That’s a bit hard to find so most use 75W90 with no issues. The “limited slip” action is actually created using the brakes so there is no special concern for the diff or any additive package needed. The locker doesn’t care what oil is in there.

For the transfer case use the recommended Toyota 75W type LF or whatever equivalents others might suggest here. I use the Toyota stuff in the T-case, exclusively. There is a bronze synchro in the T-case so do not use gl-5 oil in there. Gl-5 oils attack bronze components.

 

Use a 75w85 GL5 Synthetic for both diffs. Toyota used non-syn for cost savings and the cost difference for you, considering 30k mile changes, is minimal. You don't have a limited slip differential so you don't need anything special. Use a 75W GL4 in the xfer case. I used the Ravenol, as the Toyota stuff is way overpriced.

 

Section 9.1 of your owners manual starting about page #573 provides all the lubrication specifications for your vehicle.

Short version:
75W-85 for differentials
75W Toyota Genuine Transfer gear oil LF

$89 TOYOTA Genuine Transfer Case Gear Oil LF 75W 1 Litre 08885-81080

08885-81080 for transfer case
(shop around for the 75W, prices vary quite a bit)

 

Is this the correct Red line oil substitute for the transfer case??
Redline Oil 50604 1 qt. MT-LV GL-4 Gear Oil for 2008-2013 1 Series E82 128i

$31 Red Line (50604) MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 High-Performance Full Synthetic Gear Oil Lubricant for Manual Transmissions & Transaxles - 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V1VW32J

Looks like it's 70/75 not straight 75 but it's a manual transaxle oil often looks like it's used in BMW manuals.

 

That's what I used on my last change. On the Red Line site it's listed in the OEM compatability for Toyota/Lexus transfer case fluid "Genuine Gear Oil LF 75W“ 08885-81080. https://www.redlineoil.com/mt-lv-70w75w

 

Perfect saving it to my Taco wish list for when needed.

 

@jstemp
The Redline product selector (pasted below) states that it is.

Interesting use of words in the first and second lines:
"Popular" in Toyota/Lexus... and "Recommended" for Mercedes...

Popular implies that "people" use it.
Recommended implies an expert opinion and therefore a warranty.

Is this a simple case of a inconsistent proofreading or a built in plausible deniability??

The Toyota product is specifically called "Transfer Gear oil LF" -- LF presumed to indicate low friction.
The Redline product is specifically called "LV" -- normally indicating low viscosity in lubricants.

• Popular in Toyota/Lexus LF 75W, BMW X-Drive and other transfer cases transfer cases calling for Shell TF0870
• Recommended for Mercedes 235.10, Dodge/Fiat BOT 350 M3, GM BOT 303 mod, Toyota/Scion Manual Transmissions Gear Oil LV, VW/Audi and BOT270A Graziano Transaxle for Aston Martin, Audi & Lamborghini.
• Offers quicker shifts, a perfect synchronizer coefficient of friction
• Safe for brass synchros, as it lacks the reactive sulfurs found in most GL-5 oils that cause damage
• High performance gear protection and longer synchro life
• Eliminates notchy shifting, even when cold
• Low fluid friction to improve power transfer
• Satisfies the gear oil viscosity requirements of 70W & 75W
• Recommended for GL-1, GL-3 and GL-4 applications as well as where most special synchromesh fluids are specified

I would say that this product is a better choice than the

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 that under-informed folks use.

 

Wait for the 25% off and free shipping sale from Toyota. Oem fluids

 

Hate it when people flaunt their wealth. Even at 25% off

 

Says the guy with a supercharged Tacoma.

 

Don't forget he's also got two transfer cases now so he needs twice as much of that 75w

 

Hence the reason for less expensive alternatives then the Toyota liquid gold...

 

Hi guys...I did check the manual. The problem was to find equivalent fluids listed by toyota in the manual...very expensive. Your assistance and comments are much appreciated. With your recommendations, I went with Redline 75W-85 GL-5 for front and rear diffs. I was able to cross reference the part numbers listed for the fluids that are listed in the manual to those found on the Redline products I used. For the transfer case, I purchased the Redline MT-LV. On the Redline site the OEM compatibility actually says" "Genuine Gear Oil LF 75W“

$89 08885-81080 TOYOTA Genuine Transfer Case Gear Oil LF 75W 1 Litre 08885-81080

08885-81080. I purchased the fluids on Amazon.

So I guess I am good to go and thanks again for your assistance. You are all so kind.

 

I have been using amsoil on everything but the transfer case. 150k and runs great. O. Transfer case I use the toyota oil.