What's the right engine/transmission elixir?

[Beorn]

2nd post here on the forum, so I'm a newb. I apologize for the ramble.

I've been searching here and all over the inter-webs for a straight answer to this question. What is the best motor oil, transmission oil, and diff/trans case oil?

I can classify the responses into the following categories.

• Fundamentalists/Purists - use Toyota fluids. Period (why are we discussing this?).
• Old Farts / Salt of the Earth- They all work, just pick one that meets the spec and stick to it.
• Techies / Extremists - Like to nerd out on specs and show how much they know.
• Zealots - Claim to have found the fountain of engine youth with a cult like fervor.

If I take it all in, as long as the fluid meets the spec set by Toyota, then with regular, dare I say vigilant maintenance, one could argue that's all that is needed. The rest is just Monday morning quarterbacking and extra cost. I suppose that puts me in the Old Fart camp, but I firmly believe all camps have valid points.

All that said, I'd like to hear your thoughts, because at the end of the day, my goal is to see how far and how long I can make my 2004 GX 470 w/112k last and to hell with my opinions and pocket book limitations.

 

[Rednexus]

Oil: Mobil 1 5W30 in any flavor. But, I might switch to Valvoline Restore & Protect next time.
TC: Mobil Delvac 75W90 (full synthetic w/o a LS additive, used commonly in HD trucks, and it's also cheap)
Diffs: Does not matter. At all. You can put cheap 80w90 from a farm supply store in it and they'll be fine. Just change them often.
Trans: Valvoline MaxLife ATF.

 

[MrMikeyG]

Back in my college days living in apartments, I could roll into jiffylube and get an oil change in my Honda for $12 and be on my way. fast forward 30 years and oil changes are a lot more expensive. In my 2 Tundras, and the GX I grab Toyota filters from wherever and Mobil 1 from Costco. Is it the best? I have no idea, and I'm flat unwilling to go down the road of sending samples into blackstone or some other testing place to analyze oil every change.
Ultimately, it is a 2UZ and an A750F, so you could burn some time and dig into the tundra and 3rg gen 4runner forums and see what they say, but IMO it's not worth the time.

 

[Beorn]

Oil: Mobil 1 5W30 in any flavor. But, I might switch to Valvoline Restore & Protect next time.
TC: Mobil Delvac 75W90 (full synthetic w/o a LS additive, used commonly in HD trucks, and it's also cheap)
Diffs: Does not matter. At all. You can put cheap 80w90 from a farm supply store in it and they'll be fine. Just change them often.
Trans: Valvoline MaxLife ATF.

Solid - Thank you Rednexus

 

[Beorn]

Back in my college days living in apartments, I could roll into jiffylube and get an oil change in my Honda for $12 and be on my way. fast forward 30 years and oil changes are a lot more expensive. In my 2 Tundras, and the GX I grab Toyota filters from wherever and Mobil 1 from Costco. Is it the best? I have no idea, and I'm flat unwilling to go down the road of sending samples into blackstone or some other testing place to analyze oil every change.
Ultimately, it is a 2UZ and an A750F, so you could burn some time and dig into the tundra and 3rg gen 4runner forums and see what they say, but IMO it's not worth the time.

I agree, I've already burned enough time. My uncle was an old gear head and he always just went with manufacturer, but this seems to be the best of both worlds.

I do like the idea of using manufacturer oil filter and Mobil 1. I use Mobil 1 in my Toyota Sienna.

 

[Rednexus]

I agree, I've already burned enough time. My uncle was an old gear head and he always just went with manufacturer, but this seems to be the best of both worlds.

I do like the idea of using manufacturer oil filter and Mobil 1. I use Mobil 1 in my Toyota Sienna.

The Toyota/Denso filters are cheaper than aftermarket filters. I usually pick them up for around $5/ea at my local dealer. The only aftermarket filters close to that cheap is a Fram, which I'd never run on my rig.