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5th gen T4Rs
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https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/)
| amir_gh |
11-18-2020 09:50 AM |
Grayish rear diff fluid
Hello,
I replaced my rear diff fluid on my 2016 limited with 48k miles . Mine took about 3 quarts. Oil condition was absolutely terrible. It was grayish color. Never seen that before. Does that grayish color mean anything?
Thanks
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| bak3rme |
11-18-2020 10:34 AM |
sounds like maybe some water got into the diff thru the breather? Either that or you are cooking fluid. are u running 6s down the 1/4?
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| amir_gh |
11-18-2020 10:38 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by bak3rme
(Post 3568432)
sounds like maybe some water got into the diff thru the breather? Either that or you are cooking fluid. are u running 6s down the 1/4?
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Got my truck used. Everything is stock. No modifications. Previews owner never replaced it
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| bak3rme |
11-18-2020 10:42 AM |
I'd say get underneath and look on top of the diff for the diff breather. is there fluid coming out from that area? My guess is that maybe water somehow went through there and mixed with diff fluid. Interested to hear what others have to say about this.
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| 5thToy |
11-18-2020 10:43 AM |
Sounds like water contamination. It wouldn't necessarily have to come in through the breather. If the rear was hot and took a trip through a nice cold stream, water can be pulled in by vacuum through the rear axle. This is why people install elevated rear breathers that stay open to atmosphere.
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| sawman1 |
11-18-2020 11:19 AM |
Almost guaranteed water intrusion. As noted above, check the breather for possible intrusion. If all appears OK, I would run it for a bit and service it again to be sure the fluid looks OK, or at minimum pull a sample to inspect. 20+ years in the business so I am going off some experience when I type this. Best to you.
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| amir_gh |
11-18-2020 11:29 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by sawman1
(Post 3568444)
Almost guaranteed water intrusion. As noted above, check the breather for possible intrusion. If all appears OK, I would run it for a bit and service it again to be sure the fluid looks OK, or at minimum pull a sample to inspect. 20+ years in the business so I am going off some experience when I type this. Best to you.
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Thanks. I will keep eye on it.
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| amir_gh |
11-18-2020 11:40 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by bak3rme
(Post 3568435)
I'd say get underneath and look on top of the diff for the diff breather. is there fluid coming out from that area? My guess is that maybe water somehow went through there and mixed with diff fluid. Interested to hear what others have to say about this.
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Any suggestions for Diff breather kit? Can I do this myself?
Thanks
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| Captsolo |
11-18-2020 11:53 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by amir_gh
(Post 3568420)
Hello,
I replaced my rear diff fluid on my 2016 limited with 48k miles . Mine took about 3 quarts. Oil condition was absolutely terrible. It was grayish color. Never seen that before. Does that grayish color mean anything?
Thanks
|
I did mine after ten years. Color was pitch black. Gray might indicate some moisture, might not mean anything.
Check it in three years again.
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| Twilghtzone |
11-18-2020 12:14 PM |
Hmm... Truck might have been in a flood ? I'd check the other differential, trans, and transfer case.
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| pDubs |
11-18-2020 12:29 PM |
Greyish diff fluid in a 4runner is hardly enough evidence to say it may be a flood vehicle.
As other mentioned, if you went through a water crossing or even big enough puddle on road water could have gotten in. I would change again in like 10k miles and check since it's easy enough to do.
I did the ARB diff breather kit just because it was already all pieced together but there's a few cheaper ways to get the breather and bung from Toyota and use fuel line to run up to engine bay or near gas filler.
Amazon.com: ARB Differential Breather Kit (170112): Automotive |
| LandCruiser |
11-18-2020 12:31 PM |
Water intrusion during some type of water crossing IS the most likely culprit, doesn't have to be off road.
If there's water in one diff, as others said I'd check everything else, too.
PO wasn't from Houston, was he?
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| delloro |
11-18-2020 12:54 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by amir_gh
(Post 3568420)
Hello,
I replaced my rear diff fluid on my 2016 limited with 48k miles . Mine took about 3 quarts. Oil condition was absolutely terrible. It was grayish color. Never seen that before. Does that grayish color mean anything?
Thanks
|
Was it more like graphite, or milky?
Graphite color is OK. Milky means water.
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| kenwilliams0803 |
11-18-2020 12:57 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by delloro
(Post 3568486)
Was it more like graphite, or milky?
Graphite color is OK. Milky means water.
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Yeah, after almost 90k on factory fluid I'd suspect a little bit of metal flakes in there, almost like the color of never seize. I wouldn't rule out water intrusion though either and I'd bet you're good for a while now that it's all cleaned up and fresh.
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| amir_gh |
11-18-2020 01:14 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by delloro
(Post 3568486)
Was it more like graphite, or milky?
Graphite color is OK. Milky means water.
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defiantly graphite
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| mteolus |
11-18-2020 01:21 PM |
Typical the first time you change it. Metal flakes from the unused gears. Should be cleaner when you change it at 100k.
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| Sparman |
11-18-2020 01:32 PM |
It's normal.
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| Ogre75 |
11-18-2020 01:52 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by pDubs
(Post 3568474)
Greyish diff fluid in a 4runner is hardly enough evidence to say it may be a flood vehicle.
As other mentioned, if you went through a water crossing or even big enough puddle on road water could have gotten in. I would change again in like 10k miles and check since it's easy enough to do.
I did the ARB diff breather kit just because it was already all pieced together but there's a few cheaper ways to get the breather and bung from Toyota and use fuel line to run up to engine bay or near gas filler.
Amazon.com: ARB Differential Breather Kit (170112): Automotive
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No need to buy that kit. Just buy the threaded nipple from amazon and &20 worth of fuel hose from Napa. You can search for breather mod on this site, there are many walk throughs
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| flyrv9 |
11-18-2020 02:31 PM |
There are threads on diff breather mods. Check the stickies or search. A couple of different ways to do it. One guy routed his up to the fuel door and included all the parts he used, as I remember.
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