Rear differential Fluid at 117,000

Well, Bought this 03 Tacoma, 2WD, Single Cab, 5-Speed, 2.4L, a couple of weeks ago and have been slowly fixing up some minor things to get her road worthy.

Took it for a spin around the neighborhood tonight after replacing the downstream O2 sensor and heard a bit of clunking.

Decided to jack it up and check the rear drums praying that it wasn't the rear end.

Not the brakes.

Held my breath as I pulled off the diff plug and dipped my finger inside, Graphite grey color with ultra fine metal specs.

Now my question is, is this color normal for 117,000 on the clock? I'm not well versed in rear differentials and don't have the tools or facilities to do a rebuild and or swap myself but something tells me it shouldn't be that color this early on in life. (I use that term loosely.)

Second question is how much am I looking for a rebuild? This truck is supposed to be a beater to drive an hour to and from work 5 days a week. Would it be cheaper and more beneficial to get the rear-end flushed and filled? Then see how quick she decides to go grey again?

Pretty definite I got swindled on this truck , (7K) but I'm willing to stick with her if it's going to be worth it.

(Note: Taboo maintenance procedure from what I've been taught but, I jacked up the rear and let it cruise in 1st gear to see if I could get it to repeat/recur. No noise but I can only assume that's due to the Diff having no load on it.)

 

Change the rear diff lube and call it a day. It's a super easy DIY, quicker and easier than an oil change. You were able to remove the fill plug, getting that out is usually the most difficult part of doing it.

 

Yeah I like the advice here.

$26 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 gear oil for te rear differential.

May as well do the transmission too. Redline MT-90 is what you want there.

 

Buy the cheapest fluid and drive around on it for a week. During this time see if you can diagnose it better. If not after a week drain and fill with better fluid. I assume you’re somewhere warm if you dropped $7k on a 2wd truck? If so fill it up with 75w140. If not 75w90 will do.

 

I believe factory change interval is every 30k with 80w90. It's in the owner's manual. Fact check me though.

 

If you think that might be the original gear oil, it's WELL overdue for a fluid change. 117k on the original oil is nuts.

 

X2, this will give you an better idea of whether it's actively destructing. Gear oil is like $5/qt at the farm store

 

If it’s grenading it will roar louder and louder. Not clunk. That’s something else.

 

X3. It's also the easiest route to take in the beginning and could be a simple fix (fingers crossed)

 

Toyota diffs are pretty robust, since yours is a 5 lug suspect street duty only, and there is probably lots of people out there that dont change their diff oil, east coast gear supply recommends Lucas 85-140 diff oil, its spendy at $10 a quart but you only need 2, also buy the nifty little hand pump that thread's on to the diff oil container it makes life way easier getting that oil into diff. Also while at parts store but a cheapo grease gun with grease and while your draining the diff, lube the drive shaft it probably hasn't seen grease in quite awhile either, that should help with the clunking noise (axel wrap) enter that into search bar to learn more, drive shafts and differentials, do all the work, get none of the attention.
Good Luck
Andy

 

I have the exact same truck with 165k miles. I’ve changed my rear diff fluid a few times since I owned it from new and it was never silvery but then again it sounds like you have original fluid. I’d do what several other posters said and just refill it but I’d add some Lucas gear oil additive and call it a day for another 50k miles. These are tough little trucks and unless it gets worse is likely to last another 20 years with proper maintenance. Good luck.