What have you done to your 200 Series this week? (38 Viewers)

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Changed the oil for my 150K check point.
Also went ahead and did the front diff. (way overdue)

I put the SUV on one ramp on pass side to help drain the fluid. I forgot to open the fill plug first so the tire and backing paper I used underneath me took some nice splashes as it gasped for air.

Then for extra stupidity points, I didn't set it back level. Just ran a funnel hose down to the the fill plug and poured the fluid right in. First biottle went in no issues. Second bottle, not so much. Didn't hear the big puddle that was forming as I was filling and probably lost about a third or more of the Royal Purple gear oil. Yeah, that was fun to clean up. Had to drive it low for about 20 miles to get to another store that still had the same fluid.

Now to locate some unicorn tears for the center diff. Dealer here said $120 a qt and that they had never seen a bottle in their inventory for who knows how long.
I wonder if there is a good alternate for the unicorn tears? Mine probably needs changed and with 300k I don’t really stress on it having factory fluid in it
 
Changed the oil for my 150K check point.
Also went ahead and did the front diff. (way overdue)

I put the SUV on one ramp on pass side to help drain the fluid. I forgot to open the fill plug first so the tire and backing paper I used underneath me took some nice splashes as it gasped for air.

Then for extra stupidity points, I didn't set it back level. Just ran a funnel hose down to the the fill plug and poured the fluid right in. First biottle went in no issues. Second bottle, not so much. Didn't hear the big puddle that was forming as I was filling and probably lost about a third or more of the Royal Purple gear oil. Yeah, that was fun to clean up. Had to drive it low for about 20 miles to get to another store that still had the same fluid.

Now to locate some unicorn tears for the center diff. Dealer here said $120 a qt and that they had never seen a bottle in their inventory for who knows how long.
Why wouldn’t you use the same gear oil, 75w-90, for both? No need to pay Toyota for their markup.
 
Why wouldn’t you use the same gear oil, 75w-90, for both? No need to pay Toyota for their markup.
@WickedCrawler @clrussell

some years its fine, others not so much. Something something yellow metals not playing nicely with 75w-90 gear oil something something. I know in my '21 the synchros wouldn't like it for some reason. I'd be speculating as to the "why," but people smarter than I have gone into great detail elsewhere here (I cannot recall where) with the reasons.

People have had good luck with Ravenol kits and I think some have used the Redline 75W stuff. I haven't used either of these options, but have used the canned Toyota stuff and I just used HPL 75W in my transfer case. I will likely stick with HPL going forward for all my lube needs. HTH
 
Not a concern at all to run 75w-90 in any LX570, in center or rear diff, unless you're in cold climate, a lot.
I don’t think this is correct. Earlier years of the 200 are fine. But again, there was some sort of switch that occurred and later 200s have different t case hardware which doesn’t like the add pack of the diff oils iirc.
 
Until the Toyota engineer that specified this stuff speaks up, anyone saying “not a concern at all” is making statements from a place of ignorance.

You MIGHT be fine. You might not. What we do know is Toyota changed the spec around the same time of some internal parts differences in the transfer case. Also the unicorn piss has significant differences in color and odor, which suggests altered chemistry as well.

That said, the ravenol product explicitly meets Toyota’s published spec, is much more affordable, and they make great products in general.

We also know the whole reason lube manufacturers still produce “MTF” type fluids is the friction reducing additives that let GL5 gear lubes do their job so well also happen to attack the yellow metals commonly used in synchros.

The thread I started discussing the topic in lots of detail:

I personally run the ravenol product now.
 
I've also been busy spending money overseas and waiting long periods of time for shipments. :D
I'm sorry if these are repeats for some of you on my same FB groups.
The tire carrier is cool, but I'd like some mods to it and since I don't have an extended fuel tank, I don't see myself using it too much, unless I decide to run larger tires than I can fit underneath, which probably will never happen.
The skid plates I really like, mostly from the weight perspective. I also have the Victory 4x4 skid plates and if I was to do any real offroading, like when I hit wearyman's creek (brutal in a stock lx - ask me how I know), I'd probably use the Victory ones, but driving around Houston, I don't need the added 100+ lb of all that steel.







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I saw someone post these on Marketplace and wondered if they were lighter/better than the OEM ones. I see the access for the oil change but what's the benefit. Alibaba states that they are either aluminum or steel. They seemed to offer various thicknesses.

Which ones did you get?
 
