Transfer and differential Oil change

[Americas High Five]

It sounds like alot of you determine your fluids are "bad" based on the look of them...I know this isnt apples to apples but I came across this on another forum I frequent. Attached is a ATF fluid analysis by Blackstone done for a IS250 AWD at 108,000 miles with "dark" looking ATF fluid.

 

[hrod79]

Great Info. Got this done today 90k service

 

[KVA]

Spoke to the dealer today and the head mechanic who said they put only GL-5 75W/90 in the diff and transfer cases and showed me the manual they use (TIS) - it did state to only use this for all 4WD/AWD versions only. Absolutely no mention of the 75W Transfer Case Oil @ $75/quart. I made the tech go back twice and look it up and he brought copies of the manual that validated his response.

Where did you find the link/mention of only using the TC oil (08885-81080) from Toyota for 2010+ 4x4's?

Also - interesting as I spoke to Toyota of Dallas and they were adamant that they would not ship oil. I laughed as I said it is on the site...they said pick-up only. Did you guys receive shipped oil from them?

 

[Randyman...]

Spoke to the dealer today and the head mechanic who said they put only GL-5 75W/90 in the diff and transfer cases and showed me the manual they use (TIS) - it did state to only use this for all 4WD/AWD versions only. Absolutely no mention of the 75W Transfer Case Oil @ $75/quart. I made the tech go back twice and look it up and he brought copies of the manual that validated his response.

Where did you find the link/mention of only using the TC oil (08885-81080) from Toyota for 2010+ 4x4's?

Also - interesting as I spoke to Toyota of Dallas and they were adamant that they would not ship oil. I laughed as I said it is on the site...they said pick-up only. Did you guys receive shipped oil from them?

The Manual states as much (section 6_1 from the 2010 manual that is posted on this site):

“Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear oil LF” is filled in your Toyota vehicle
at factory fill. Use Toyota approved “Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear oil
LF” or an equivalent of matching quality to satisfy the above specification.
Please contact your Toyota dealer for further details.

Transfer (4WD models)
Oil capacity
Part-time 4WD models
1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp. qt.)
Full-time 4WD models
1.5 qt. (1.4 L, 1.2 Imp. qt.)
Oil type* Toyota Genuine Transfer gear oil LF or
equivalent
Recommended oil viscosity SAE 75W

I ordered mine from Toyota of Dallas and got it no problems (P/N: 08885-81080). Go figure? Plan on changing it this weekend along with the diffs (Using Redline 75W85 GL5 for those)...

 

[Utahsteve]

Struggling to shift into 4lo

First post here, long time reader (lurker) owning a couple of 3rd gens and now a 5th gen.
I recently began to notice the 4runner struggling to shift into 4lo; so I decided to change out the transfer case lube. I then thought I might as well do the front and rear diff while I was down there, after all the 4runner is at 36k miles. I also did the LC while I was at it (front, rear, and transfer), since it is coming up on 90k miles. I used amsoil severe gear 75w-90 for both rigs and in all three spots.
Impressions:
-The 4runner rear diff fluid looked the worst, which experience from previous trucks has shown to be typical. Transfer case and front diff fluid didn't look terrible but not great. Proud to say that shifting into 4lo is now easy and smooth as butter, no hesitation at all. Very glad I switched it out, probably waited too long.
-The Land Cruiser probably didn't need to be changed out yet. The amsoil severe gear fluid from the 30k change still looked clean. Even though it had been in there for almost 60k miles it was much cleaner than the original fluid in the 4runner. (I know the "break in" period should be the dirtiest change, but I kinda wished I had changed the 4runner out earlier.)

 

[pattycakes]

With all the worry about metal shavings out there heres a tip , change out the fill plugs and put drain plugs in their place , I also put drainplugs in the TC in the fill and drain holes , I take the fill (now magnetic plugs) out every oil change and clean them off , this will prevent your drain plugs from reaching their metal holding saturation point so quickly and keep more metal flakes out of the oil between changes . Also give a good excuse to check the levels in there .
here is my rear diff fill plug with 10 000 KM on it when doing my engine oil change . clean the sucker off and put em back in .

 

[alnem1126]

Sorry to bring up an old thread.

