transfer case fluid
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sandcrawler
Senior Member
nice find. the Toyota OEM 75W certainly has a LOT more magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and boron than the Ravenol product. i know the Toyota stuff is spendy, but considering how infrequently you have to drain/fill the t-case, it still seems like cheap insurance to me. (DIY service of the 4Runner's t-case is actually easier than an oil change, after all.)
not totally related, but i've been put off by Ravenol products and don't trust them. in the past, they've claimed compatibility with (admittedly niche) mechanical systems on the Toyota MR2 only to then backtrack on that claim as users reported catastrophic damage from using the Ravenol "equivalent". didn't happen to me personally, but it gives me pause when a company goes out of its way to claim its product is compatible with a relatively esoteric application and then causes undue and unnecessary damage after doing so.
DesertCanyons
New member
No analysis here
First to the OP, this post would be useful and get a lot of response if it were posted in one of the Diff and Transfer case oil change threads.
Thanks for replying [MENTION=29376]sandcrawler[/MENTION] . What isn't clear from this thread is whether the minerals are additives or naturally occurring trace elements? Also, are these elements a good thing or a deterrent for using the Toyota 75W transfer gear oil. I'm about to buy all the oil I need for a complete lube and I was considering the Mobil 1 or Mobil synthetic oil as an equal or better option to Toyota oil.
There's no evaluation of what this data means in this thread. That's another reason to post it in any one of the existing gear oil change threads, to get responses from more people who are considering doing their own gear oil change.
First to the OP, this post would be useful and get a lot of response if it were posted in one of the Diff and Transfer case oil change threads.
Thanks for replying [MENTION=29376]sandcrawler[/MENTION] . What isn't clear from this thread is whether the minerals are additives or naturally occurring trace elements? Also, are these elements a good thing or a deterrent for using the Toyota 75W transfer gear oil. I'm about to buy all the oil I need for a complete lube and I was considering the Mobil 1 or Mobil synthetic oil as an equal or better option to Toyota oil.
There's no evaluation of what this data means in this thread. That's another reason to post it in any one of the existing gear oil change threads, to get responses from more people who are considering doing their own gear oil change.
MossJenks
New member
Without wading into the issue of the appropriate location of this post, the formulation of the specified Toyota oil is not an accident. Certainly the Toyota engineers had something specific in mind. Now it may well be that the additive package is there to compensate for how "thin" the straight 75w is and that by running a thicker oil you don't need this particular additive package but regardless, the Toyota oil is formulated like that for a reason.
My personal thought is that the Ravenol product is NOT the right product for these transfer cases. It's a specific designed for manual transmissions and surely targeted to help the synchronizers do their thing. A transfer case is more like a differential than a manual transmission. I'm pretty sure that the 5th gen transfer cases are very similar to earlier units that specified 75w-90 and that they've specified the 75w for fuel economy. The logical conclusion is that the OEM 75w is formulated to be extra heavy duty to compensate for the lower specified weight.
My personal thought is that the Ravenol product is NOT the right product for these transfer cases. It's a specific designed for manual transmissions and surely targeted to help the synchronizers do their thing. A transfer case is more like a differential than a manual transmission. I'm pretty sure that the 5th gen transfer cases are very similar to earlier units that specified 75w-90 and that they've specified the 75w for fuel economy. The logical conclusion is that the OEM 75w is formulated to be extra heavy duty to compensate for the lower specified weight.
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your comments on the synchronizing is the issue, I found in my digging in on this very expensive and poorly packaged Toyota gear oil..
what was also revealed that I found , the higher viscosity oils like 75-90wt does hurt the transfer case when cold due to the design on engagement . so if you put in 4WD in a hot area viscosity not a problem .. if in the cold north a problem ..
I did this because I had concerns over this transfer case toyota oil and also some Toyota dealerships do not use this correct oil , but use the cheaper alternative.. I also found many Toyota dealerships do not have this in stock..
It does appear 30-40K is when to change it or if it does look bad.. perhaps lower miles if you do a lot of 4WD..
It was mentioned Borg Warner makes these T cases 2014 - now..
sandcrawler
Senior Member
[MENTION=115572]DesertCanyons[/MENTION]: the magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and boron are part of the additive package...
the high values for these additives indicate that this (yes, expensive!) Toyota OE 75W gear oil has a very robust additive package — much more so than the Ravenol product. i'm sure Toyota has very good reasons for this and i don't pretend to know more than them on the subject. i'm certain, however, that Toyota knows more about this particular application than Ravenol does, and while i didn't really look at the Ravenol product in detail, as noted above while it may be the same weight as the OE spec it could be intended for an entirely different application.
re: Mobil products being "equal or better"... that's a judgment call on your part. i will say that the Toyota OE 0W20 synthetic oil is a very highly regarded product, and both my engine and t-case run the OE fluids. i do run Amsoil in my diffs, though.
EDIT: just looked more closely; obviously the MTF stands for manual trans fluid, so that would entirely disqualify using the Ravenol in your t-case. props to [MENTION=170820]MossJenks[/MENTION] above. :tea:
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MossJenks
New member
A transfer case isn't synchromesh. It's a totally different thing.
