I have a 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD with a small whine from the differential at about 30-40 mph. This was a well known (TSB) issue when cars were in warranty, but I bought mine used, so there is no warranty.
The car has one transfer case in front and one rear differential, electrically controlled.
I have drained and refilled the boxes - each takes about 0.5 Qt of fluid (80W90 GL5 is factory). Used 75W90 SynPower and then Redline 75W110. Still the same, a lot better with the Redline. But I can still hear it (maybe because I know it is there).
I want to make sure those gears will outlast the rest of the car, even if I pull a 3,500 lbs trailer, so I am now looking into one of those two additives:
- Revitalizant EX120 for manual gear box
- Liqui Moly 2019 MoS2 Anti-Friction Gear Lubricant
Anyone had experience with any of those?
Please don't post if your jerk-knee reaction is "use only what Toyota recommended". They were so great in building those transmissions and differentials that they replaced a bunch of them in warranty.
The car has one transfer case in front and one rear differential, electrically controlled.
I have drained and refilled the boxes - each takes about 0.5 Qt of fluid (80W90 GL5 is factory). Used 75W90 SynPower and then Redline 75W110. Still the same, a lot better with the Redline. But I can still hear it (maybe because I know it is there).
I want to make sure those gears will outlast the rest of the car, even if I pull a 3,500 lbs trailer, so I am now looking into one of those two additives:
- Revitalizant EX120 for manual gear box
EX120 can be universally applied to manual and robotized transmissions, sequential gear boxes, including Direct Shift type, transfer cases and differentials.
Revitalizant acts as a catalyst for rebuilding and repairing metal in areas of excessive thermal energy. It activates the absorption process of carbon through the surface layer which results in the formation of metal carbides. Revitalizant rebuilds metal at a molecular level, atom-by-atom. A new durable protective coating is formed with the help of carbides and metal particles. Because it has a self-regulating maximum thickness it does not cake. Diffusion of the protective layer into the metal results in an extra durable gradient coating with positive pressing stress forming along the entire treated surface in the final stage of Revitalization. The treated metal is now rebuilt and protected with diamond-like film of ceramic-metal, resulting in smoother operation and longer life.
- Liqui Moly 2019 MoS2 Anti-Friction Gear Lubricant
Stabilized solid lubricant concentrate suspended in mineral oil. Thanks to its high MoS2 content and special additives, it is suitable for all manual motor vehicle transmissions and differentials without limited slip function.
Anyone had experience with any of those?
Please don't post if your jerk-knee reaction is "use only what Toyota recommended". They were so great in building those transmissions and differentials that they replaced a bunch of them in warranty.
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