Rear Differential & Transfer Case DIY
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
Some of you may remember this photo.
My buddy Michael, whose RX-7 is on my car domain page, his wife had a Murano that busted its transfer case under 50,000 miles. Not a pretty sight after we took out the gear.
My buddy Michael, whose RX-7 is on my car domain page, his wife had a Murano that busted its transfer case under 50,000 miles. Not a pretty sight after we took out the gear.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
From: Moscow, Russia
I agree with you, this is strange and I never understood this misstatement. Both the front differential (the one behind the tranny pan) and the transmission both use Type-IV ATF, not gear oil.
However, the transfer case for those of you with AWD shows transfer oil on its fill plug, and this without a doubt uses 75W90
However, the transfer case for those of you with AWD shows transfer oil on its fill plug, and this without a doubt uses 75W90
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
I have the 99 manual, and have been looking at scans from a later RX300 manual and have been finding all sorts of goofs. One of the biggies was the misplacement of the Bank 1 and Bank 2 A/F sensors and some terrible diagrams of coolant drain plugs. Yeah, that one you found with the MAF sensor and oil pump was priceless.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
From: Moscow, Russia
I have the 99 manual, and have been looking at scans from a later RX300 manual and have been finding all sorts of goofs. One of the biggies was the misplacement of the Bank 1 and Bank 2 A/F sensors and some terrible diagrams of coolant drain plugs. Yeah, that one you found with the MAF sensor and oil pump was priceless.
PS: I so regret I did not have my camera with me when mechanics showed me the engine with head covers removed. I have seen my cams. Everything is so clean and sparky now... Btw, they are replacing two cams with OEM because aftermarket ones are causing timing lags. I think it was you who said there are no aftermaket cams for 1MZ. I guess there are, and they suck.
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
I just bought a new manifold from PPPP. It looks different. Heavier and has multiple layers of grid metal inside (for burn canalization, heat or sound suspension?). I will post photos of it installed. Also, thinking of welding the old one and selling it for $50.
PS: I so regret I did not have my camera with me when mechanics showed me the engine with head covers removed. I have seen my cams. Everything is so clean and sparky now... Btw, they are replacing two cams with OEM because aftermarket ones are causing timing lags. I think it was you who said there are no aftermaket cams for 1MZ. I guess there are, and they suck.
PS: I so regret I did not have my camera with me when mechanics showed me the engine with head covers removed. I have seen my cams. Everything is so clean and sparky now... Btw, they are replacing two cams with OEM because aftermarket ones are causing timing lags. I think it was you who said there are no aftermaket cams for 1MZ. I guess there are, and they suck.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 9
From: CA
I have the 99 manual, and have been looking at scans from a later RX300 manual and have been finding all sorts of goofs. One of the biggies was the misplacement of the Bank 1 and Bank 2 A/F sensors and some terrible diagrams of coolant drain plugs. Yeah, that one you found with the MAF sensor and oil pump was priceless.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
From: Moscow, Russia
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: CA
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=249741
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: ON
Guys, can somebody knowledgeable make it clear which types of fluids to use in:
Front Diff.
Rear Diff.
Transfer Case.
And which one is interchangeable with the ATF oil ?
Also, if regular gear oil is poured into the Front Diff (interchangeable with ATF?), will it mix with the ATF fluid ?
Thanks in advance,
Mrberl
Front Diff.
Rear Diff.
Transfer Case.
And which one is interchangeable with the ATF oil ?
Also, if regular gear oil is poured into the Front Diff (interchangeable with ATF?), will it mix with the ATF fluid ?
Thanks in advance,
Mrberl
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
Guys, can somebody knowledgeable make it clear which types of fluids to use in:
Front Diff.
Rear Diff.
Transfer Case.
And which one is interchangeable with the ATF oil ?
Also, if regular gear oil is poured into the Front Diff (interchangeable with ATF?), will it mix with the ATF fluid ?
Thanks in advance,
Mrberl
Front Diff.
Rear Diff.
Transfer Case.
And which one is interchangeable with the ATF oil ?
Also, if regular gear oil is poured into the Front Diff (interchangeable with ATF?), will it mix with the ATF fluid ?
Thanks in advance,
Mrberl
For transfer case and rear differential, a 75W90 gear fluid from any of the following, Amsoil, Mobil 1, Redline, Royal Purple would do just fine.
For front differential, which sits behind the tranny pan, only ATF, either Toyota Type IV or Amsoil ATF. Both the front differential and transmission are interconncted in terms of their fluid (even though they have separate drain plugs) and they are filled through the tranny dipstick (don't worry whatever you pour in will trickle on over to the front differential).
Don't pour gear fluid into the tranny dipstick. This is an error as we noted previously.
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
First of all, technically there is .9 L of fluid in each. The bottle you normally buy to fill it up is .946 L total.
If you take off the fill cap of each and reach in with your finger you should be able to feel the fluid by slightly dipping your finger in there.
Best thing to do is that if you have not done this in a while or are not sure if you have done it in a while to go ahead and change the fluid.
The only time where you will lose fluid is in 2 cases:
1) you have a leak and can visibly see the fluid dripping out the bottom.
2) you have a leak, but it is the puddle is not visible underneath. This is because you have a leak on the top and the fluid will only exist under high pressure through the top of transfer case/differential. I actually have this with my transfer case, but it is a nuisance I live with since it is tough to get at the top of the transfer case (eventually I will).
Eventually leak number 2 stops as the fluid level/pressure combined is not enough to push the fluid up and out.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: GA
I know I still owe you this, Lexmex. That drain plug is too low profile and not being able to jack the car up, I really don't have much space to work with. I was afraid to strip the plugs, so I decided to have a shop do it. From about 20 feet away, the drained oil looked dirty. I believe the oil would smell bad although I wasn't close enough to tell. After the front transfer case oil change, the car does feel lighter for about 5 mins. And then it went back to the feel of same daily driving.
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
I know I still owe you this, Lexmex. That drain plug is too low profile and not being able to jack the car up, I really don't have much space to work with. I was afraid to strip the plugs, so I decided to have a shop do it. From about 20 feet away, the drained oil looked dirty. I believe the oil would smell bad although I wasn't close enough to tell. After the front transfer case oil change, the car does feel lighter for about 5 mins. And then it went back to the feel of same daily driving.
This past Saturday I attempted to deal with my little leak on my transfer case. Not much had gone out (it is a leak on the top), but I having no more Royal Purple (they make you buy the whole case here) I went over to BMW to get some of their synthetic 75W-140 differential fluid (Toyota has non-synthetic). Higher weight which can help in a seal leak and added what I could in there and my uncle took his hand and added some sealant he uses to seal engine blocks/transmissions. So far no leaks.
Last edited by Lexmex; Nov 2, 2008 at 11:50 AM.