Alternative to Unicorn tears/aftermarket fluids (1 Viewer)
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Mobil 1 for engine, diffs, and t-case. I’ve had Toyota perform 2 transmission drain and fills in the 30K miles I’ve had it.
Valvoline MaxLife ATF works great in Toyota automatics. I've purchased it for between $18-22 a gallon from Wal Mart and Menards. It's a full synthetic, which Toyota WS is not.
For the TC, I like Mobil Delvac 75W90. It's around $9/quart and one of the very few full synthetic gear oils that does not include a limited slip friction modifier. It's an HD truck gear oil and not the same as Mobil 1 (which, last time I checked, had the friction modifier).
For the diffs I use cheap Valvoline 80W90 and change it every ~15K or so (due to the fact that I do a lot of creek crossings that can contaminate the fluid - so no point in throwing expensive gear oil away). If I had a longer change interval I would also run Delvac in the diffs.
For the TC, I like Mobil Delvac 75W90. It's around $9/quart and one of the very few full synthetic gear oils that does not include a limited slip friction modifier. It's an HD truck gear oil and not the same as Mobil 1 (which, last time I checked, had the friction modifier).
For the diffs I use cheap Valvoline 80W90 and change it every ~15K or so (due to the fact that I do a lot of creek crossings that can contaminate the fluid - so no point in throwing expensive gear oil away). If I had a longer change interval I would also run Delvac in the diffs.
For the transfer case I use Ravenol 75W full synthetic, which is the proper weight specified by Toyota.
Engine oil I use Mobil One Extended Performance (buy the 5 quart jugs from Walmart).
Tranny I use Valvoline full synthetic.
Diffs I use Lucas full synthetic 75W-140 (I have aftermarket gears)
Engine oil I use Mobil One Extended Performance (buy the 5 quart jugs from Walmart).
Tranny I use Valvoline full synthetic.
Diffs I use Lucas full synthetic 75W-140 (I have aftermarket gears)
Mobil 1 for engine oil, Valvoline MaxLife ATF, and this kit for all the grinders: Ravenol Diffs+Transfer Case
re_guderian
SILVER Star
Tranny issues aside, I don't recall seeing any fluid-related issues or failures here, or on CL. Are we at the point where brand doesn't matter? I realize I have somewhat radical opinions on this, but my expectation is that 70+ years of engineering advances, both on the mechanical and chemical sides, should have rendered obsolete the endless debates about which (non)synthetic wonder-oil is "necessary" to run. I run Mobil1 full synthetic engine oil not out of any brand loyalty or obsession with Blackstone UOA results (which I routinely mock as being the chiropractors of the automotive world), but because I still do some level of "fleet maintenance" for the fam's rides, and life is just simpler to standardize on one brand. Bad enough to run different weights. I feel like older drivers carry with them decades-old "conventional wisdom" that is unnecessary, outdated, and in most cases invalid and illogical (e.g. the 3K mile oil change interval). We tend not to update our own personal PM protocols at the same rate that the automakers and engineers do.
Fluids: Use 'em. Change them at some intervals. Drive the s#!t out of your awesomely engineered rig!
Fluids: Use 'em. Change them at some intervals. Drive the s#!t out of your awesomely engineered rig!
And that's why I run generally inexpensive fluids from reputable name (but not botique) brands that meet or exceed the OEM spec
. IMO, as long as it meets the spec, brand only matters if one was to undertake an excessively long change interval (beyond the OEM intervals), which I would never do.
I agree that the fact that you are changing your fluids is far more important than specific brands of fluids etc., same for oil filter brands.
I use synthetic fluids because of their ability to flow in very cold weather here in Minnesota, and addition to their other performance advantages.
The only non-synthetic I run is 80W90 in the diffs, and that's due to the ~12-15 month change interval. If my axles weren't getting totally submerged in Ozark spring water on such a routine basis, they would get a synthetic fluid as well.
FWIW, I did run 80W90 conventional in the TC for one change and found that it made a bit more noise than the 75W90 Delvac does. The Delvac is really an excellent fluid and is well-liked by folks in the Subaru MT world as well as motorcycle gear boxes. Unfortunately, it's hard to find around here, so I get ~6 quarts at a time from Summit Racing.