I don’t think this is correct. Earlier years of the 200 are fine. But again, there was some sort of switch that occurred and later 200s have different t case hardware which doesn’t like the add pack of the diff oils iirc.
Per the repair manual (this applies to both LC and LX):

2008-2010 use GL-5 75w-90
2011-2021 use 75w “LF” “transfer gear oil”
 
I wonder if there is a good alternate for the unicorn tears? Mine probably needs changed and with 300k I don’t really stress on it having factory fluid in it
I am looking at the Revenol Lineup as well as HPL. I believe Red Line also makes a compatible one but not positive on that.

Why wouldn’t you use the same gear oil, 75w-90, for both? No need to pay Toyota for their markup.
I did that last time, Mobile 1 in all three. I get some weird light sequences on occasions (no codes that I am aware of) that prevent switching to 4 low. This may or may not have anything to do with the fluid but have read of a couple others having issues with the different viscosity oil. I don't plan on spending $240 for the Toyota fluid but will find something with matching specs. (Didn't realize it was that much when I stopped at the dealer)

@WickedCrawler @clrussell

some years its fine, others not so much. Something something yellow metals not playing nicely with 75w-90 gear oil something something. I know in my '21 the synchros wouldn't like it for some reason. I'd be speculating as to the "why," but people smarter than I have gone into great detail elsewhere here (I cannot recall where) with the reasons.

People have had good luck with Ravenol kits and I think some have used the Redline 75W stuff. I haven't used either of these options, but have used the canned Toyota stuff and I just used HPL 75W in my transfer case. I will likely stick with HPL going forward for all my lube needs. HTH
HPL is one of the brands I am considering.

Not a concern at all to run 75w-90 in any LX570, in center or rear diff, unless you're in cold climate, a lot.
I live in northern Montana and it is a very cold climate for most of the year.

Until the Toyota engineer that specified this stuff speaks up, anyone saying “not a concern at all” is making statements from a place of ignorance.

You MIGHT be fine. You might not. What we do know is Toyota changed the spec around the same time of some internal parts differences in the transfer case. Also the unicorn piss has significant differences in color and odor, which suggests altered chemistry as well.

That said, the ravenol product explicitly meets Toyota’s published spec, is much more affordable, and they make great products in general.

We also know the whole reason lube manufacturers still produce “MTF” type fluids is the friction reducing additives that let GL5 gear lubes do their job so well also happen to attack the yellow metals commonly used in synchros.

The thread I started discussing the topic in lots of detail:

I personally run the ravenol product now.
Also one of the brands I am considering.


Thanks for everyone's input. I do appreciate it.
 
If you go with HPL, you’ll have to call to order. The website doesn’t reflect all they have. Mary may be who you get - she’s a good egg. If there’s other stuff you want to get oils for, ask about it. They have all sorts of high end lubes.
 
For the love of all things holy, get the black lug nuts! Think of the children
I ordered them, but the dealer canceled the order last week. Apparently there was a $.56 price increase and I missed the email confirming that I'd pay it 🙄

I'm sitting at home nursing a broken knee and post tendon/MCL surgery recovery, so I can't even change them anyhow 🤣
 
I replaced my headlight assemblies without removing my bull bar.
Where did you source them? Road debris just took out one of my headlights. I don’t want to replace just one, and $2200 for both is a jagged pill to swallow for lights!
 
Where did you source them? Road debris just took out one of my headlights. I don’t want to replace just one, and $2200 for both is a jagged pill to swallow for lights!

Lexus parts now but this was some time ago before current on and off again trade war shenanigans. If I recall I paid about $800 each. Keep in mind if comes with new AFS servos etc.
 
IMG_4261.jpeg

Another cool milestone.

Yes. I’m 12.
 
Installed what I’m calling a glovebox bib. My wife loves to kick and scuff up the glovebox when she’s riding shotgun so instead of constantly being annoyed with her I got some self-adhesive 3M film and stuck it on the glovebox after a good cleaning. It’s glossy but I don’t really mind as the dark interior helps it blend in.
 
Installed what I’m calling a glovebox bib. My wife loves to kick and scuff up the glovebox when she’s riding shotgun so instead of constantly being annoyed with her I got some self-adhesive 3M film and stuck it on the glovebox after a good cleaning. It’s glossy but I don’t really mind as the dark interior helps it blend in.
Pics or it didn’t happen.
 
Installed what I’m calling a glovebox bib. My wife loves to kick and scuff up the glovebox when she’s riding shotgun so instead of constantly being annoyed with her I got some self-adhesive 3M film and stuck it on the glovebox after a good cleaning. It’s glossy but I don’t really mind as the dark interior helps it blend in.
Is this like the protective film stuff they use on MacBooks? It’s a little stretchy and very tough.
 

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