Differential fluid

I’m going to change my rear and front differential fluid in my 2012 SR5 with 130k miles. Not sure if it has been done before.

Do people get if from dealership or pick up something such as Lucus SYNTHETIC SAE 75W90 at auto part store such as auto-zone?

 

75w90 GL-5 is fine for diffs.

 

I used Redline

 

Lucas is great. Mobil1 also

 

What doesGL-5 mean?

The product I looked at was SYNTHETIC SAE 75W90 GEAR Oil Trans & Diff Lube

 

Get a new set of crush washers.

 

GL stands for gear lubricant. The 4 and 5 in GL-4 and GL-5 refer to the viscosity of the oil. The higher the number, the thicker the oil.

 

Only aftermarket diff fluid I use is Amsoil. It tests out to produce lowest temps. Given how infrequent changes are and how close Amsoil is to others in price (sometimes even better), it’s a no brainer imo.

 

OP get this for your front diff, as the hex style/allen key style drain bolt that our trucks come with stock will strip in time, not if but when, buy this now and replace it when you finish the job. It has a 14 mm nut end as opposed to the 10 mm hex key end. You can do the fill plug too if you want, different part number, but the torque spec is less and it is not known for stripping.
This is for Lexus’ but it fits our trucks perfectly.

 

That's the

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

75w 90 part.

The GL is an API number (American Petroleum Institute)

API GL-4 – Intended for gear sets with light to heavy load and sliding forces. GL-4 lubricants are often used in syncromesh manual shift on-road and off-road truck transmissions.


API GL-5 – Intended for heavily loaded gear sets with high sliding forces such as hypoid differentials. GL-5 lubricants contain high levels of extreme-pressure additives to provide protection under boundary lubrication conditions. Common heavy duty applications include differentials in on-road and off-road trucks, differentials, final drives in Caterpillar scrapers, and differentials and planetaries in Euclid haul trucks. Some manual-shift transmissions can use GL-5, but typically should not be used in synchromesh-type transmissions, as the EP additives can be corrosive to yellow metals found in those transmission types. Limited-slip differentials also typically require a specific lubricant with a limited-slip additive.

Look closer. There is an API GL number on the product.

 

Doesnt matter the brand, just keep the rear diff fresh 30-40k in the right spec. 75w90 is fine. Do front diff and tcase every other rear diff change and you will never have a problem.

6 quarts to do all 3


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Te...ant-SAE-75W-90-1-Quart/309470123?from=/search

 

Remove the fill plug first. If you drain the unit and then can't get the fill plug out, you have a real problem.

By doing the fill first, if you can't get it out, you can at least still drive until you get it figured out.

 

Gotcha,

I just did a Google search and that popped up

 

I buy whatever comes in the squeeze bags of gear oil. Its much easier than dealing with a bottle and hand pump.

 

what is the part number for the fill plug

 

you mentioned that was for the drain plug and that the fill has a different part number.

 

Oh right, one moment while I dig the fill plug number out.

 

Lexus front diff fill plug with nut end.

 

Yes indeed to the hex head plugs! Redline 75W90 for the diffs and Redline MT-90 75W90 for the trans and transfer. Shifts like a dream, runs like a demon!

 

-It's the Valvoline brand that is now in squeeze bags. It makes like so much easier with no mess.