Changing differential fluid - A step by step "HOW TO"

Makes no practical difference, though I'd prefer to drain it cold to avoid burning my hand. Diff fluid is not an exact science. Keep in mind Toyota trucks can be maintained by illiterate cave men in Afghanistan.

 

Just changed my rear differential fluid at 118k. Added mobil 1 LS as my prerunner displays the LSD sticker on the rear differential. I didn't use the additive because the the oil I used stated it was for use with LSD's. Took it for a spin around the diff. Seems to hum accelerating after taking a corner from a stand still. Would the additive alleviate the problem or hinder it further?

 

I too just changed my rear diff and transfer case this morning. I have a 2006 DC long bed Sport with LSD. Used 3 full quarts of Valvoline conventional gear oil 75w90 (not synthetic) with 4 oz of additive for my rear differential. For my transfer case and front diff I am using Mobil 1 synthetic LS. Read through a lot of this thread and it keeps coming back to using an additive for the LSD regardless of the gear oil having or not having it already.

My 115K mile '06 is driving very well. I followed the OP "how-to" to the letter and everything works out fine.

 

Thats unfortunate, oh well, $35 dollars worth of fluid down the drain (not literally ). But I'd rather not pay more in the long run, thanks for the advice.

 

I'm glad that worked out for you. My truck is at around the same mileage as yours and it runs smooth. Its my job to keep it that way.

 

Go to the Ford dealer and pickup 2 bottles of their friction modifier. I think its XL3.

Ive been running mobile 1 with the 2 bottles of XL3 for 25k miles now.

 

this is what I have been living by.

Your the first person I heard say they have had good luck with Mobil1 in the LSD rear. My rear is the only place I don't have mobil1, but with 15k changes that I'm doing now I shouldn't have any issues with dinosaur blood.

I thought you had personal experiences with this oil and it wasn't good?

 

I had called my local Toyota dealership and they told me they use the

$12 Ford XL3 Genuine Ford Fluid XL-3 Friction Modifier Additive - 4 oz.

Ford XL3 in the diffs. I didn't ask them what oil they used....

I originally put one bottle in, did some driving around and tight circles but I was still getting a bit of chatter even after a week or so. So, I added another bottle and that seemed to work. I only had 26k miles on it when I changed it.

You could buy one bottle, put it in and see what happens before adding more - in case age and wear are a factor (on the LSD itself).

I think I've read that other folks needed to use a couple bottles of friction modifier with non- synthetic, so I wasn't worried about needing to add a second bottle. Got 50k on the truck now.

I'll be ready to change it again soon either this year or next. I plan on doing the same thing.

 

New to the Forum... thanks to all for such good info!

I read 13 out of 54 pages and didn't quite see my answer, so here are my questions:

I have a 2004 4x4 V6 supercharged tacoma.

1) I don't see a sticker on the rear differential, so I assume I don;t need any LSD fluid, correct?

2) Front & rear, 6 quarts?

Many thanks!

 

I just completed my 60k fluid swap on both diffs and TC......and a oil change.
I used valvoline 80w 90 for the gear oil. I also bought a 4oz bottle of the motorcraft(FORD) friction modifer straight from my dealer. Only prob I had was that bought 2 gallons of gear oil and a pump to fill them all. The bottle of modifer didnt have a squirt tube or way of getting it in. If I had the quart bottles I would have just tossed it in there but I tried to rig up a tube to get it in and lost some. So I went and bought another bottle of Tran-x modifer and squirt about an oz in there for good measure.

So far no chatter and truck runs nice after the fluid swap.

Nice write up and made it pretty simple.....the front dif is a beotch kinda only cuz my truck is stock but once i get a lift it will def be easier.....yet another reason to get a lift guys.

 

Thanks Chris. And no additive, right?

 

I've got a 2011 5 lug with 21K on it. How often am i gunna need to change the rear diff fluid and what weight does is take? I've gotten 3 different answers so far for the 2nd question. One dealership told me 75-85 which the guy at auto-zone had never even heard of, another dealership told me 80-90, and my friend told me 75-90.

 

sounds like way to many miles on gear oil to me....?.... at 40k my 6 lugger is past due.