Front and Rear Diff fluid change
- Thread starter Mijfwb23
- Start date
DougR
Member
See https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/files/PDF Files/ecgs-gear-oil-recommendation1.pdf for an interesting discussion of gear oil change intervals based on temperature and their opinion of the various brands. They recommend Lucas Heavy Duty 80W90 (non-synthetic) which is available in most chain auto part stores.
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DougR
Member
Amsoil funded an extensive study of synthetic gear oils ... http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/brochures/g2457_gearlube_study.pdf The report contains 20+ pages of test data. Page 19 shows a ranking chart of 17 tests. The ranking numbers are added to create a total score, where the lowest score is best, and highest score is worst.
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2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
While 75-90 may be fine in your transfer case, if you’re still under warranty, do not do it. In the unlikely event your case fails, you’ll absolutely be paying out of pocket for a new case. They will blame the failure in the wrong fluid. In any case, why are people so hell bent against an $80 can of oil? If that’s how people think, they should be driving a $500 POS not a $40,000 plus vehicle.
71gs3504sp
Member
AMEN! Well stated!
Tuco S.
New member
Should work just fine.
The fact that few if any Toyota dealers even stock the oem 75W t-case fluid (and apparently some won't even order it) tells me Toyota wouldn't even attempt to deny a warranty claim if there was a 75W90 fluid in the t-case. Internet paranoia.
The 75W (just like the 75W85 diff oil) was undoubtedly selected to reduce fluid drag in an attempt to improve fuel economy.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Yeah, if your case fails, they’ll do everything they can to not cover it. That’s what the dealer does for a living. To my knowledge the correct fluid is a different color than gear oil. If my info is correct, it’ll be pretty obvious when they drain the case. At the end of the day what others do is not my problem. To me $80 for a can of oil sucks but I have no problem paying it every 50k miles or so. Whole lot cheaper than a new case and peace of mind is priceless. Now as far as diffs go, 75-90 Mobil synthetic all day.
smeerun
New member
Is this thread still going? Holy sh1t! 
layball: opcorn:
Here is my opinion (after reading this thread and many others like it):
Two weeks ago I used the toyota recommended fluids for the diffs and t-case. Next time around I'll probably go with alternative options that folk here are using with success. It's not so much saving the money on the fluids (although it did cost $360 for all of the needed fluid)... it's the fact that it's hard to actually find a dealer who stocks the fluids in question (or is even willing to order it for you) that says a lot to me.
At the end of the day, just do your own research and come to a conclusion for yourself. There are plenty of these discussions across the internet, let alone on this forum.
Again, just my opinion regarding my vehicle based off of multiple factors that seem to point in a general "this or that is just fine."
layball: opcorn:Here is my opinion (after reading this thread and many others like it):
Two weeks ago I used the toyota recommended fluids for the diffs and t-case. Next time around I'll probably go with alternative options that folk here are using with success. It's not so much saving the money on the fluids (although it did cost $360 for all of the needed fluid)... it's the fact that it's hard to actually find a dealer who stocks the fluids in question (or is even willing to order it for you) that says a lot to me.
At the end of the day, just do your own research and come to a conclusion for yourself. There are plenty of these discussions across the internet, let alone on this forum.
Again, just my opinion regarding my vehicle based off of multiple factors that seem to point in a general "this or that is just fine."
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delloro
New member
You cannot say "there's no evidence" as that is proving a negative. You can fairly say that you are not aware of any such evidence, but that invites questions as well, such as how would you know what evidence there is, or what that evidence is? You might be in such a position to have that actual information, but I doubt it, as Toyota appears pretty closed-mouth about their information.
What do you consider "failing"? If using non-spec fluid caused the failure rate - and there is a failure rate, there must be, as all things fail - to double, would that matter to you? Triple? Toyotas are famed for their reliability, which is a product if their engineering. I don't think I am out-engineering them. Maybe some people they are.
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delloro
New member
It would be nice if they would just answer our questions and tell us the truth.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Truth and dealership should never be used in the same sentence.
DougR
Member
Are you asking for 5th gen transfer case failure data on Toyota fluid versus any non-Toyota fluid? I think I know the answer ... nobody knows, since that data does not exist.
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DougR
Member
What are your questions? If you want to ask, what is the transfer case failure rate due to use of non-Toyota fluid, then I think I can answer that question. They don’t know and it would be prohibitively expensive to set up a test or process to get the answer.
delloro
New member
I would ask them if quality conventional or synthetic gear oil would provide equivalent or better protection against wear and damage than their specified oils.
