Is there a better transfer case oil than OEM?

I was hoping it was 1/4" NPT, I have a ton of those in brass with barb ends.

 

Nope a little bigger than that but that union is only a few bucks at the local toyota dealership!

 

I had better luck with Redline and Valvoline than I did with Mobil 1.

 

Just take those 2 part numbers with you and tell them that's what you need and they should most likely have them in stock or it may take 1 day to order them in!

 

I used Redline in it before and did not notice much change. Neo makes a full synthetic gl4

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

75w-90 I was looking at.

 

I own a 2015 Tacoma, which still specifies

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

75W-90 in the transfer case. But, I am about to acquire my third Tundra, a 2017 model. Beginning with the 2014 model year, Toyota specifies 75W for the transfer case. I did some research, and found the following points:

• Beginning with the 2014 model year, the supplier for the Tundra's Transfer case changed from a Japanese company to Borg-Warner. The change in recommendation from 75W-90 to 75W coincided with this change. This suggests a new design could be the reason for the change to 75W, not a simple reduction in viscosity with the same design to just save a few cents on fuel economy. I am willing to bet the 2016 Tacoma's transfer case is a new design as well, not just carried over from the 2015 model.
• At 100 degrees Centigrade, which is probably a bit higher than normal operating temperature, 75W-90 is over THREE TIMES thicker than 75W. 75W at 100 degrees Centigrade is actually thinner than transmission fluid.
• I contacted both Amsoil and Redline about which of their products to use in the transfer case. BOTH declined to give a recommendation, stating they had no product suitable. In Redline's case, I actually spoke to their technical support. He stated that Toyota has not released the specs on this 75W fluid. He also said transfer cases have been known to have parts that require very specific frictional characteristics for its lubricants, therefore, they cannot formulate or recommend an existing product for the transfer case.
• Toyota's OEM fluid is specifically labeled as a transfer case fluid, NOT for differentials or transmissions. This suggests it is a very specially formulated fluid - and the cheapest I have found it is about $55 a quart!!!
• I have not seen anything from Toyota that is authoritative indicating it is OK to use 75W-90. The fact that some dealerships are using 75W-90 means little to me, unless they have approval from the manufacturer to do this.

So, I am not saying 75W-90 in the transfer case will hurt anything, but I am convinced it is a lot different than the OEM fluid. It's certainly a LOT thicker, and possibly, the OEM fluid may have different frictional characteristics. So, use 75W-90 at your own risk.

I know several Toyota dealerships use 75W-90, but I suspect this is out of ignorance more than anything else. Plus, I would imagine they would have a hard time explaining to a customer why a replacement fluid costs $55 a quart.

I have not yet decided whether to use OEM fluid, or the same 75W-90 I have been using in my Tacoma - I'd like to hear more comments from others, as well as what dealerships are using in this before I make a final decision.

 

Interesting. Wonder if the straight 75w would be good in a transmission to make shifts smoother?

 

Transfer case replacement is a LF type oil. I am no expert but did considerable research speaking with friends who are fleet mechanics and reading as much as I could find. I learned that some differential oils (mobil 1 etc.) contain phosphorus that can damage the soft metal synchro bushing that are made of brass and copper. The only direct replacement for LF type oil i could find is Royal Purples Synchromax. I have used it for 15000 miles with no issues at all. They also have a warranty that they will pay for repairs or replacement if it is shown that their fluid caused the problem. I contacted them directly to insure this was a LF type fluid. (They posted my questions on their web site)
All that being said when I was doing my research I went to the local Toyota dealership and asked for the LF transfer case oil. The parts guy looked at me like I was a nut. He told me they just use the 90w gear oil they buy in a 55 gal drum. So either he didn't know what he is talking about or it doesn't matter.

 

BobIsTheOilGuy.com

Best place for any and all questions regarding oils.

 

I was up in the air about what to use in the t.case.
I went with Toyota LF75W for the reasons you listed and the possibility it matters to the pump.
Redline and Amsoil straight up tell you, they do not make a compatible oil.
IIRC, Royal Purple does. It's Synchromax; which is like the Redline MT-90, in so far as their recommended uses.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rations-welcome.406844/page-173#post-14160515
There is some discussion is this thread about using

$34 Ford XT-M5-QS Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid - 1 Quart , black

Ford XT-M5-QS fluid to help smooth out the shifts in the manuals, not sure if you are driving a auto or manual.

