What to use in my differential and transfer case

[dkryan]

I'm going to drain the transfer case and differential on my '05 Toyota Highlander at 3k. I have one quart of Amsoil Series 2000 80w-90 gear lube that I "found" in my brother's garage cabinet. (I need another quart of gear lube, though).

I'd like to go to 50k before I change it out again. Though equipped for it, it is highly unlikely that I will ever tow anything.

47k on the new gear lube is not unreasonable, no? And use Amsoil or is Mobil 1 synthetic gear lube just as good?

 

[wavinwayne]

Why do you think you need to change the Toyota factory-installed gear lube at only 3k miles?

 

[dkryan]

Wavin'

I've never owned a 4WD or an AWD before, but I'm guessing there may be some break-in "debris" in both those units. I'm also guessing that the factory fill is not a Full Synthetic gear lube and I'd prefer to a Full Synthetic in those two units, much like me running a Full Synthetic motor oil at 5k.

 

[terminaldegree]

Although I think it wouldn't do any harm, I've never heard of anyone doing this at such a low mileage. Seems like a waste of money.

I'm all for preventative maintenance, but if it were me I would change that stuff out according to the severe service schedule in the manual, or maybe a little earlier.

You may want to "exercise" the 4wd every now and then throughout the year just to keep things moving smoothly.

 

[charbaby]

So, what do people on the site recomend for a Highlander/RX-300?...Mobil 1, Amsoil, others?

 

[VNT]

quote:

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Originally posted by Char Baby:
So, what do people on the site recomend for a Highlander/RX-300?...Mobil 1, Amsoil, others?

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Are you sure it has a real transfer case and not an AWD vicous coupler? To me a transfer case has 4-lo and is selectable.

It may take a special fluid for the coupler, what does your owners manual recommend?

 

[Steve S]

quote:

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Originally posted by terminaldegree:
Although I think it wouldn't do any harm, I've never heard of anyone doing this at such a low mileage. Seems like a waste of money.

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In all honesty there have been sae studys and tests that have proven that an immediate oil change on new or just rebuilt drive line components then going on the recommended service intervals will double the life of such components,barring of course mechanical failure.Have you ever drained a differential?

 

[Greaser]

Drain & fill everything you can with recommended fluids and the truck will love you for it.Lotsa break-in stuff in the diffs. and T case...take a look in the pan when you change it out

 

[IslaVistaMan]

You'll want to check if the transfer case and rear diff on your Highlander take a GL-4 or GL-5 gear oil, and whether an 80W-90 is acceptable. On my 2004 RAV4 AWD, a GL-5 is called for in both the case and rear diff, and an 80W-90 is acceptable. The manual transmission calls for a GL-4 or GL-5 oil, at my option.

I would not push the Series 2000 (which is a GL-4/5 oil) for 47,000 miles -- nor any gear oil, for that matter. I think even Amsoil's new Severe Gear 75W-90 (which is GL-5 rated but is compatible with yellow metals) would be pressed to go that far, especially in the differential.

Your plan to change the oil at 3,000 miles is excellent. You're going to find all sorts of crap stuck to the magnets on the drain plugs. Be sure you drain and fill in a level area, so you can bring the new fluid right to the bottom of the fill holes. Double-check to make sure.

Go here for more info on Severe Gear 75W-90:

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx

 

[MolaKule]

I would not push any gear oil farther than 30,000 miles without a used oil analysis.

And your wanting to change it soon is a good idea. I recommend changing diffy and TC lube before 10k miles to remove manufacturing and run-in material.

Our GL5 Gear lubes are all safe for all copper alloy parts.

If your transfer case requires a 75W90, try our MTL-R and use HDS-5 in the differential.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I agree with Molakule 100% That is almost word for word what I would have said. Although I am sure I would have had a few spelling errors!!

Let me explain why though. Unlike a car the wear metals in a gear box are really large. THeir are few soft bearing in a gear box and the clearances are such that these large wear particles can not make it in. The size of the wear particles also makes most of them settle out compared to what would be seen in an engine. These particles are mostly but not all ferrious allows so the magnetic in the gearbox can attract a lot of them. The elavated wear metals in a gear box or diff. remain elavated for about 6000-10,000 miles in OEM applications. If you change too soon you will still have massive contamination to contend with until you hit about 10,000 miles. THis means you either change the fluid again or you have really contaimanated fluid for the next 30,000 miles! This applys for automatics,manuals,diff's etc......

Car engines are usualy done throwing off the big massives accelerated wear metals buy about a 600-1000 mile. Now this does not mean that the engine is not going to continue to trend down over time becasue that will continue for the life of the engine until it begins to wear out!

 

[Pitbull]

I have a 2004 4runner AWD. I would recommend changing the diff's at around 10K and then again at 30K. You can then go 30K between changes. Use what Toyota recommends. I don't know if you have a transfer case. If you do I would change it at 30K and then every 30K. They stay real clean on the Toyota's. Again use only Toyota recommended lubes.

PS- my diff's on my 4runner were pretty clean at 10K miles but I know others that waited until 15K and they were pretty dirty. I know several people that did their transfer cases at 30K miles and the fluid looked new. Hope this helps.

 

[terminaldegree]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve S:
In all honesty there have been sae studys and tests that have proven that an immediate oil change on new or just rebuilt drive line components then going on the recommended service intervals will double the life of such components,barring of course mechanical failure.Have you ever drained a differential?

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Well, in the one car that I have with a diff, I paid someone else to crack it open, clean it out, and refill it when I bought my car w/30,000 miles. Of course, the undercarriage had gotten, shall we say, a little wet. But that's a story for another time...

 

[charbaby]

My RX-300 calls for GL-5 90 or 80W90 in the rear differential and transfer case.

VNT, the owners manual does call it a transfer case. But yes, it is more like you mentioned, AWD visc. coup.

 

[charbaby]

So, if the units call for 80W90, can I use Mobil 1 75W90???

 

[dkryan]

Yeah, I believe you can, as long as it is the recommended GL-4 or GL-5. My Highlander calls for GL-5, and having "liberated" three quarts of Amsoil Series 2000 75w90 from my brother's garage shelf, I'll use it next week at 5k.

 

[Flimflam]

Transfer case and Manual Transmission Box, Redline Mt-90. This is a GL-4.

Front and Rear Diff's, Schaeffer Gear Lube #267. This one is a GL-5.

Of course, if you drive a Toyota with the famous Toyota bulletproof Manual Transmissions, you can just do away with all the GL-4, Gl-5 rigmarole and just pump Schaeffer #267 into everything.