I'm using Toyota WS for the transmission. On the penultimate for the TC/diffs, I used the Toyota unicorn tears. On the last change, I decided to use Valvoline Full Synthetic 75W-90 for all three. Other than more money in my pocket, I didn't notice any difference.
Agreed on the whole buy whatever you can get that meets or exceeds specs, run it, and change it often enough.
I used the following last month when I did mine:
I used the following last month when I did mine:
- Engine: Kirkland 0W-20
- Trans: Toyota WS
- Transfer case: Liqui-Moly SAE 75W
- Front and Rear diff: Valvoline 75W-90
I used Blauparts GX460 "kit" for diffs and 75W TC, at ~60k. Best of all it was easy to source. And not ridiculously priced.
https://www.blauparts.com/lexus-gx460-transfer-case-differential-fluid-change-kit.html
https://www.blauparts.com/lexus-gx460-transfer-case-differential-fluid-change-kit.html
Like many on here I mix it up with some of the same
Engine Kirkland 0W-20
ATF Toyota WS
Diffs and TC Blauparts Ravenol Kit. I can't bring myself to pay for Unicorn sperm and Pixie farts in a bottle
I spent 20 years being involved in the Navy Oil Analysis Program (NOAP) and the Blackstone UOA are no more than they were, predicative failure analysis at best. Yet many hang their hat on the results, I agree that is crazy.
Propulsion Engineers in the Navy deal with 10's of millions of dollars in machinery, engines, gears, generators, etc. Stationary Engineers, electrical power plants, do the same but obviously go nowhere fast why they are stationary engineers. We both deal with thousands of gallons of lube oil of various types. The trade publication for the trade is called "Power". The very last article in Power is called The Salty Dog. Written by some crusty old engineer usually warning of some new process that comes out. More times than not he was always correct it might take a couple of years but he was right in the end. There is no substitute for experience. Butt hurt feelings have no place in best practices. The Salty Dog is the first article we all used to read in Power.
~25 years ago was getting new tires put on the Ex's car and the shop had a couple of auto trade rags in the waiting room. Read a great article on the move away from 3K oil changes it was started in California by environmentalist groups. And of course spread from there Country wide. I eventually went to 5K because I tick every box for "Special Operating Conditions" so not doing 10K and never will
But if you look at the rest of the world for the Lexus GX 460 and here is the owners manual for Dubai
Dirt or dusty roads oil change is every 3,000 miles.
So this Salty Dog says this comment:
"I feel like older drivers carry with them decades-old "conventional wisdom" that is unnecessary, outdated, and in most cases invalid and illogical (e.g. the 3K mile oil change interval)"
Is illogical LOL.
Engine Kirkland 0W-20
ATF Toyota WS
Diffs and TC Blauparts Ravenol Kit. I can't bring myself to pay for Unicorn sperm and Pixie farts in a bottle
I spent 20 years being involved in the Navy Oil Analysis Program (NOAP) and the Blackstone UOA are no more than they were, predicative failure analysis at best. Yet many hang their hat on the results, I agree that is crazy.
Propulsion Engineers in the Navy deal with 10's of millions of dollars in machinery, engines, gears, generators, etc. Stationary Engineers, electrical power plants, do the same but obviously go nowhere fast why they are stationary engineers. We both deal with thousands of gallons of lube oil of various types. The trade publication for the trade is called "Power". The very last article in Power is called The Salty Dog. Written by some crusty old engineer usually warning of some new process that comes out. More times than not he was always correct it might take a couple of years but he was right in the end. There is no substitute for experience. Butt hurt feelings have no place in best practices. The Salty Dog is the first article we all used to read in Power.
~25 years ago was getting new tires put on the Ex's car and the shop had a couple of auto trade rags in the waiting room. Read a great article on the move away from 3K oil changes it was started in California by environmentalist groups. And of course spread from there Country wide. I eventually went to 5K because I tick every box for "Special Operating Conditions" so not doing 10K and never will
But if you look at the rest of the world for the Lexus GX 460 and here is the owners manual for Dubai
Dirt or dusty roads oil change is every 3,000 miles.
