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

OP, have you done a follow up to these tests?

 

Nope but the time is coming! I’m currently at 27,000 miles. I’ll change everything, including transfer case this time, at 30,000. Based on my driving, I figure that will be sometime around the fall (and that’s if I still have my truck then...)

The original “break-in” change was done at 10,000ish miles.

OA

Edit: if you meant calling blackstone to further explain results that did happen way back after I got the results the first time.

 

So I figured I will use 75w90 for front and rear differential but did not want to mess with the transfer case oil so I went to the dealer and verified they use genuine Toyota oil and had them replace Tcase fluid! When I was reading the printout it looks like they used 75w90 on the TCase! What u all think of that!?

 

You’ll likely be covered in case of issue since it was dealer performed. That said, this is a common anecdote and one that doesn’t make sense (that Toyota would spec such a unique and expensive fluid and the dealers, across the board, don’t care).

I’m not familiar with 2nd gen common issues but I would wonder if they spec the same fluid and have issues after years of use on dealer replaced

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

75w-90.

OA

 

Well I thought I was getting a good deal by them quoting me 89$ to do it which is cheaper than Replacing it myself using there fancy oil! That’s the only reason I had them do it! I did my own differential with 12$ mobile 1 75w90 and if I thought that is what they were going to use I would of did it myself and saved time and money

 

Ravenol, shown in the box below, is correct for the T case and is less than $20.

 

My Toyota dealer told me straight up they use the same oil in the transfer case that they use in the diffs. They do not bring in the LF fluid and don’t use it.

 

So are they using

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

75W-90 gl5 in the t-case and the transmission and not the gl3 (gl4)?
Are they also using 75w-90 instead of the stupid 30$ 75w85 in the diffs?

 

I was told, and I quote, “we pump it all out of the same barrel”. I did not inquire about what weight at the time because I had dropped in to inquire about buying a can of the LF fluid. They do not stock or use the 75w. Reputable dealer too.

 

Well that's not good! That means when they added the 1.2 quarts to my factory low transmission fluid they mixed different oils with different weight in there!?

 

I would like to think that any dealer would not put gear oil in an AT. I believe the fella I spoke with just meant that both diffs and the T-case get the same juice.

 

So I just did this today at 30k miles with the addition of the transfercase as well. My truck is a 4cyl 5MT, but the only difference is the fill plug for the trans is on the driver side. My observations:

1. My front diff was low, I couldn't touch fluid with my pinky. Granted I have fat fingers so I couldn't get much of it below the hole but still. Fluid looked like yours, as did drain plug gunk, and good Lord it was the smelliest. Fluid added matched specs perfectly.

2. Rear diff fluid was spot on, I think a little less dark than front and mag plug wasn't too gunky. As I had the rear diff recall done at about 15k this makes sense. Took a little more than the 4qt manual called out.

3. 5MT fluid was perfect level, longer socket works better here to get past front driveshaft for fill plug. Same flat washers as 6MT. Fluid looked great, only slightly darker than what went in and no noticable metal. Definitely could've gone longer on this change. Spec for fluid added was correct.

And now what you've all been waiting for....

T-CASE!

4. Drain and fill plugs are on the back, and pretty obvious if you have any brain function. Same size socket as trans and rear diff. This one actually had a pressure difference, not sure which way but air moving in/out was evident. I know some have said this happened with their rear diff. Fluid actually leaked out fill plug when removed.

It looked great, I doubt you could tell the difference in color/clarity from what went in. This impressed me considering I have well over 1000mi in 4wd.

I used the Ravenol 75W for this, from what I can find it meets Toyotas requirements. It took the whole bottle exactly, and the bottle has a built in little spout which was nice.

Conclusions:
I'll probably go with severe intervals for diffs, trans and t-case at normal.

I used same fluids as OP, not much more money than comparable options.

Overall I'm glad I did it, mostly for the front diff but any day I get to wrench on the yota is a good day in my book.

I didn't remove driver wheel or spare, it would've made it easier for sure but not a necessity.

Edit: Oh and follow OP and wear nitrile gloves. I didnt, and even after washing my hands 3 times with Dawn and I can still smell gear oil on them.

 

Redline makes a 75w85 that they say is good substitute for straight 75w. 75w85 is the spec for the differentials anyways.

 

Ravenol MTF-3 has quite a different additive package than Toyota LF, or lack thereof.

VOAs posted for both in this thread.
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4389571/1

 

Just don't use oven cleaner like I did.

 

I did see that, but on the bottle of Ravenol it says

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

Toyota 08885 81080 which is the part # for the OEM fluid. With all the reports of dealers not stocking it and just putting in

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

75w-90 when asked to change it, I figured I'd rather have the correct weight.

Unless Toyota fixes their pricing for 75w or something happens to the transfercase, I'll continue to use the Ravenol. I'm only 50% sure they even put the LF in at the factory lol.

I don't mind being a guinea pig

 

I can respect that...

FYI, these claim compatability as well.
-Bravoil FMT-3 75w
-Morris Lubricant Lodexol MTFE 75w
-EXN-MTF 75w
-Royal PurpleSynchromesh

 

I did all my fluids a couple weeks ago at 30k . Similar to @RocTaco after seeing what the diff oils looked like I'll be reducing those to every 15k miles. Transfer case and 6MT both looked fine and I'll likely do those again at 60k. Also after looking at the engine oil, I'm going to start doing that every 7500 miles now. I ended up using the Ravenol 75w in the transfer case.