Recommended Fluid Change Intervals

My front diff was much dirtier that the rear and I don’t use a lot of 4 wheel drive. I always thought the rear would get the most use, but the fluid color says otherwise.

 

I used my front diff quite a bit over 2 years. I was still surprised that it was way worse than the rear. I guess because rear holds 2x more fluid.

 

80% of my driving is on pavement, but in summers i spend a lot of time offroad in 4lo and 4hi. Even if you barely use the front diff, i would not wait 60k to change it. You will be shocked how black it is and how many metal shavings is in the fluid. Just do it and forget about it.

My front diff was disgusting at 17k miles.

 

And that's why I love the forums, personal experience is great to see. I'll go ahead and start checking my fluid every 15 now instead of waiting longer...eek

 

Wise.

I'm opposite of probably most here (well I actually do get off road) - dusty, dirty roads and prairie ground like 5 times a week from Sept to April....
So w/ @Soft Taco 's great video series on YouTube (Team Oil Drop) + Care Care Nut's channel (harps up and down to change oil every 5000 miles - he follows Toyota's advice on most other fluids - he does think their "lifetime fluid" on ATF is total BS - I do now, and that's not even for us severe guys. He says it doesn't matter as much early, but later in 200K + ownership, if you didn't do it early in car's life) and some scattered others....I now have the where w/ all to recently tackle all these fluid changes myself (vids make it easy). Truck is now near 25,000 (don't drive many miles in summer). Brake fluid and coolant are about the only ones I haven't changed.

Here's my results:
Front Diff was easily the worst among the Rear Diff and Transfer Case, but not awful. Transmission fluid looked the best over all (granted, early change), but revealed it was a half quart low from factory - glad I did it (and the glorious temp check mode!). Surprisingly, or maybe not?, one of, if not the dirtiest fluids, was power steering. I can tell you for a fact, transmission is way more "sealed" than power steering (probably not a surprise to experienced wrenchers). I almost had to triple Team Oil Drops 6 steps to get that red of fluid going. DIRTY. (used Valvoline Max life ATF. There are many videos out showing Toyota branded stuff is nothing special and when chemically tested - results are often really not special - yet you will pay more, sometimes way more. I avoid it - especially the in$ane tomato can Toyota transfer case oil. I used Redline MT-LV 70W/75W, recommended on TW often). Power steering level was fine when I first drained, btw.

I will now be keeping a squinty eye on that Power Steering fluid as long as I own this truck. Eye opening. The manual's 50K recommendation is clearly not for me and my use - 15K is more like it.

Anyway, my experience.

 

Seems a trend. Same.

 

I changed my front and rear diff oil a few weeks ago at 30k mi and they both looked like something between honey and maple syrup. Am I not using my truck hard enough? haha

 

Nope. Better part it out.

 

Just did front and rear diffs at 30k on mine. I was doing the ECGS bushing so I was already there and figured why not. Also switched to the Lexus diff plugs (highly recommend) and I was opposite of previous posters. My front diff fluid looked good. The rear was nasty. Made me wonder if I’ve ingested some water while launching a fishing boat. Truck sees mostly 2wd pavement…4wd is seasonal in the mountains. From now on I’ll be checking diffs at 15k based on what I saw. The amsoil bags make it WAY too easy to not check/replace.

 

Interesting. Could be.. I definitely didn't launch a boat w/ mine. The Amsoil squeeze bag and Valvoline's are very handy.

 

...and smart about the Lexus plug upgrades - I have one sitting on the shelf if needed (per @Soft Taco warning in his vid - he went down rabbit hole there ). Why Toyota? Why?

 

So water leaking into rear diff is a thing - dudes who "water" deep crossings, in your case boat launching are aware of it....

 

I screenshotted this from a thread somewhere here on TW (credit to Soft Taco). This should answer pretty much all your maint. interval questions…

 

This is a necropost, but I see people saying to use GL4 for diffs and that chart lists GL5.

As far as diffs, what's the diff?

 

GL5 for the differential. It provides better lubrication and shock loading for the hypoid gears.
GL4 is for transfer case and manual trans only. They both have synchros that rely on a bit of friction to work properly. (And they don't have hypoid gears).

 

Thanks!

 

Thank God for Elk!