Oil for arctic climate?

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sayya2daupay

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Nov 8, 2009
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Georgia
Greetings

I have a 1994 toyota 4runner and am getting transferred to Fort Wainwright Alaska. Here are my oil specs per Haynes manual:

Automatic Transmission Fluid: Dexron II ATF
Power Steering Fluid: Dexron II ATF
Suspension and steering
Steering knuckle: moly-disul.lithium NLGI #1 or #2
Drag link and steering: Lithium base , NLGI #0
Driveshaft:
U-joints and yokes: Lithium base, NLGI #0
Double cardan U joint: Moly-disul., NLGI #2
Steering gearbox oil: API GL -4 (90 weight)
Wheel bearing grease: Lithium base, NLGI #2
Differential oil: API GL-4 80W90 hypoid gear oil
Transfer Case oil: Dexron II ATF


My biggest concern is rear end and transmission. I am going to drive from Upper Michigan to Fairbanks Alaska around the last week of next month (december). Its about 3500 miles I think.
I am changing all fluids and would like to do everything right for the upcoming severe winter temps.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

-Sage Trepasso
 
Wow. You're from Georgia, the UP was't cold enough for you so now Alaska?

I'd think you'd want to go to a syn 75-90 differential, and probably a 0-30 motor oil before the trip. How is your battery and tires?
 
There are lots of fluids that would work for the diff and transmission.

I'm running Amsoil severe gear 75w110, and its been great in the Jeep. 75w90 is available as well.

The Dexron II spec is pretty open for fluids.

Again the Amsoil universal ATF would work really well. So would Mobil 1.

I dont see why there is so much hype on cold transmission fluid performance. Most ATF's have WAY lower cold pour points than motor oil. Synthetic would still have benefits though.
 
Originally Posted By: bepperb
Wow. You're from Georgia, the UP was't cold enough for you so now Alaska?

I'd think you'd want to go to a syn 75-90 differential, and probably a 0-30 motor oil before the trip. How is your battery and tires?


Ya, grew up in Upper Peninsula, saw some -20 temps but nothing compared to the -50 temps in Fairbanks. My tires have decent tread but do have some cracking here and there, I ordered a set of chains, battery was replaced last year, I ordered a block warmer (the kind that goes in freeze plug) as well as some multipurpose heat pads for going underneath battery or maybe sticking to bottom of oil and transmission pan. I also ordered electric battery warmer. Hopefully I will have the time to do it right and solder all that wiring together so i can have a one plug sticking out the grill.......in a perfect world.
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Amsoil everything... Especially in the Rear End.



Ya, I am trying to get ahold of an Amsoil guy around here, but I guess it will be hit and miss with him. I might just order online. I saw this a few sites online where you can order, not sure if I will have difficulty doing that. I have always run Mobil 1 in anything that mattered to me, just never lived in such a cold climate before.
 
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There are some very knowledgeable and helpful site sponsors for Amsoil here. Members "Pablo" and "Gary Allen" come to mind. If I'm not mistaken they can ship to anywhere.
 
You won't need tire chains, assuming you have 4WD.
The best thing is a heated garage.
Are you sure the diff and steering box are GL4? Usually diffs are GL5 since they have no yellow metal synchros for GL5 EP additives to damage.
Personally I have good experience with Redline MTL and I think their MT90 is an excellent low temperature GL4 fluid. For GL5 Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 has worked for me in cold weather (only -30 F. minimum in Anchorage, however).

Charlie
 
Originally Posted By: sayya2daupay
Originally Posted By: bepperb
Wow. You're from Georgia, the UP was't cold enough for you so now Alaska?

I'd think you'd want to go to a syn 75-90 differential, and probably a 0-30 motor oil before the trip. How is your battery and tires?


Ya, grew up in Upper Peninsula, saw some -20 temps but nothing compared to the -50 temps in Fairbanks. My tires have decent tread but do have some cracking here and there, I ordered a set of chains, battery was replaced last year, I ordered a block warmer (the kind that goes in freeze plug) as well as some multipurpose heat pads for going underneath battery or maybe sticking to bottom of oil and transmission pan. I also ordered electric battery warmer. Hopefully I will have the time to do it right and solder all that wiring together so i can have a one plug sticking out the grill.......in a perfect world.


