2k2ls430

All the auto parts stores in the area only carry limited slip 80w-90. My owners manual 2002 LS430 does not mention limited slip. Where are you buying your oil. Lexus dealers are not using limited slip but they do not sell the oil only use it to service the cars. Also, is it ok to use synthetic?
Thanks.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I would not use that. Just order from Amazon or online. Walmart should have it.

2k2ls430

Thanks Lavrishevo for replying,

Both the links you mentioned are Limited Slip, Mobil1 one says LS on the front, Royal purple mentions in the description to use with limited slip. I will go check Walmart today. Kind of confusing for me, I might call Mobil1 , Amsoil and or Red Line soon. Will update what if anything they tell me.

BradTank

I also found it confusing, I went with the Mobil 1 with the Limited Slip, 75w-90.

I could not find a synthetic gear oil in that weight without the Limited Slip additive in it, and my understand from research was that it was okay to use a gear oil that had the additive even if the differential was not a limited slip.

Here is a little blurb from Mobil's website regarding that question:
https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English..._Gear_Oil.aspx

Apparently, the GL-5 designation is what's important.

Toyota sells a GL-5 gear oil, but it doesn't look like they sell a synthetic gear oil, and the LS supposedly uses a unique gear oil and is specific about it being synthetic only. It's stamped on the differential to only use synthetic.

I did a small thread about changing it here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ill-ls430.html

2k2ls430

Thanks BradTank,

Which year was/is your LS430. Where is the synthetic label on the gear box. I don't see any label on mine, also dealers' parts department mentioned conventional not synthetic. I guess using synthetic and with LS won't hurt. Owner's manual didn't mention synthetic either. Quite confusing.

Thanks for replying

BradTank

Mine was a 2004, it may have been something Lexus changed the designation for later in the model.

Here is a pic from the write up I did:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/738556-diy-rear-differential-drain-and-fill-ls430.html"]https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/738556-diy-rear-differential-drain-and-fill-ls430.html"]https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/738556-diy-rear-differential-drain-and-fill-ls430.html







I can't imagine adding the synthetic would be an issue even if yours does not call for it. But if you feel uneasy about doing the service, I would just skip it. It's honestly not something I would make a huge priority, usually when rear differentials get messed up is when there's a leak or if it's been doing serious offroading and has been immersed in mud and water, etc. Limited slips with heavy use also need more frequent changing. None of these apply to the LS.

But I would wager 99% of these LS's never have had their rear differential oil changed and I would also wager 99% of them have never had a single issue and never will. I'm not even sure if the rear differential oil being drained and filled is even specified in the owners manual as a part of service.

The main reason I changed mine was I thought I had a leak and wanted to check the level of oil in it but it turned out it was not the differential oil that was on my garage floor.

When I changed mine, it looked factory fresh despite having around 140k miles. It was crystal clear, not even a darker shade.