So changed my diff oil and saw this

Dealer won’t do anything about it. Tech says it’s in “normal condition”. I told them it better be in writing on my ticket and I’m gonna keep it so that if my diff goes, I can show that the dealer didn’t wanna touch it.

 

It might be worth calling Toyota corporate and showing them the pictures. Worst case they agree with the dealer. You've got nothing to lose at this point.

 

That is what I was thinking would happen.

However, your strategy is good imo. Keep your RO with date and mileage documented. If you do have a future issue, you will have some ground to stand on.

...but I think you're going to be just fine.

Side note: you really should keep all of your ROs, because too often they are overlooked.

I really don't think Toyota is going to disagree with this dealer's observation. I understand that you are put off by the size of this debris, but there's nothing notable about it that would prove it is from an internal component.

...I would be concerned if there was legible writing (as in a bearing race), or it was a shape that was easily identifiable (as in a broken gear tooth).

I highly doubt that this finding will ever materialize into anything more for the OP.

 

From what I can see by looking at your pictures on my phone, those are machining chips from the manufacturing of the axle housing that found their way to the magnet. It’s not altogether uncommon to find on the first drain of a diff, but they are alarming.

For peace of mind, you can try cutting them with side cutters. If they are soft enough to cut, they are not from a bearing or a gear. Not that flakes from a bearing or chunks from a gear look like that.

Failed thrust washer from a differential spider gear or side gear is possible if the washers Toyota uses are magnetic, but I’m not sure they are. Most are not.

Any burnouts / one-tire-fires in your history?

 

It just stinks that the closest dealership to my house is not one I want to do business with...worst customer service too.

 

I edited my post. Can you clean those two large flakes and post a close-up photo.

 

Negative. Daddy don’t buy my tires.

 

Haha! Good. Pretty unlikely those flakes are munched up thrust washers then.

 

Cleaned the biggest pieces up a little

 

Totally cuttings from drilling / machining the housing.

 

Yup. I agree. First pic of that big one has an "as cast" surface finish in my opinion. Manufacturing debris. Not clear on why it wasn't cleaned out, but if it sinks to the bottom and stays there, it isn't going to do any harm.

 

I’m on my 2nd whiskey as we speak lol.

 

Whew! Hope you’re right. Thanks for the sharp eye and help on this.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I guess if the diff should fail, I’ve got <8k miles on my power train warranty and another 25k after that on my extended lol

 

Wouldn’t hurt to change the oil again before that warranty runs out just to see what’s new on the magnet, but I’m pretty confident you’re good.

 

I had similar thing on my magnet at when I changed at 60k miles, bought truck used at 56k miles. Was hoping it was machining bits leftover from manufacture as it didn't look like any of the internal parts had failed. I never did get it to a Toyota dealer yet, plan to get there soon to get Trans fluid changed and will bring this up. It was a cpo so I have a drivetrain warranty up to 100k miles. This and over winter I had would occasionally have the cold startup timing chain slap only two 'problems' so far.

 

I had one of those at 10k..

 

I wouldn't have freaked so bad over yours... mine had a piece of the Great Wall of China stuck to it

 

I changed all my differential fluids at 35k, owned my truck since new, and this is what came out of the rear.

 

This thread is making me consider changing my diff fluid and I only have 19K miles on my 2012.

 

I’m thinking you should, especially if you’re using that supercharger!

 

Really no reason not to. It takes less than 30 minutes and doesn't cost much.

 

IF you don't buy the 75w-85 oil..... that stuff costs a small fortune.

 

Gents, I have seen posts here of a similar nature from 2017 and like most of these posts I went in and had the rear differential oil changed for the 1st time at 64,000km. The dealer who can’t seem to point out in the owners manual or maintenance schedule when this should be done indicated at 100,000km. Anyhow I had it done at Mr Lube and guess what I found, some curved metal that look like shavings, maybe machine shavings. The number of posts related to this is concerning, poor QC by Toyota maybe, but front diff change was apparently normal. I think we all need a lot more information here as to what is going on in these diffs and I am struggling to chalk this up as poor cleaning from machining, really seems far fetched. Betting this is a more widespread issue than people know.

 

Old thread, I realize. What was your corrective action on this (if any)?

I changed mine at 50K, looks absolutely terrible, definitely on par with yours.

 

I went with this company

(Pic source: @Sumo91)
They shipped me a case of 75w-140 and put 3 qts of 75W for the transfer case.