Ok there was this video prepared by our brother regarding changing the differential oils and the transfer case. There I read that the oils should be changed on the first 1km then a few thousand kms after... Do we follow this precaution/maintenance? I tend to follow the service at 100k kms but the 1k.... Hmmm.
Do we need to replace front rear and transfer case oil on the first 1k kms
- Thread starter slicky rick
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Im gonna say no. Im assuming the fear is “metal shavings”, i can't see there being “shavings” at 1k or even 10,000km. I know older guys have always preached this but i just dont think thats how things made of metal in this day and age work. If it was, toyota would tell you to do it and charge you for it.
I should say tho, I’m no charlie daniels of the torque wrench and it certainly wont hurt anything but your wallet.
There's been a thread or 2 here on switching diff's and trans case drain and fill plugs with plugs from a Tundra. Large magnets where some 200's don't have magnets.
Transfer case drainplug musings
I'd use good oil, and I change mine every 2 years. That's around 15K but half of it is dirt.
Steve
Transfer case drainplug musings
I'd use good oil, and I change mine every 2 years. That's around 15K but half of it is dirt.
Steve
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
Absolutely yes!
Almost all the wear a differential experiences is after the first 100 miles of use.
You will be hard pressed to find a gear manufacture that doesn’t say to change the diff fluid after 500 miles.
Sure the factory gears are lapped. But it still doesn’t replace the massive heat and pressure and ring and pinion generate when loaded down with drive power.
Almost all the wear a differential experiences is after the first 100 miles of use.
You will be hard pressed to find a gear manufacture that doesn’t say to change the diff fluid after 500 miles.
Sure the factory gears are lapped. But it still doesn’t replace the massive heat and pressure and ring and pinion generate when loaded down with drive power.
bloc
SILVER Star
Just so you know, transfer case and diff fluids total about $300 at the parts counter.
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
Well that’s a rip off. $37 for a quart.
You can get super awesome* Amsoil Severe Gear for $17/qt or $140 total. We only need 8 quarts for all three components.
*Taco’s opinion, not trying to start an oil thread
bloc
SILVER Star
Think $37 is bad? OE xfer case fluid is over $80/qt MSRP. It’s also straight 85wt and might have special additives for the Torsen diff in there.
Too late.
Too late.
I'll have my frt. rear diff's done with the next $75 off coupon I get from my Lexus dealer. Will do the transfer case at 60k because it never looks anything but new. Lexus states they never need to be changed if you never go off road.
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
It’s a strait 75wt. Torsen diffs use gears so they don’t require special additives unlike clutch style LSD.
I’m not saying the OE transfer fluid is a gimmick, I don’t know. I just want to find/get an oil analysis on it now.
And you’re right, this is now an oil thread.
Edit: found one.
Can’t tell anything from a single VOA, need to get a few UOAs to know anything. But it does look like an “older” way of formulating.
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I'm curious the difference in VOA between the gear oil Toyota recommends for the diffs and the one they recommend for the transfer case. IIRC the transfer case calls for a LF ("low friction") oil, and I'm wondering if there's really a difference between the two and if so what elements create the LF fluid.
If we're talking gear oil there's an Amsoil-sponsored analysis at http://www.lastgreatroadtrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/gear-oil-comparison.pdf and a fairly lengthy thread in the archives at Drivetrain Fluids. US Land Cruiser
I did my first change at 60k, but I bought the truck with 49k on it and more than half of the following miles were towing a trailer out west and back. I used Amsoil 75W90 in the diffs and transfer case, per @bjowett's recommendation.
Weigh the $300 or so it costs against the length of ownership you expect and decide if you think it's a worthwhile insurance policy. Toyota diffs are strong and I'm willing to wager you could easily go 300k without ever changing the oil and be fine. If you're the kind of person that will trade-in or sell your vehicle at 100k miles I wouldn't bother. If you're trying to keep the truck for 500k miles and have no intention of ever swapping gears then it might be worth it.
If we're talking gear oil there's an Amsoil-sponsored analysis at http://www.lastgreatroadtrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/gear-oil-comparison.pdf and a fairly lengthy thread in the archives at Drivetrain Fluids. US Land Cruiser
I did my first change at 60k, but I bought the truck with 49k on it and more than half of the following miles were towing a trailer out west and back. I used Amsoil 75W90 in the diffs and transfer case, per @bjowett's recommendation.
Weigh the $300 or so it costs against the length of ownership you expect and decide if you think it's a worthwhile insurance policy. Toyota diffs are strong and I'm willing to wager you could easily go 300k without ever changing the oil and be fine. If you're the kind of person that will trade-in or sell your vehicle at 100k miles I wouldn't bother. If you're trying to keep the truck for 500k miles and have no intention of ever swapping gears then it might be worth it.