All good ideas. My brother lives in Fairbanks and he has that multiheater setup. The big suck is that wiring harnesses that go into the door end up breaking due to the cold, so crank down windows and manual locks are preferred. Transfer case heater also a good idea.
 
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Sage

Telephone the service department at the Fairbanks Toyota dealership and ask your questions.
http://toyota.autoservicecompany.com/

As you know, Dexron-II was superseded years ago by Dexron-III. My thoughts for less frigid winter climates would be synthetic 75W-90 gear oil in the differential and steering box, but the Fairbanks people might suggest something even lighter. Maybe they'll suggest driving north with what you have until the temperatures drop to a certain point, then get the change done then.

I strongly recommend four real winter tires. They stay soft in the cold and have much better traction than all season tires on ice or snow. Look for studless tires with the snowflake-on-mountain symbol.
 
Yes, definately 75W90 Full synthetic Gear lubes for differentials.

I would use DexronVI or Amsoil equivalent for the AT, T/C, and PS.
 
"would a vehicle ever achieve full operating temperature at - 40??"

Well, they do at -40, my cars have all risen to 190 degrees, same as normal, assuming of course that the thermostat is in good working order. If you park and idle for a while, the heater radiator will be extracting more heat than your motor is making, and the temperature will fall - unless you turn the blower down to medium. Many other things - manual transmissions etc may never get really warm and be a little stiff.
 
Originally Posted By: fsskier
"would a vehicle ever achieve full operating temperature at - 40??"

Well, they do at -40, my cars have all risen to 190 degrees, same as normal, assuming of course that the thermostat is in good working order. If you park and idle for a while, the heater radiator will be extracting more heat than your motor is making, and the temperature will fall - unless you turn the blower down to medium. Many other things - manual transmissions etc may never get really warm and be a little stiff.


Your water temp may reach nomal, but that doesn't mean the crank case temp does.
 
Originally Posted By: sayya2daupay
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Amsoil everything... Especially in the Rear End.



Ya, I am trying to get ahold of an Amsoil guy around here, but I guess it will be hit and miss with him. I might just order online. I saw this a few sites online where you can order, not sure if I will have difficulty doing that. I have always run Mobil 1 in anything that mattered to me, just never lived in such a cold climate before.
Order through the board sponsors Pablo or Gary Allan. They are great guys and can have it shipped to you...
thumbsup2.gif



Also you might want to think about a Block Heater, Oil Pan Heater and a battery blanket for your vehicle. Very inexpensive in the grand scheme of things and will save you big time on wear/tear and warm-up times... Don't go any less than 300 watt for the oil pan heater for those winter conditions.
 
Any full synthetic like Redline, Neo, RoyalPurple, Mobil 1, Motul, Torco, Silkolene, Amsoil, or Synlube.... should be used everywhere possible. They have ATFs, PSFs, gear oils, motor oils, greases.....
 
Even at only -10 degrees I noticed a huge improvement in drivetrain smoothness after changing to Amsoil ATF in the transmission and Amsoil Synthetic gear lubes in the diffs and T-case. Steering much better running Amsoil ATF. 0w30 for the engine.

Need to change out the Coolant and mix for the extreme temps but you'll do that when installing your block heater.

Might need to upgrade your battery too. I had a small automatic Shumacher trickle charger wired into the same plug as my block heater. Warms the battery from the inside rather than from the outside.

Real snow tires and chains. Full survival kit. Jumper cables, shovels (metal for ice/dirt plastic for loose snow) , snatch strap. You may need a radiator blanket that goes over the grill.
 
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Originally Posted By: sayya2daupay
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Amsoil everything... Especially in the Rear End.



Ya, I am trying to get ahold of an Amsoil guy around here, but I guess it will be hit and miss with him. I might just order online. I saw this a few sites online where you can order, not sure if I will have difficulty doing that.


Indeed 75W-90, synthetic ATF, 0W-30.

You can click through my site: http://oilslubesfilters.com/

Or start here: Amsoil SVG 75W-90

It's very much worth it to: Become a preferred customer
 
The trickle charger is a good idea and works wonders, on sub 0 temps my battery turns the truck over like it was summer.
 
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