I have a 2011 RAV4, V6, 4WD, bought used this year, now has 72k miles. The manual says to use for the transfer case and rear diff GL-5 SAE 80W-90 oil (0.48 qts).
I did a drain and filled with Super Tech 75W-90 Full Synthetic, just to see if it makes a difference. The light whine that I was hearing previously in front disappeared. The fluid color on rear differential was grayish and in the front transfer case was much darker. The ports where very tight, so I assume that the fluid inside was OE.
This car is without a tow hitch, so it was never used for towing, even if it is listed as having a "tow package" (for Toyota means mainly that the radiator is just a smidgen thicker and the general fuse is slightly bigger).
Now I am planning to add a tow hitch an tow with this vehicle. Tempted to switch to a brand-name fluid now (AMSOIL) now, but I am not convinced that is really needed (this is not an issue money-wise).
Also I was wondering if I should go higher on hot viscosity index like 75W-110 (AMSOIL). Summer here can be brutally hot and I really don't care if I lose some gas mileage.
Anyone knows of any negative aspects of that change (besides mileage)?
Also those Synthetic gear fluids say "compatible with LS", but my transfer cases/diff are open (no LS). I don't think that's relevant. Is it?
I did a drain and filled with Super Tech 75W-90 Full Synthetic, just to see if it makes a difference. The light whine that I was hearing previously in front disappeared. The fluid color on rear differential was grayish and in the front transfer case was much darker. The ports where very tight, so I assume that the fluid inside was OE.
This car is without a tow hitch, so it was never used for towing, even if it is listed as having a "tow package" (for Toyota means mainly that the radiator is just a smidgen thicker and the general fuse is slightly bigger).
Now I am planning to add a tow hitch an tow with this vehicle. Tempted to switch to a brand-name fluid now (AMSOIL) now, but I am not convinced that is really needed (this is not an issue money-wise).
Also I was wondering if I should go higher on hot viscosity index like 75W-110 (AMSOIL). Summer here can be brutally hot and I really don't care if I lose some gas mileage.
Anyone knows of any negative aspects of that change (besides mileage)?
Also those Synthetic gear fluids say "compatible with LS", but my transfer cases/diff are open (no LS). I don't think that's relevant. Is it?