Transfer Case Fluid

D

drdevon

New member
Hi there! I don't post much, but am interested in what y'all do for transfer case fluid for your 4Runners. The manual says SAE 75w (not a multi-weight, curiously) and I wondered if anyone had luck with any synthetic products out there.

I look forward to your answers.

:yo:
 
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I've always used Mobil 1 synthetic in my manual transmission, transfer case and axles in my old Tacomas/4runners/4x4 Trucks and haven't had any issues. I'll probably switch to it on my 2015's when the time comes.
 
Manual specifies LF fluid, which is a dealer only item, can be had online for about $55 a liter if I remember right.

Many use the same stuff as the diff.
 
Plain SAE 75 can only be had in synthetic. I've used AMSOIL and Redline and can't tell the difference between them. Redline is harder to get usually. Mobil 1 is readily available
 
The dealer does not have some secret, magic gear oil, it's just overly expensive oil. I use Royal Purple. Even Walmart carries it.
 
drdevon said:
Red Line makes something my dealer likes - they don't sell it, but it meets the transfer case (SAE 75) and 75W-85 specs.

It's their 75W85 GL-5 Gear Oil:

Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Differentials - 75W85 GL-5 Gear Oil

I can get it off Amazon with free shipping and I think I will.

Thanks for your input, folks. Just thought I would share what I bumped into to close this out.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I had in my 5th gen, front rear and transfer. Redline makes very good oil, and that GL-5 is very well suited all around for your 4runner.
 
On my old 03 4runner I switched to Mobil 1 at around 30k miles. Shortly after this I started to get a leak at the transfer case actuator. The Mobil 1 may not have caused this but this is a very expensive fix ($2500). The leak got worse as years went by. I never fixed the leak and just made a drip pan to catch the fluid so it did not make a mess in my garage. This is one of the reasons I trade in my 4th gen. It turns out this is becoming a fairly common 4th gen problem but usually with many more miles than I had. On my 2014 I am just going to use what it calls for when the time comes for a change of fluid just for my piece of mind. I will use Mobil 1 in the difs though. The sad thing is the transfer case and actuator look pretty much the same on the 4th gen and 5th gen. I hope some improvements were made at some point in time.
 
FWIW when it was time to do mine I asked the dealer about the different weights in the diffs and transfer case and they said they just used 75w90 in all three (Ontario, Canada). I went with Mobil 1 75w90. Pretty easy DIY for a complete amateur like myself.
 
Toyota 75W

Yes 2012 and newer all require a 75w @ $75 a liter. Liquid gold. I called all the major oil manufacturers and they all tell me to use Toyota 75w. I finally found a 75w for $15. Full Synthetic. Check out Amazon - RAVENOL J1C1003 SAE 75W Manual Transmission Fluid - MTF-3 Full Synthetic
 
mikec767 said:
Yes 2012 and newer all require a 75w @ $75 a liter. Liquid gold. I called all the major oil manufacturers and they all tell me to use Toyota 75w. I finally found a 75w for $15. Full Synthetic. Check out Amazon - RAVENOL J1C1003 SAE 75W Manual Transmission Fluid - MTF-3 Full Synthetic
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting! Ordering some up today!
 
Dead thread revival, eh?

I figure I will throw in that I recently swapped out to Redline 75w-90 in the differentials and the transfer case after calling 2 local dealerships about the Toyota 75w TC gear oil and was met with a "I have never seen this before" and a "It says a price, but I have no idea what quantity it is..."

I haven't noticed any difference in smoothness or shifting ability from the transfer case. Somewhere in my install I think I got some gear oil residue on my exhaust system as I get wafts of gear oil smell in the cab under load when it's hot. Not the most fun experience, but it has been getting better over the 3k miles since I replaced the fluids. Oh well...
 
MTN4RNR said:
Dead thread revival, eh?

I figure I will throw in that I recently swapped out to Redline 75w-90 in the differentials and the transfer case after calling 2 local dealerships about the Toyota 75w TC gear oil and was met with a "I have never seen this before" and a "It says a price, but I have no idea what quantity it is..."

I haven't noticed any difference in smoothness or shifting ability from the transfer case. Somewhere in my install I think I got some gear oil residue on my exhaust system as I get wafts of gear oil smell in the cab under load when it's hot. Not the most fun experience, but it has been getting better over the 3k miles since I replaced the fluids. Oh well...
Click to expand...

Did you use the Redline 75W90 NS gear oil?
 
Jake2014 said:
FWIW when it was time to do mine I asked the dealer about the different weights in the diffs and transfer case and they said they just used 75w90 in all three (Ontario, Canada).
Click to expand...

I bought my new-to-me 2011 Limited back in May 2016. The previous owner had racked up 144,000 km (89,000 miles) on it, with all regular maintenance (mainly just the 0W20 oil/filter changes and the occasional air filter) done at Toyota dealerships.

This May at 151,000 km (94,000 miles) I decided to drain and fill the transfer case gear oil, drain and fill the front differential gear oil and rear differential gear oil. My independent mechanic did not notice any burnt smell or significant discoloration in the gear oils when he drained the t-case and differentials.

Since my local Toyota dealership also gets their (75W90) gear oil in bulk, I was not able to use the recommended Toyota gear oils as specified in the owner's manual. Ended up using Lucas Synthetic 75W90 gear oil in the t-case and differentials.

https://lucasoil.com/products/gear-o...hetic-gear-oil

Also replaced the rear differential vent.

Should be good for the next 80,000 km (50,000 miles).
 
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