My 2017 LX570 has around 115k. Decided to change the oil on both differentials and the transfer case. Drained the oil in the rear diff ( it came out super clean and looked brand new) replaced the plug with the magnetic plug from Cruiser Patch. Filled it up with around 4.5 quarts of Mobil 1 75W-90. I went to put the old oil in the emptied bottles and only filled around 3.5 qts. Truck was on level ground in my garage in the N height setting.
Rear diff low on oil by 1qt [UPDATE] Front diff low also. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DanielW
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bloc
SILVER Star
Have the fluids ever been changed before or was this the first time?
No signs of leaks at the pinion or out on each end of the axle tube through the brakes?
No signs of leaks at the pinion or out on each end of the axle tube through the brakes?
- Thread starter
- #3
No signs of leaks. Not sure if it's the first change. Got the car with 108k on the clock. Oil looked brand new as it was pouring out of the diff so possibly changed at 100k? Looking at the service history in the Lexus app it was at the dealer every 5k for an oil change and did receive the 100k scheduled maintenance. I haven't gotten around to changing the front diff and transfer case so not sure how those look yet.
Hard to say if there were any impacts, but perhaps the most compelling observation is that the fluid came out clean. I presume there was little debris (some is normal) on the magnet?
The rear diff is pretty resilient and robust. For normal driving, 1qt down is unlikely to affect anything.
The rear diff is pretty resilient and robust. For normal driving, 1qt down is unlikely to affect anything.
if the oil is clean, I doubt that it suffered a long trip from lack of lubrication. Btw, it’s good that you checked, check the other lubricants as well fast
bloc
SILVER Star
Agreed.
Hmm how is your handbreak acting and is the diff breather free?
My breather was clocked up and then at my self build diff lock actuator I forgot the breather… and the diff then starts breathing at the bearings into the hand break…
So that can be the place you lost your oil.
My breather was clocked up and then at my self build diff lock actuator I forgot the breather… and the diff then starts breathing at the bearings into the hand break…
So that can be the place you lost your oil.
- Thread starter
- #8
Not sure what the hell is going on. Did the front diff and transfer case today. Drained the front diff and could tell right away that there wasn't much in there. Filled it up with Mobil 1 using the hand pump. Was able to get about 1.6 qts before oil started to come out the fill hole. Put the old oil in the bottle and it only filled about half a quart. Transfer case was good. Put in as much as I drained.
I think that answers the question about the rear differential too. I’ll guess (but a pretty solid guess) that a previous F/R differential service was done by someone who either didn’t care or know what he was doing. Probably had 4 quarts of oil and put 3.5 in rear and 0.5 in front? I do wonder what the oil is. Does it smell like gear oil?
- Thread starter
- #10
It does smell like gear oil.
and the oil was super clean. Looked brand new. The transfer case had definitely more color to it so that one probably wasn't changed.I’ll bet it was changed at the 100K mile service by a poorly trained tech. Wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened.It does smell like gear oil.
bloc
SILVER Star
If you are concerned about the health of the gears you can send that used oil off for analysis.
- Thread starter
- #13
Good idea. Also here's what the fill plug from the front diff looked like compared to the replacement magnetic one that I purchased from Cruiser Patch. Is there supposed to be something in that empty space?
bloc
SILVER Star
Nope, that’s how they come from the factory.
