T-case oil change

Getting ready to change the oil in my transfer case, and was wondering what all of you use to put the new oil into the transfer case with the location of the fill plug?

also I bought a 1 Qt of the Toyota certified 75w transfer case oil and know the transfer case calls for 1.1 liters, has everyone found that the 1 Qt bottle for 80 bucks from Toyota to be enough to do an oil change on the transfer case? Or is it really needed to purchase another one to get that little extra in there?

 

https://youtu.be/udX9mONzMfI?si=oOTFgX4clfTq_4oQ

 

I did go ahead and watch this previous to posting but wanted other’s opinions on the whole Qt / liter situation as well as if there was any other ideas out there for filling.

 

You want to know if one quarts good enough?

 

Get a fluid pump like this…

$13 Bzcovac 30cc Hand Oil Transfer Pump Fluid Pump for Gallon Bottles and Wide-Mouth Quart Bottles - Transfers Gear Oil, Transmission Fluid, Differential Fluid, and Antifreeze

https://www.amazon.com/Bzcovac-Tran...6&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

 

Is there an alternative to an 80 dollar quart from the dealership?
Also, if it's that much, you would think it should contain the exact amount for the change. What makes it so special that it's that expensive?

 

I bought one can of the expensive Toyota transfer case fluid.

https://parts.griecotoyota.com/oem-...MI8KOcvLaIjgMVsBqtBh0DFTKWEAQYAiABEgKNtvD_BwE

I put the fluid in an old Valvoline bottle and taped plastic tubing to the cone top of the bottle.



One can is enough if you don’t spill any.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405717442222

These come in handyfor differential fluid and transfer case oil changes .

 

I've used an automotive syringe (like one below) for diffs and power steering fluid. I wouldn't use it on gas or brake fluid as it'll swell the seals. Worked great in my applications.

Thorstone Automotive Fluid...

$17 Thorstone Automotive Fluid Extractor Pump, Oil Change Syringe with Hose, Manual Fuel Suction & Filler, Fluid Oil Change Evacuator (17.6 Oz./0.53 Qt./500 CC)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5QPJ2W3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

It seems you bought the Toyota 75W oil for the transfer case, you did not buy a one-quart package, but a one-liter package which is 1.05 quart. You are fine. If you do come up a little bit short just put back a little of what drained out - won't hurt a thing. After all a drain is never a complete drain. Your choice as to the pump to use. You already have the Toyota fluid, but in the future I see no reason to go to that expense - other oils are just as good. I won't sidetrack the main question, but you have time to pay attention and choose wisely next time. I used Redline and I'm not sure I will even do that in the future.

 

I did yes but from the others responses it sounds like the little difference won’t make much of a difference and I will grab a little out of the drain oil into a solo cup to play it safe as I’m draining.

 

Perfect idea to make sure I don’t spill any of this liquid gold haha. I will purchase one of these thank you.

 

You would think it would be the exact amount but seems like Toyota did that so that if they do the service they could charge you for two instead of one.

 

Thank you for the suggestion I was thinking of doing this but didn’t have an empty bottle laying around to use and didn’t really want to just buy a bottle to dump the oil out and use it. In the future I will save one of these style bottles.

 

Thanks for the suggestion much appreciated may get one of these, looks like it’s good to have on hand.

 

Why would you not do that in the future ? And use the redline ? What would you use ?

 

Yes, we have been using the Ravenol for years now without issue. To my knowledge it is the only viable non OEM fluid to put into the transfer case. Comes in a nice bottle with a spout for easy filling too.

$27 RAVENOL J1C1003 MTF-3 SAE 75W Full Synthetic Gear Oil - 1 Liter for Manual Transmissions, Differentials & Transfer Cases

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPCL7ZE

 

Redline MT-LT 70w75 is also acceptable and what I put in mine at 30,000 miles and 10,000 miles later no issues.

$22 Red Line 50604 MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 High-Performance Full Synthetic Gear Oil Lubricant for Manual Transmissions & Transaxles - 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-RL-...v&qid=1750797035&sprefix=mt-lv,aps,124&sr=8-1

I put mine in a gear oil bottle with a bit of hose and was able to fill the TCase with out a pump. I did use a pump for the front diff. but you could gravity fill that with a longer hose and a person above and one below to keep the hose in the front diff fill hole and to say when it's full.

Ravenol does have a nice straw in the bottle for you and it a full litre not a quart.

 

OK, the OP has approved the hijacking of his own thread.

This has been discussed ad infinitum on this forum about what oils to use where.

From past threads it is speculated that (some) dealers do not use the 75W oil at all and replace all the gear oils with the GL5 stuff in both the differentials, manual trans and the transfer case.

The consensus is that the 75W oil is simply for gas milage, just as the 0-20 engine oil. Where in other countries a whole range of viscosities are approved to be used in this 3.5L engine.

When I did my xcase I believe there were three acceptable oils in the 75W; two have been brought up in this thread, Redline and Ravenol. Redline is a local company and readily available so that is what I used.

This is why I suggested the OP take some time before his next oil change and study the alternatives.

Personally I will be using 90-140 in my diffs in the future, starting with the 5.29 gears. Just as some of the gear installers/suppliers strongly recommend.

 

Don't buy from Amazon. You can get the (1 liter) Ravenol for $19.95 by buying directly from Blauparts, the U.S. distributor. They also sell "kits" which include the correct oil for the front and rear differentials and the transfer case.

https://www.blauparts.com/?find=2020-toyota-tacoma-3-5l-24v-gas-n-t-v6-26193

I bought the 75W transfer case oil from them about 2 months ago (April 2025.) Ordered on a Sunday, got the oil on Wednesday. Seems to be working great--although I only have a few hundred off-road miles and about 2000 road miles on the Taco since then.

Next time (when I do the front and rear differentials) I am also going to buy the oil from them too. The right oil, great quality, great service and better prices than elsewhere. (And no, I don't work for them!)

Also this whole issue is discussed on this thread--some more interesting info there:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transfer-case-fluid.594913/page-9#post-30271608