Rear Diff Gear Oil Suggestions

Hey guys, I did use the search function and I found a little bit of information.. But I am peculiar and want more. So I called the dealer and wanted OEM gear oil. Although it is expensive, my issue wasn’t really the price at first. They said it does not come in squirt bottles and I would have to have a pump of some sort. Well, having done that with the trans fluid before, I know it sucks. Basically, that along with the price has led me to ask what brand you guys are using for your 75-85 GL5 drain and refills. Also, if anyone knows of OEM that comes in a squirt bottle, I’d be all for a link. As always, thanks and keep Tacoma’in!

 

Never seen OEM in Squeeze bottle. (And I don’t believe it’s anything special)
I used Valvoline 80w-90 in E-Locker Diff.
Is it technically the correct fluid? No.
Have I had issues with it in 50k miles? Not yet.

Others have used it as well. I know this because I asked this same question myself.
My Diff was leaking, I was low on fluid, and I couldn’t find

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

75w-90 close to my house.

If you can find 75w-90 (wal-mart has synthetic) use it.
I wouldn’t run synthetic in the mechanical LSD Diffs. (Which I don’t believe you have)
Been a few reports of synthetic causing issues in the mechanical LSD Diffs.

 

2008 and older were the only trucks (non elocker) that could have the mechanical lsd.

OP any

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

75w-90 will work great. Do it every 30k and your rear diff will be happy.

 

Yeah, only reason I even mentioned it was for the potential future readers.
Seeing as it was just last week, there was a member having issues with synthetic.

 

Thanks for the reply. OEM probably isn’t anything special, I’m just an oem type person. Truck seems to like it so I’d like to give it, but I don’t think it would be too big of an issue just going with same weight and different brand. Which leadS me to this question.. Any specific reasons you/others recommend 80-90 over the oem 75-85 weight? I also can’t confirm whether I have “E-Lockers” or not. I have lockers, I’ve just always kept it simple and called it rear lockers. No 4wd, just rear diff lockers. I would assume this is E-Lockers, but don’t know for sure. Mechanical vocabulary is a minimum until I learn more, lol

 

REDLINE 75-85 gl5

 

Awesome, thanks for reply. I must as why

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

75w-90 over 75w-85? Any specific reason?

 

Ah, same weight. I like it. I will give this a look. Have you or anyone used Castrol/Mobil-1,Valvoline, etc? Some of the more popular brands?

If so, thoughts? Thanks for your reply!

 

E-Locker just means it is actuated Electronically. (Like the factory one you have now)
It uses an Electric Motor to Engage the Locker.

I’m not recommending 80w-90. I’m just stating that myself and others have used it.
If you can’t find

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

75w-90, the next best choice is 80/90.

 

Ah, I see what you’re saying. So, any reason for 75-90 over 75-85?

Not saying your wrong or trying to be picky, just doing research.. Thanks!

 

its pricey but good. if not I recommend just using SUPERTECH 75w90 gl5 full synthetic best bang for the buck

 

75w90 is thicker at certain temps but not much, the VALVOLINE synthetic 75w90 is about as close as you can get to a 75w85 oil in viscosity

 

If you want to get technical, the 75/85 will flow slightly better at hot temperatures.
The lower the number the “thinner” the oil is, at a given temperature.
Thinner is not the correct term, but it’s easier to understand.

 

I typically use 75W90 or 80W90 because the manual for my 2008 calls for 90 weight or 80W90. So it would seem having a viscosity of 90 is the consistent part of the specification and I dunno the significance of 75 vs 80.



FWIW, the most recent change I went with the Chevron Delo Syn-Gear 75W90. It's full synthetic and was cheaper than Mobil1. Over the years I've used Castrol Hypoy-C and Redline 75W90.

Honestly, the only lubricant that I always use is MT90 in the transmission otherwise it's kind of whatever meets the spec and I can find.