Found Toyota genuine fluid for $32.05 at amazon. Debating if I should just get Royal Purple which is a lot cheaper

http://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Genuin...id=1434590525&sr=8-9&keywords=toyota+75w++oil

 

[Woz1976-MT]

Transfer Case Fluid (2010-Current)

I've ordered a 2016 T4R Trail (silver) and have been researching fluids to switch it over to all synthetic as soon as I am able to... Montana winters can be absolutely brutal on vehicles (and I plan on keeping my new T4R for as long as possible).

Amsoil (a favorite of mine) does not list a TC fluid that is compatible with Toyota's requirements. I did find that Royal Purple lists a compatibility chart for "Genuine Toyota LF Gear Oil" being RP's Synchromax gear oil. Oil specs for it look good.

Has anyone here used RP Synchromax for the 5th gen transfer case? I'm all ears to hear about anyone's results with it.


(BTW, my first post! Can't wait for my 4Runner to get here.)

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I have used Synchromax in my '87 truck and my '85 supra (both W-series transmissions) as well as the transfer case in my '87 truck, it has worked well over many, many years. I also use the Max-Gear 75w-90 in my diffs, and that too has worked very well.

When the time comes, I'll be servicing my '11 4r with those two products, and in fact, the diffs will be done soon with Max Gear, if I can find some time to get it done.

Can't go wrong with Royal Purple, but if cost is an issue, Mobil1 oils are also fantastic to run, although in this day and age, its really all a matter of brand preference, as they will all perform well, including some of the cheap store brands (I said some, not all!). Its really more of a peace of mind thing for me to use Royal Purple, I know that it can stay in there for years without any issues.

 

[1engineer]

I've ordered a 2016 T4R Trail (silver) and have been researching fluids to switch it over to all synthetic as soon as I am able to... Montana winters can be absolutely brutal on vehicles (and I plan on keeping my new T4R for as long as possible).

Amsoil (a favorite of mine) does not list a TC fluid that is compatible with Toyota's requirements. I did find that Royal Purple lists a compatibility chart for "Genuine Toyota LF Gear Oil" being RP's Synchromax gear oil. Oil specs for it look good.

Has anyone here used RP Synchromax for the 5th gen transfer case? I'm all ears to hear about anyone's results with it.


(BTW, my first post! Can't wait for my 4Runner to get here.)

Montana winters are no worse than Alaska or Northern Canada or North Dakota or really any north except North Carolina lol. There are people here in Alaska, Alberta, Kuwait and South America so all extremes are covered. With that said the OEM stuff will be just fine for your application.
If you are planning on racing it or 90% off road driving then change it. Otherwise leave it alone. It will be fine.

 

[Atlantan]

Just changed front diff, rear diff, and transfer case at 5,000 miles. The rear diff was really dark with a decent amount of very fine shavings on the magnet. The front diff was about half as dark with fewer fine shavings on the magnet. The transfer case was very clear with almost no shavings.

Although the front diff and transfer case may have been overkill, I'm glad I changed them after break-in. I used Mobil 1 75w/90 in all holes.

Just curious what made you change these at 5K miles, driving conditions or knowledge that it is better to change these at break in. Cheers.

 

[coltm4]

As promised here what I saw when replacing the front differential oil. Once again I went with M1 Synthetic 75W-90. The front differential was at least as "awful" as the rear. There was a large amount of metallic paste on the drain plug magnet as you can see in the pic below:

It was a little difficult getting a clear picture of the gunk with my phone camera but that large black blob on the towel isn't a smudge but a large glob of metal paste that I half wiped off the drain plug.

I also observed metal particulates in the oil itself, despite the presence of a magnet on the drain plug. I believe this is due to the metal glob on the magnet being larger than it can effectively retain within the swirling stream of oil passing over it.

If I knew previously what I know now I would have changed the oil in both differentials shortly after break-in and then every 15k miles until the amount of break in metals dropped off. Obviously differentials are pretty resilient but I'd still prefer to not run them with metal suspended in the oil.

I just did my rear at 8300 miles and my plug looked at least as bad as that. Giving serious consideration to doing the front the next time I have the skids off.

Out of curiosity, how does the front axle disconnect work? I've never owned a vehicle that had the disconnect, I had locking hubs and manual transfer case of 70's era Broncos.