IT was stated the 2014 and newer the synchronizing is the issue... BECAUSE OF THE NEW DESIGN...
The transfer case they make allows the truck “to switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive while moving (or “shifting-on-the fly”), BorgWarner’s transfer case uses an electromagnetic-based synchronization system to synchronize the front and rear axle speeds before locking them together.
DO NOT MENTION OR STATE THAT it is SYNCHROMESH DESIGN..
WRONG VISCOSITY TOO THICK WHEN COLD ... causes the drive shafts to grind / delay 4WD connection..
I called 2 dealerships they will take a day to order/get the cans of the 75w LF transfer case Toyota gear oil.. $81 USD..........
they also stated they have this in 55gallon drums bulk ... same deal with the diff gear oil ...
So as many have used the wrong oil good luck !
you need to read this then you will know ! http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/borgwarner-toyota-tundra-transfer-case/
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sandcrawler
Senior Member
none of that applies to the 4Runner t-case.
delloro
New member
That's what I thought too. It's only one can, if I can spend $25 on sushi, I can spend that much extra to get the right product. Especially when there is no equivalent replacement.
BorgWarner’s Next-Generation HY-VO Chain Reduces Friction for Better Fuel Economy with Low Noise, Vibration and Harshness
Auburn Hills, Michigan, June 11, 2014 – BorgWarner’s next-generation HY-VO® chain drives transfer cases for the Lexus® GX and the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado,
4Runner,
Tacoma and FJ Cruiser. Specifically engineered to reduce friction, the chain improves efficiency and helps increase fuel economy. BorgWarner produces HY-VO chain for these applications at its facility in Japan.
yes 4runner . change out that 75-90wt ... or $2K USD....
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MossJenks
New member
If you say so. 4Runners have been "shift on the fly" since the intro of the 2nd generation and Toyotas have had chain drive transfer cases (depending on year and model - there are gear transfer cases too) for longer than that. A 75w-90 should be pretty close in viscosity to......a hell, nevermind. :frusty:
Asugm13
New member
Oil is oil...
Let's be honest, if you can save a buck somewhere why not a vital piece of drivetrain... Hell you can put conventional oil in the engine.... But no one here is saying they do, bc..... Toyota says only synthetic. Bc....your car will blow up( that's a joke).... No, bc, Toyota engineered it to use 0W-20 synthetic. Not 10W-30 conventional. If you feel 75W-90 from whatever company is the same, equivalent, or better than OEM 75W your mistaken. It has those extra minerals added for whatever reason the engineers wanted/ needed. But it's your car and your money, we live in a free society, choose wisely.
Let's be honest, if you can save a buck somewhere why not a vital piece of drivetrain... Hell you can put conventional oil in the engine.... But no one here is saying they do, bc..... Toyota says only synthetic. Bc....your car will blow up( that's a joke).... No, bc, Toyota engineered it to use 0W-20 synthetic. Not 10W-30 conventional. If you feel 75W-90 from whatever company is the same, equivalent, or better than OEM 75W your mistaken. It has those extra minerals added for whatever reason the engineers wanted/ needed. But it's your car and your money, we live in a free society, choose wisely.
Asugm13
New member
Thank you for posting!
Thank you for doing the research to find this. Thank you to who ever sent it off to blackwater to be tested.
Thank you for doing the research to find this. Thank you to who ever sent it off to blackwater to be tested.
sandcrawler
Senior Member
i doubt i'm the only one having difficulty understanding you here... in the portion of your posts that i am able to parse, you've quoted 2 different articles and appear to be conflating their contents as if they are the same.
the first article is solely about the Tundra t-case — not the 4Runner. at all. period.
the second (which you do not cite, but is obviously this one) is a company press release re: a single component within a t-case for multiple models. to be honest, i don't understand the press release at all, because it cites the t-case in the FJ Cruiser which was discontinued entirely that same year.
all of that aside, Toyota's spec for the 5th Gen 4Runner's t-case fluid HAS NOT CHANGED. at all. period.
however, if i understand you correctly (and i'm really not certain that i do), in the end you seem to be encouraging the use of the OE 75W gear oil and i agree with you there, so i guess we're on the same page after all?
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delloro
New member
I think that BW makes the chain, not the whole TC.
What do ya'll think about me just using this stuff?
https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-Sy...ds=75w-85+oil&qid=1566523096&s=gateway&sr=8-4
I don't see why it would be an issue from what I've read on here. Does anyone have any first-hand experience?
https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-Sy...ds=75w-85+oil&qid=1566523096&s=gateway&sr=8-4
I don't see why it would be an issue from what I've read on here. Does anyone have any first-hand experience?
MaddoxPics
New member
It's perfectly fine to use. I forget what thread, but someone asked Toyota and they said this would be an "equivalent" fluid. FWIW a friend who works at Toyota says they don't even carry the 75W-85, but instead use 75W-90 in vehicles.
I recently changed both difs and transfer case and haven't noticed any issues, smells, or anything else. Know a few who have done this for a good two changes and the same.