 

I used Redline MTL (75W-80 GL4) in my 2016 Taco part-time t-case. 2000+ miles with no issues, but I don't use 4WD often. I decided on the Redline MTL after much research and seeing no need to spend $50 (!!!) for a quart of Toyota LF. A part-time t-case is non-hypoid and probably doesn't need a GL5 gear oil. Secret special additives in the LF? Maybe....maybe not. In any event, the Redline MTL specs are comparable to the Royal Purple Synchromax and I happened to have a couple quarts on hand anyway.

FWIW, the LF 75W t-case gear oil part number is

$91 08885-81080 TOYOTA Genuine Transfer Case Gear Oil LF 75W 1 Litre 08885-81080

08885-81080. A similar Toyota part number in Europe/Asia, which is identically spec'd as a Toyota LF 75W t-case gear oil, is 08885-81081. Do a Google of the part numbers and compare images of both cans. You can also translate some of the Russian websites where posters say the "-81081" label on the can was glued over the original "-81080" label on the can.

Why point this out? Because Ravenol MTF-3 75W meets the European/Asian Toyota LF 75W 08885-81081 specs and can be purchased via Amazon for about $12 per quart. So the Ravenol MTF-3 may be another good t-case gear oil to consider (and is what I'm looking to use for my 2016 4runner full-time 4WD transfer case).

 

Anyone try scoring free LF under the FTC's affirmation of the Magnuson-Moss Act regarding aftermarket replacement parts? Or, use it to get Toyota to divulge a compatible fluid?

A warrantor may condition the warranty on the use of certain parts or service if it provides these parts and services without charge to the consumer under the warranty, or alternatively, if the warrantor receives a waiver from the Commission. See 15 U.S.C. 2302(c).

 

For the LS diff is the additive needed? All the older trucks needed them for the limited slip. I need to change mine bad!

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...l&zoneAssigned=1&prefStoredSet=1&prefZC=49735

 

I used Amsoil severe gear 75w90 in front and rear diffs, I will be using OEM 75w Toyota TC oil at $55 /qt for transfer case when the time comes

 

No mechanical LSD in the 3rd Gen. You don't have your details listed. Its either an open diff or if OR its got a locker.

 

A little searching and I found this... The last post has an attachment for "Ravenol MTF-3" lubricant. It indicates that it is a replacement for "TOYOTA 08885-81081" which is the Toyota LF fluid. Apparently can be had on Amazon for $12/quart. Made in Germany...

My experience with gear oils is that you damn well better use the right stuff. Standard GL5 and many GL4 gear oils have some nasty anti-wear compounds designed only for differential sets. Under high heat, they can attack non-ferrous metals.

 

Yup, the newer trucks use LF SAE 75W. As usual, new and oddball fluids usually take some time to gain support/certification from name brand oil companies. Something in the transfer case has changed and therefore a new fluid is required. As far as I can tell, it's more then just viscosity and probably has something to do with new materials and friction adders like @btanchors has mentioned.

We just did a 30k on @thinkingburrito 2016 Tacoma and changed front and rear diff fluids, and decided to just inspect the transfer fluid. It's WAY thinner than your usual gear oil. It still looked like new so we left the stuff in there and will change it at a later date when other options are possibly available.

On today's vehicles, it's often not worth it to venture outside of specialty fluids until more information is published. $55 bucks or whatever the stuff costs is much cheaper than a $5,000 dollar transfer case later in the vehicles life.

 

Just be careful with the transfer case oil. Lots of brass bushings in there. They used to use 75w90 gear oil up to 2015. In 2016 they switched to the 75w LF. I did a ton of research looking for an equivalent. Finally called red line engineering. Was told they have analyzed the Toyota LF and there is something in there they can not replicate so there is no equivalent. He explained Toyota and others are now getting tolerances so tight that there are many specialty oils as traditional viscosities cannot get in between the parts. He recommended using the Toyota oil.

1 liter of the LF costs $81! So at 30k I decided to filter it. Ran it through a paint filter and put it back in. Now at 50k I am towing much more with a new camper. Decided to bite the bullet and buy the LF and replace it. What I drained out was pretty dark, but very clean. Ran it through the a paint filter again just to see if here was any material or particles. Found a few small particles. But that was it.

It takes just slightly more than 1 liter. So I had to use a couple oz of thebokd that I had filtered what I took out to top it off. Im glad I changed it, after looking at the color. Feel bad I had to use a little of the old. But it’s oretty expensive.

 

Alternatives:
-Ravenol MTF-3 75w
-Bravoil FMT-3 75w
-Morris Lubricant Lodexol MTFE 75w
-EXN-MTF 75w
-Royal Purple Synchromesh

Better?