 

[Narkhelek]

I just did my rear at 8300 miles and my plug looked at least as bad as that. Giving serious consideration to doing the front the next time I have the skids off.

Out of curiosity, how does the front axle disconnect work? I've never owned a vehicle that had the disconnect, I had locking hubs and manual transfer case of 70's era Broncos.

I believe the axle on one side of the differential is separated in to two pieces. There is a spline that can slide over the two axle pieces effectively either locking the axle up or allowing the two pieces to rotate independently. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[lalamax]

I've ordered a 2016 T4R Trail (silver) and have been researching fluids to switch it over to all synthetic as soon as I am able to... Montana winters can be absolutely brutal on vehicles (and I plan on keeping my new T4R for as long as possible).

Amsoil (a favorite of mine) does not list a TC fluid that is compatible with Toyota's requirements. I did find that Royal Purple lists a compatibility chart for "Genuine Toyota LF Gear Oil" being RP's Synchromax gear oil. Oil specs for it look good.

Has anyone here used RP Synchromax for the 5th gen transfer case? I'm all ears to hear about anyone's results with it.


(BTW, my first post! Can't wait for my 4Runner to get here.)

i just switched to rp synchromax toda at 8k. Can't tell any difference. The thing is the fluid is purple, and oem is gold color. Make sure you buy two bottles.

For rear diff I switched to amsoil , the magnet full of thick metal particles. I will change again in another 8k to see how it goes.

 

[Woz1976-MT]

i just switched to rp synchromax toda at 8k. Can't tell any difference. The thing is the fluid is purple, and oem is gold color. Make sure you buy two bottles.

For rear diff I switched to amsoil , the magnet full of thick metal particles. I will change again in another 8k to see how it goes.

I decided on Royal Purple for all three (front/rear differentials and transfer case). I've noticed that 4H seems to engage a bit faster. I haven't noticed anything with switching the differential fluid. At approx. 1,100 miles, there was quite a bit of metal particles on the magnet. I'm probably going to check the magnet again at 10,000 miles.

I decided on the Royal Purple 75W-90 for the differentials because it has an even lower pour point than Amsoil. They are both so low that I'm sure I'm splitting hairs -- I just used that as my "excuse" to try Royal Purple (since I'd never used it in any of my previous vehicles).

 

[cyclist]

Just curious what made you change these at 5K miles, driving conditions or knowledge that it is better to change these at break in. Cheers.

I changed the rear at 5k before too... On my '14 I changed it at 10k and there was a lot of shavings, likely from break in. ON my '16 I changed the rear at 5k, front at 10k, which had a more acceptable amount (subjective, I know..). I now change the rear every 10k, and the front 20-30k depending upon 4x4 usage. I use Redline 75w85. I'm at 30k on my '16, haven't done the xfer case yet. I'll likely be using Ravenol 75w for the Transfer case.

 

[lalamax]

What did you use for tc?

通过我的 MI NOTE LTE 上的 Tapatalk发言

 

[lalamax]

Just for future reference on sae75 Toyota gear oil LF. That's what the dealer is using here in Canada.

通过我的 MI NOTE LTE 上的 Tapatalk发言

 

[SilverTEP]

I'm looking to change the T-case and diff oils. I was told that I'd need to change the gaskets. When I put those part numbers into toyota parts website, the T-case gasket says it doesn't fit the 5th gen, and the drain plug gasket for the diff is no longer available for purchase. I'm stuck here.

From another post:
"Differential Fluid Change
GASKET, DRAIN PLUG - ALUMINUM DIFF (REAR:2 FRONT: 1) 1215710010
GASKET, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG.* (QTY:1) 9043024003

Transfer Case Service
TRANSFERCASE GASKET DRAIN/FILL (QTY:2) 9043018008
Superseded by: 90430-A0003"

 

[MTN4RNR]

I posted this on another fluid change thread, but I thought I would post it here too.

OK. This can get filed under the "technically" category... I did some more digging with this T-case fluid type debacle.

So, the manual states "Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear Oil LF or equivalent ... SAE 75W"

Redline 75w-85 Gear Oil states that it "Satisfies the gear oil viscosity requirements of SAE ... 75W..."

Based on the way it's written, Redline 75w-85 would be considered an "equivalent". No mention of GL rating in the Manual. WARRANTY PRESERVED

.... Carry on