So this Salty Dog says this comment:
"I feel like older drivers carry with them decades-old "conventional wisdom" that is unnecessary, outdated, and in most cases invalid and illogical (e.g. the 3K mile oil change interval)"
Is illogical LOL.
re_guderian
SILVER Star
Virtually all of us drive 99% of our miles on paved roads, even the "built rigs". There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, but the US road system is hardly representative of Dubai's environment. There was a time when 3k wasn't just for extreme environments. Yeah?Like many on here I mix it up with some of the same
Engine Kirkland 0W-20
ATF Toyota WS
Diffs and TC Blauparts Ravenol Kit. I can't bring myself to pay for Unicorn sperm and Pixie farts in a bottle
I spent 20 years being involved in the Navy Oil Analysis Program (NOAP) and the Blackstone UOA are no more than they were, predicative failure analysis at best. Yet many hang their hat on the results, I agree that is crazy.
Propulsion Engineers in the Navy deal with 10's of millions of dollars in machinery, engines, gears, generators, etc. Stationary Engineers, electrical power plants, do the same but obviously go nowhere fast why they are stationary engineers. We both deal with thousands of gallons of lube oil of various types. The trade publication for the trade is called "Power". The very last article in Power is called The Salty Dog. Written by some crusty old engineer usually warning of some new process that comes out. More times than not he was always correct it might take a couple of years but he was right in the end. There is no substitute for experience. Butt hurt feelings have no place in best practices. The Salty Dog is the first article we all used to read in Power.
~25 years ago was getting new tires put on the Ex's car and the shop had a couple of auto trade rags in the waiting room. Read a great article on the move away from 3K oil changes it was started in California by environmentalist groups. And of course spread from there Country wide. I eventually went to 5K because I tick every box for "Special Operating Conditions" so not doing 10K and never will
But if you look at the rest of the world for the Lexus GX 460 and here is the owners manual for Dubai
Dirt or dusty roads oil change is every 3,000 miles.
So this Salty Dog says this comment:
"I feel like older drivers carry with them decades-old "conventional wisdom" that is unnecessary, outdated, and in most cases invalid and illogical (e.g. the 3K mile oil change interval)"
Is illogical LOL.
We have a clinic in Dubai it is very civilized and lots of pavement LOL. Not as primitive as some may assume and I don't spend near 99% of my time on pavement here. With the taxes I pay you would think they would pave more of the roads though.
They don't have to worry about most of the other special operating conditions it doesn't get that cold there. In fact environmentally it is kind to engines compared to Mn. Haven't been to Dubai since the war in 91 when I brought home a full page add for the new Middle East Land Cruiser
My first 4x4 was an Iron Pig FJ55 ~1980 it got new oil and filter every 3K
It took awhile but I have come to embrace 0W-20 synthetic oil for the GX even in the cold of Mn. 10K oil changes? Not going to happen here, basic engineering principals of wear and lubrication in environmental conditions haven't changed, even with Unicorn tears.
re_guderian
SILVER Star
So in the 44 years since the last Iron Pig rolled off the production line, no engineering advancement in metallurgy, casting, machining, oil flow, oil passage design, CAD drawing and design technology, oil composition and additive advances have resulted in a retail automotive engine that can go longer than 3,000 miles without an oil change without significantly shortening its useful life? I find that hard to believe. I mean, you do you and all, but I'm totally okay with 10k mile intervals on engine oil.We have a clinic in Dubai it is very civilized and lots of pavement LOL. Not as primitive as some may assume and I don't spend near 99% of my time on pavement here. With the taxes I pay you would think they would pave more of the roads though.
They don't have to worry about most of the other special operating conditions it doesn't get that cold there. In fact environmentally it is kind to engines compared to Mn. Haven't been to Dubai since the war in 91 when I brought home a full page add for the new Middle East Land Cruiser
My first 4x4 was an Iron Pig FJ55 ~1980 it got new oil and filter every 3K
It took awhile but I have come to embrace 0W-20 synthetic oil for the GX even in the cold of Mn. 10K oil changes? Not going to happen here, basic engineering principals of wear and lubrication in environmental conditions haven't changed, even with Unicorn tears.
