Diff oil at 5k

Did my first oil change yesterday (a little early, at 4400 miles. Had the shop to myself so I took advantage). I had noticed a quiet whine between 55-60, under light load, so I checked the diff oil. It looked a little metallic so I decided to drain and fill it with fresh fluid.

Upon draining it, the oil looked completely silver. I've seen several customer vehicles of different makes and models with metal in low milage diffs, I'm assuming the gears are just breaking in, but it still makes me uncomfortable knowing that material is circulating in the oil all this time.

For now, I refilled it with 80-90 gear lube that we keep around, and after I run it some more I'll probably get the Toyota fluid and refill it again, maybe around 10-15k.

Otherwise everything looked great, engine oil was beautiful and I topped off the trans for good measure. Cross rotation on the tires with 10/32" left.

Side note: please don't over tighten your oil filter housings. Every single Toyota that comes from a dealer mechanic requires a breaker bar to loosen the filter. They use an o ring to seal and don't need to be tight like a standard filter people! I had one crack on me recently and we had to replace the cap at our cost
Just get them seated and give a small nudge past that .this has been a PSA

 

I've hand tighten all my filters/filter housings on my truck and machines at work. Guess what? They all get extremely tight. PSA it happens with the hot/cold cycles.

 

The vehicles I personally change the oil on that we regularly work on, I am able to get back off the next time easily. Standard filters do need to be tight to seal well, and I often use filter wrenches to brake them loose. But needing to use a large breaker bar or really put your back into loosening a plastic filter housing is too much.

 

First oil change on this truck just wait until your next change you'll see.

 

Did you find your diff plugs were hard to get out ?

 

I guess I should mention I'm a professional mechanic, I do about 20 oil changes a week on all kinds of vehicles

 

Not really, although I did use a 1/2" socket and somewhat beefy ratchet. Put tension on it and bang it with my other hand and they spin off really nicely

 

This over torquing topic comes up several times every week. Pretty common to think people over torque. Mine needs a breaker bar, and I've done all my changes.

 

Then you're over torqueing it. I've never in my life seen one even seep oil after doing a service on one

 

With my hand?

 

Like I said man, just do a search here you'll find it's a common issue. Even for people doing it themselves.

 

I guess you're just more of a hulk than I am

I do use a ratchet to break them loose at work, but I think the point still stands that if trying to remove the filter housing breaks it, it was too tight.

 

It's hard for me to believe that there's no recommendation to drain and fill all your fluids on a new vehicle. I know they say motor, transmissions and gears are built to such tight tolerances that it's no biggie but it seems like break-in is the same as it ever was, just based on @Admiral Noodle's post.

 

@ The Admiral,

Umm, How did you wind up with a Spin on?

 

I'm sure if you ask a dealer they'll say it's 'normal break-in wear' or something along those lines. It's does make me curious if they change the fluid normally on one if their covered services under toyotacare, without mentioning it to the owner

 

I may have worded my post poorly, but I am talking about the threaded plastic filter housings being used on all the newer Toyotas (and many other makes, for that matter)

 

I doubt they do any extra work.

 

Haha fair, ive heard so many horror stories from guys that used to work at dealers. Guys painting old parts to avoid doing the job, upselling flushes then not doing them, you name it

 

I wanted to be sure, the noise goes away with my foot off the pedal. I believe it's the rear diff, I'm hoping it quiets up after the 'break in period' runs it's course

 

when i worked at a shop i would be sure to just snug up with a wrench and filter adapter. 15ftlbs is all that is required. its nothing... I can literally do that with 1 finger.. toyotas were super easy to do... except the mercedes... those you didnt even have to put in the air.... you had to suck the oil up through the dipstick tube... and all you did was burp the filter while sucking the oil out.. then remove the filter cover/housing replace the media, and the o-rings. refill oil.. reset the service timer and do the usual checks.. fluids, belts, suspension, tires.. check for leaks... took all of 30-35minutes to do it all (our shop wanted us to be meticulous, they paid us .5hrs for the vehicle inspections).. although they hated the "upsell" word.. they preferred "recommended service/repair".. Euro shops... weird places..