Change that diff oil

[QwikKotaTx]

Why are you guys pulling the covers when there is a drain and a fill plug? Thank the Lord. All of my vehicles are setup up this way either by me or the factory. Pulling the cover and having to re-do the RTV and cross pattern torque the bolts when there is nothing out of the ordinary going on is not my idea of fun.

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

What mileage Toyota recommend diff, transfer case, and trans oil changes for the 4Runner?

Refer to DIY maintenance quick reference - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Replace differential oil - inspect every 15k or 18 mo (severe: replace every 15k or 18 mo)

I changed mine around 20k. Same reports from everyone else. Rear diff was dark for me with sludge on the magnet. Front diff had some color, but was fine, t-case was a little darker than front. I had bought the fluid already so I just changed all of them. I'll probably stick to that 20k interval for me.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

where did you get your fluid?

I ordered Red Line 75W85 GL-5 Gear Oil from O'reillys. I had a card from them with money on it and coupons. It's about $19 a quart without the coupons, so those helped.
You can find it online too.
I still have not done the transfer case. The dealerships I spoke with said they use it in the transfer case too unless it's a warranty case.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Why are you guys pulling the covers when there is a drain and a fill plug? Thank the Lord. All of my vehicles are setup up this way either by me or the factory. Pulling the cover and having to re-do the RTV and cross pattern torque the bolts when there is nothing out of the ordinary going on is not my idea of fun.

Diff covers? What are diff covers?

'dese are Yota' axles!

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

Why are you guys pulling the covers when there is a drain and a fill plug? Thank the Lord. All of my vehicles are setup up this way either by me or the factory. Pulling the cover and having to re-do the RTV and cross pattern torque the bolts when there is nothing out of the ordinary going on is not my idea of fun.

Read the post, he said he was changing gears.

 

[Jetboy]

Why are you guys pulling the covers when there is a drain and a fill plug? Thank the Lord. All of my vehicles are setup up this way either by me or the factory. Pulling the cover and having to re-do the RTV and cross pattern torque the bolts when there is nothing out of the ordinary going on is not my idea of fun.

How else do you know if your differential bearings are worn out?

I was doing a little more than an oil change. . But it did offer a good chance to actually get a good look at how things are wearing inside. Basically - they look like new all around. The 8.2 and 8" reverse are both very nicely engineered differentials. Although I kinda hate the reverse clamshell because it's so much work to set up.

Personally - I would probably never change the front diff, or if I did I wouldn't until 100k or so. It sees very little use and should not really ever wear out the gears or the fluid. I'd guess the rear could also go 200k without a change, but I'd probably do it at 50k and then again around 150k. Heavy trucks normally change differential fluid every 300k miles as a comparison. I don't think Toyota ever recommends changing it under normal use, and suggests changing at 50k under extreme use.

 

[nimby]

I don't think Toyota ever recommends changing it under normal use, and suggests changing at 50k under extreme use.

This was what I was getting at with my question above.

Under normal use, Toyota has no mileage recommendations for changing the oil in your front/rear dif, transfer case, or trans.

I go offroading and carry some weight from time to time, but nothing that would be considered extreme use.

Maybe I'll change all the fluids at 100,000 miles and be done with it. Or maybe I won't touch it at all. Haven't decided yet.

 

[Jivewalker]

I changed mine for the first time recently, I'm at 170000 miles with no issues. Fluid wasn't that bad, barely any metal on the magnet. Replaced with Amsoil severe gear. I do some offroading, but mostly just to fishing holes and light trails. I frequently have to drive through high tide flood waters, and was surprised that the fluid wasn't any worse. It really didn't even smell that bad. My point of even posting, I really think it depends on your usage type when determining how often to change, or at least inspect the fluid.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

This was what I was getting at with my question above.

Under normal use, Toyota has no mileage recommendations for changing the oil in your front/rear dif, transfer case, or trans.

I go offroading and carry some weight from time to time, but nothing that would be considered extreme use.

Maybe I'll change all the fluids at 100,000 miles and be done with it. Or maybe I won't touch it at all. Haven't decided yet.

It's good to have the fluid specs for those that may be concerned that water may have entered the differential.

The fluid looked good at 60k in my last truck, but that one did see much deep water.
Same with the trans fluid, it was a manual trans so a drain and fill.
I never did the front diff or transfer case and drove it to 130k before trading it in.

 

[QwikKotaTx]

I forgot the diff opens from the front such as the Chrysler 8 3/4. I just did the fluid about 2 months ago but also did my Ram after which has a cover. I changed the rear at 30k and again at 90k just to be on the safe side. Most factory fill is synthetic these days though.