... writes down 8qt Amsoil Severe Gear oil in 75W90 in PM list . . .
bloc
SILVER Star
My mistake on the weight. Through that VOA can we tell whether it's synthetic or not?
This seems like the most solid way of looking at it, to me.
How are you guys spending $300+ to do this fluid change? Amsoil Severe 75W-90 is only $13.50 a quart (get a Preferred account), and you can buy a kit of all 6 gaskets on Amazon for $10, I just bought one the other day.
GENUINE TOYOTA GASKET KIT FOR TRANSFER AND DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017V4BAXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ivh7AbN8TV3DC
My math is about $120. Am I forgetting something?
GENUINE TOYOTA GASKET KIT FOR TRANSFER AND DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017V4BAXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ivh7AbN8TV3DC
My math is about $120. Am I forgetting something?
bloc
SILVER Star
See bold text.
My math was based on my discount pricing and therefore wrong anyway.
Seven quarts of diff oil at $36.66ea MSRP
Two quarts of xfer oil at $81.09ea MSRP
Almost $420 if you walk into a dealership, just for the fluids.
This will sound very "oil thread" but I'm not putting 75w-90 into the transfer case without knowing for sure that there isn't something special about the stock fluid. It's entirely possible the straight 75wt LF is actually LIGHTER duty because the demands of the xfer case are relatively low for a gear oil, but for a total cost difference (based on my discount source) of $80 vs the amsoil stuff and know at least -I- didn't have anything to do with the potential failure of a very expensive transfer case.. I'm fine with that.
The diffs are a different story.
This will also sound very oil thread.. I don't like mixing fluids and prefer to use products I can get at any of the random Oreilly/Napa/Autozones or dealerships across the country if I happen to need it while on a trip. This is the primary reason I have almost never run Amsoil fluids, personally. Once they start putting it into significant numbers of retail stores like their competitors I'll start using more of it.
Maybe it was $250. The oil was about $125-150 delivered, IIRC. I'm hazy on the amount since diffs + xfer case + AT fluid was about $250 total I think. I paid my mechanic to do the fluid swap since he has a lift and all I have is a driveway and that was another $250 or so for the whole deal. I would assume most people who are changing their oil at 1,000 miles are under warranty and probably taking it to the dealer or a mechanic.
BTW the Toyota FRM says 0.4 hours to change the diff oil. I assume that's per diff.
BTW the Toyota FRM says 0.4 hours to change the diff oil. I assume that's per diff.
OK, got it. Paying list prices, over the counter, greatly exaggerated. Geez I HOPE nobody here is paying $80 for a quart of anything. Maybe I'll give my local dealer a call and see what they want for this magic sauce in the transfer.
And I can see it getting over $300 if you are also doing the tranny, which I didn't think was part of this discussion. Yeah, WS fluid is $15 a quart, times 12-14 quarts, ouch.
Interesting that Amsoil now says "No recommendations available" for fluid for the transfer.
And I can see it getting over $300 if you are also doing the tranny, which I didn't think was part of this discussion. Yeah, WS fluid is $15 a quart, times 12-14 quarts, ouch.
Interesting that Amsoil now says "No recommendations available" for fluid for the transfer.
One of my local Lexus dealers quoted me $80 per deferential to change the fluid the other one quoted $121 per differential to change the fluid and they also offered the same price to do the transfer case but I wasn’t ready for it. I’m waiting for one of their $75 off coupons in the mail and then I think I’ll get a bargain if I take advantage of this pricing. But my ex is definitely a mall cruiser
. So I probably don’t ever need to change the differential fluids or the transfer case I just like to make sure I’m over maintaining my vehicles. I’ve gotten deals like this in the past on my Land Cruisers where dealers don’t ever do certain services so they really don’t know how to “ price” and you end up getting one heck of a deal
. So I probably don’t ever need to change the differential fluids or the transfer case I just like to make sure I’m over maintaining my vehicles. I’ve gotten deals like this in the past on my Land Cruisers where dealers don’t ever do certain services so they really don’t know how to “ price” and you end up getting one heck of a deal
FWIW, I supplied the AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W90 to the dealership at 14,500 miles and 40,000 miles for front, rear and center on my LC. On both occasions, I inquired as to there being any issue with using same on transfer case since AMSOIL doesn’t make a recommendation. I was told it was fine to use and that my service advisor does the same on his wife’s LX.
What did they charge you when you supplied the gear oil?
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