How often do you change your differential fluid

What does this stuff do and how often should I change it?

 

Just changed mine @ 40k miles

 

It lubricates your differential gears. A high stress area, especially if you launch hard, tow or off road.

It's worth changing at a minimum in accordance with your owners manual. I prefer 1/2 of the owners manual if I use dino. Or follow the owners manual if I use synthetic. On my SoloII car I used synthetic and still changed at 1/2 the recommended.

If you submerge your rear end and have not done the diff breather relocate, an immediate change is worth the effort. Since water and lubricant don't mix.

Even if you go syn, no boutique brand (Redline, Amsoil, Royal Purple, etc) is required, just OTC stuff like Mobil 1, Valvoline and others are fine.

 

I changed mine at 30K and will again at 60K but I tow regularly and offroad once a month on average. The diff fluid lubricates the gears in your differential. I see your a prerunner so you only have to worry about the rear...its an easy DIY.

 

It lubricates your differentials (front and rear if you have 4WD) and you should do your transfer case (if you have 4WD) and manual transmission (if you have a manual) at the same time every 3 years or 30,000 miles (48,000 km.). I changed mine with synthetic just as I use in my engine.

 

First change early at 9K or before. Tons of metal poweder on magnet. Much cleaner on subsequent ones. Don't wait the recommended 40k on first change, but ok for subsequent ones.

 

I change mine at 30k. Very rarely do I offroad or tow. It's easy and cheap though so why not. And I have had poor luck using synthetic in my 05 Sport. It binds. Regular old Valovoline.

 

I did mine at 30, and will do at 60, 90 etc.

 

Would not hurt to change it, if you have a 2006, it's been in there long enough. But don't panic, you will basically hear zero cases of a second gen having differential issues. The third gens seem to have a howling noise at highway speeds. Like already mentioned, water is a killer, and if you want it to last 500000 miles then changing every 100000 miles is a good idea.

 

Did mine at like 40-50k range just due to circumstance. I know manual says 30k. I don't ever really tow or go off pavement but I do drive it like I stole it. Either way, very minimal metal shavings on the drain plug or anything. Replaced with valvoline in front and lucas in rear since it was what autozone had on hand in stock. (did front, transfer case, and rear all in one go since I'm 4x4)