 

[Swipter]

Diffs done at 23k on the Limited. It was dark with shavings on the magnets. Not I have almost 25k but still have not done the transfer case. I have the Ravenol but just haven't done it yet.

 

[tacoyota]

I just changed my rear diff at 30k. Pretty dark with metal shavings as well. Took forever to pump in the new gear oil! Will continue at 30k intervals. I used Lucas synthetic 75-90.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Mobil 1 makes a good synthetic motor oil and gear oil. Get the same (correct) weight of oil as the Toyota spec'd oil. The transfer case oil may only be available from Toyota.

I changed all my oils at around 26,000 miles. The front diff was dirty and the back diff was darker. It helps to drive it in 4 wheel drive about a mile or so, just before changing the front diff and transfer case. Stir up the oil by driving it before doing the change. Get any dirt into solution so it can be drained out.

48k is too many miles between gear oil changes if you're off-roading very much.

Mobil Synthetic 75w90 for differentials and Mobil Delvac synthetic 75w90 for the transfer case. 175K miles and going strong. Toyote OEM Obsessive Compulsion Disorder be damned.

 

[Jetboy]

This was what I was getting at with my question above.

Under normal use, Toyota has no mileage recommendations for changing the oil in your front/rear dif, transfer case, or trans.

I go offroading and carry some weight from time to time, but nothing that would be considered extreme use.

Maybe I'll change all the fluids at 100,000 miles and be done with it. Or maybe I won't touch it at all. Haven't decided yet.

They really don't ever need to be changed. Most heavy trucks use 300k mile changes in the diff. Most HDpickups are 150k. For me 100k should be fine. 200k is probably okay too. Doing it every 30k is like changing your engine oil every 3k. It doesn't hurt anything. People do it. No one really knows why other than that's how it used to be.

 

[nimby]

They really don't ever need to be changed. Most heavy trucks use 300k mile changes in the diff. Most HDpickups are 150k. For me 100k should be fine. 200k is probably okay too. Doing it every 30k is like changing your engine oil every 3k. It doesn't hurt anything. People do it. No one really knows why other than that's how it used to be.

Thank you.

Yeah, there is no need for me to change diff oil at 30,000.

I also do 10,000 mile oil changes, like the manual recommends

 

[Sconie]

Thank you.

Yeah, there is no need for me to change diff oil at 30,000.

I also do 10,000 mile oil changes, like the manual recommends

Same here. Of course----then too----I'm not much of an off-roader and, in fact, endeavor to be gentle with my 4Runner.

 

[TexasTEQFan]

Finally changed mine this weekend, I have right at 79K on my 2014 and this was the first change. Oil was dark but clear and i had a surprisingly small amount of fine paste on the magnet.

 

[71gs3504sp]

Guys this is the maintenance that I did on my 08 Toyota FJ.

Every 5k miles - Mobil 1 Oil and Toyota Oil Filter
Every 10k miles - Transmission drain and fill, about 3.25 Qts Toyota WS Transmission Oil
Every 30k miles - Transfer Case, Rear Axle and Front Axle, Mobil 1 75W90 Gear Oil
Every 50k miles - Radiator drain and Fill with Toyota Antifreeze

I just sold it in just 4 days last May 2019 with 191k miles and got 55% of the original purchase price.

I will be using the same above maintenance for my 18 4runner.

 

[Decipher]

Guys this is the maintenance that I did on my 08 Toyota FJ.



Every 5k miles - Mobil 1 Oil and Toyota Oil Filter

Every 10k miles - Transmission drain and fill, about 3.25 Qts Toyota WS Transmission Oil

Every 30k miles - Transfer Case, Rear Axle and Front Axle, Mobil 1 75W90 Gear Oil

Every 50k miles - Radiator drain and Fill with Toyota Antifreeze



I just sold it in just 4 days last May 2019 with 191k miles and got 55% of the original purchase price.



I will be using the same above maintenance for my 18 4runner.

Your schedule is super aggressive and way beyond what Toyota recommends. Your mileage is great, but far from unheard of for a Toyota following the recommended schedule. It’s your money so please do what you’d like, but that seems like a waste of money when Toyota has spent who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars in R&D.

I can’t fault anyone for overkill on their maintenance schedule. It’s just not entirely necessary. Call your local dealer and talk to their service department. I did. I was surprised by how my dealer gave me honest info and lost money on service when they candidly told me what I did and didn’t need to do at the 100,000 mile mark.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I was surprised by how my dealer gave me honest info

That would surprise me as well.