How often do you change your differential oil?
02-08-13, 01:15 PM
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Hrm, 50k is conservative, and RA40 did it at 80k. I guess I'll work it into my 60k maintenance. I usually do 5k, 10k, 30k, 60k, 90k, 120k (spark plugs) maint cycles. I was thinking about doing it every 30k (3 years for me) but I guess that is a bit overboard.
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02-08-13, 07:04 PM
#8
Moderator
Below is from my Japanese service manual for 98 Celsior. This is about liquids and oils.
Regarding the differential oil, it is marked red and it says to use 1.35L of Toyota Genuine Hypoid Gear Oil SX, (API GL-5, SAE85W-90)."
Below is the drained 14 years old oil (used for a little less than 150,000km). The shop I sometimes visit to fix ECUs for free had Toyota Genuine Hypoid Gear Oil SX, (API GL-5, SAE85W-90). I drained and filled the oil for free since the shop owner suggested me to do so. The shop had the oil in a big can and I pumped it out to a plastic bottle first to compare the color. The 14 years old oil is surely dark enough.
Regarding the differential oil, it is marked red and it says to use 1.35L of Toyota Genuine Hypoid Gear Oil SX, (API GL-5, SAE85W-90)."
Below is the drained 14 years old oil (used for a little less than 150,000km). The shop I sometimes visit to fix ECUs for free had Toyota Genuine Hypoid Gear Oil SX, (API GL-5, SAE85W-90). I drained and filled the oil for free since the shop owner suggested me to do so. The shop had the oil in a big can and I pumped it out to a plastic bottle first to compare the color. The 14 years old oil is surely dark enough.
Last edited by Yamae; 02-08-13 at 07:47 PM.
02-08-13, 07:11 PM
#9
yes, indeed it does say that. and most manuals will say the same thing or similar. but the differential is not going to catastrophically destruct if you drop the weight by 5 or so.
if you can attain and afford to get toyota's very own dif fluid, go for it. if you dont go that route it wont be a big deal.
i was just out shopping last week for both trans & dif oil. hit up pepboys, oreilly, napa, autozone.
the majority of the stuff you will encounter, especially synthetic, is 75w90.
if you can attain and afford to get toyota's very own dif fluid, go for it. if you dont go that route it wont be a big deal.
i was just out shopping last week for both trans & dif oil. hit up pepboys, oreilly, napa, autozone.
the majority of the stuff you will encounter, especially synthetic, is 75w90.
02-08-13, 10:32 PM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
As far as I know, the fluid in my diff has been there since December 1996. I intend to change it before my March-November travel season starts. For what it's worth, a local shop quoted me between $80-$90 for the service. I believe I'll be doing it myself...
02-09-13, 10:31 AM
#12
The local shop charged me $46 for the service. Took about 10 minutes and that included putting the car on the lift, draining, new gasket, pumping in the fluid and pulling it off the lift. Like any of the other fluids, changing these keeps the car happy. 
02-09-13, 10:58 AM
#13
if you guys plan on changing out dif or trans oil, might as well go ahead and buy a new, MAGNETIC drain plug. it could probably be had for $10-15 online. the next step after that, if you have the time and means, would be to swap out that dif gasket even if it isnt leaking.
also, im not sure about toyotas, but in most transmission, at least in the nissan world, call for GL 4, so dont put a gl5 or gl4/5 hybrid oil in the transmission. the reason is that the trans uses yellow metals (copper/bronze/brass) and GL 5 has more (twice as many as gl 4) sulfur additives that are will attach/eat those yellow metals. the diff doesnt have yellow metals and those sulfur additives help keep the gears clean/lubed. after visiting autozone, pepboys, and oreilly, napa is the only place i found that has gl 4 oil.
i know thats a lot of unasked for info, but im just trying to help yall out
also, im not sure about toyotas, but in most transmission, at least in the nissan world, call for GL 4, so dont put a gl5 or gl4/5 hybrid oil in the transmission. the reason is that the trans uses yellow metals (copper/bronze/brass) and GL 5 has more (twice as many as gl 4) sulfur additives that are will attach/eat those yellow metals. the diff doesnt have yellow metals and those sulfur additives help keep the gears clean/lubed. after visiting autozone, pepboys, and oreilly, napa is the only place i found that has gl 4 oil.
i know thats a lot of unasked for info, but im just trying to help yall out
02-09-13, 01:59 PM
#14
Driver
Thread Starter
I think I'll stick to what the service manual says and use API GL-5.
