Diffs and Trans Case Gear Oil Change

85W-140???? C'mon. And Lucus? This is a company founded by a truck driver built solely on marketing. Sheesh.

 

I’ve used Lucas in all 3 diffs from new and lots of towing and wheeling. The magnet is empty every time. I use it because it’s the cheaper of the synthetic performance oils and it’s been really good so far.

 

I think we get overly worried about the BEST oil and get tied up in advertisement and gimicks. Best thing we can do for heavy use is make sure there is oil and replace as often as needed.

Gear and in general oil test modes are severe....way more than what we use them for by a order of magnitude, so....dont use oil with a duct tape label and sharpie written on it and i tihnk we'll be juuuuuust fine.

 

Probably best advice on the thread here haha. I'd trust the ECGS guys, or a Toyota design engineer, but I think the most important take away is to actually change your fluids on-time with a reputable product.

 

right before hitting post i polled a chat group im in. People in it range from mechanics to engineers. All have a background/currently in some sort of racing (landspeed, P1LM, GTLM, rally) all the way to current engineers for OEM manufacturers. They agree...just pick a oil you like and is available and change often. People will change less if their diff oil costs the $100 or they have to special order is from Mars. I used to be a amsoil or bust type of guy....but man it adds up. I now Valvoline pouches in the gear case...why? because its easily available and comes in a pouch thats super easy and mess free to pour.

 

There’s no such thing as Mobile 1 conventional, they only make synthetic lubricants.

 

Yeah I didn’t think that one through lol. Gonna do synthetic I think just gonna see what I find for deals on a good brand.

I need to get a good pump too. I wonder if anyone uses those drill driven pumps so you don’t have to pump 6 quarts into all 3 cases with a little hand pump.

 

It all leaks out eventually.
Pour it to it.

 

I used redline before, because I wanted to stick with 75w85 for the diffs, but when I get to 120,000 I will use Valvoline synthetic 75w90 because it has the pouches that don’t require the pump because they’re designed for tight space applications:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/seot/329...78-4163-99fa-75f576d4602b&listRegistryType=WL

I’ve used Valvoline MaxLife in the transmission and like that so I’ll give their gear oil a whirl.

 

Right here. ^^^^^^^^^^

 

Harbor freight transfer pump works good. Walmart Supertech seems like the best deal and works great. Any with right spec is fine. Just do it.

 

Found valvoline

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

75W 90 pouches at autozone for $13.99-quart so may go with those for ease of use without a pump and hopefully less mess.

They also have Mobil 1 for good price $13.19, but only a few bottles not enough for 6 quarts I need and then I’d have to mess with pumping.

Anyone else running the Valvoline 75W 90 synthetic in their rigs in both diffs and transfer case? Like it? 2011 SR5 4.0 4 X 4.

 

AMS oil severe duty synthetic 75-90 best thing is : it comes in a 1 litre squeeze bag with a spout , doesn't matter what angle you are at just stick the spout in and squeeze. No mess ....

 

I hit NAPA today, Valvoline Full Syn

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

75W-90 at $13.04 per squeeze quart with AAA discount. No tax in OR.

 

The Valvoline bag is awesome. Used it this fall. The bag alone converted me from an M1 guy to a Valvoline guy.

 

So I got the Valvoline for like $13.99/quart at auto zone. Thought I was getting a steal, but then they charged me 3 taxes here in SC! Happened to drop by Advance and they have special through February for Valvoline bags every 2 you buy they are 25% off right now $15.99 base and somehow they charge less taxes than the Auto Zone down the street wtf! So I got 6 bags for $78 including tax at Advance. Auto Zone was $92 with tax.

Gonna do the job any day now washer kit came in from Amazon this morning.

You fill the diffs and trans case just below threads or up to threads?

 

Yes, also make sure you take off the fill plug before the drain, you don’t want to be in a situation where you have a frozen fill plug and an empty diff. The front diff 10mm hex drain plug has given people some trouble and once people, including me, get it off they replace with a Lexus drain plug (90341-24016).

 

Good advice.

I’ve given up on any oil related discussions. So I have no advice on what is better

Here is my advice on physically changing the fluid.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ntial-and-transfer-case.744050/#post-26488326

 

Until it pours out of the fill plug. So technically slightly overfill until it pours out a nice stream. Then install fill plug. Do this with the truck on level ground, not jacked up.

Torque the fill and drain plugs to spec.

 

Little bit of observation:
2014 DCSB
59600 miles
Pavement Princess, sees 4x4 for approximately 50 miles a year, snow and "turn it on to lube it" drives
No real wheeling

Changed all three cases today and they were changed at 30k with Mobil 1 full syn

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

75W-90
Rear Differential: Still look fairly good color wise. Peace of mind knowing it's good to go for 30k more
Front Differential: oil looked 90% brand new
Transfer Case: oil looked 90% brand new

If I stick with 30k intervals on front diff and transfer case, I may go non-synthetic. Or, stretch these two out to 50k. Felt bad dumping that perfectly good looking synthetic down the recycling tube.

Or, get out there and drive this bitch like a wild banshee...