Rear Differential... Oil? Tips?

Going to be changing the oil in my rear differential and have never done it before. I do my regular oil all the time so this doesn't look to complicated.

I wanted to ask though, what oil is best or recommended? How much does it take? Any tips or tricks to doing it? Anything I need to know?

2016 Tundra SR5 2WD

Thanks everyone!

 

75W-90, pick your favorite brand

 

Try removing the fill plug before you remove the drain plug. It's unlikely that you will have any issues, but if you drain the diff and that fill plug is seized on, you'll have a tough time. I filled my diff until fluid came out the fill hole.

 

Good call! I wouldn't have probably done it that way, ha. Yep, totally screwed if you can't get that one off. Thanks!

 

Lot of info in this thread Diffs and transfer case fluids | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

I'll check it out, Thanks!

 

It will take just shy of 4qts. I changed mine this past weekend front and rear. I filled just shy of the lip hole in the rear diff. I used Amsoil 75-90wt. Also order new washers to replace the old for the fill/drain plugs. Whether you can re-use the old washers or not is up to the end user. It took maybe 30 minutes to change the rear diff.

 

Easier than an oil change. I'm about to change mine for the second time. First time I used Royal Purple. This time I picked up Amsoil Severe Gear in the bags.
https://www.amsoil.com/p/severe-gea...U5_82SaJVobKNo3ESamOVpMHrHIgDGn0aAoswEALw_wcB

Wipe off the drain and fill plugs well and use a torque wrench when reinstalling. Spring the $3 for new crush washers.

 

I was just looking at this one. It's $32 a bag on Amazon. Only $18 in your link, ha. Crazy.

 

They were great to order from direct. They ship same or next day from NV. I had my order at my door in about 48 hours.

 

The owners manual calls for 75w85. Why not put the correct fluid in? It can be had with the Ravenol brand. Just had my changed recently.

 

It might be helpful to remove the two plugs right after driving the truck. There are a few threads where the plug heads get stripped and a 200° diff housing would probably help.

 

thats what i used front and back.ALWAYS remove the FILL plug FIRST

 

Redline brand oil. 75-85. https://www.redlineoil.com/gear-oil-for-differentials

Be on level ground.

Get an old fashioned swimmers nose plug AND WEAR IT. When you pop the drain plug on that gear oil it will be smelled two counties away.

 

the manual for mine 2016 4wd trd calls for 75w85 LT gls5 which is for non limited slip since i have auto lsd. but see if yours calls for LS fluid or LT fluid. i eventually replaced it with 75w90 LS fluid since no one sells 75w85 LT fluid here unless is oem fluid from the dealer and online takes 10 days to ship the Ravenol 75w85

 

Don't spill. Thoroughly clean out your drain pan afterwards. And throw away any wipes in your neighbors trash can.

Gear oil stench will linger days.

 

Just to be clear, these are NOT limited slip differentials, correct? Pretty sure no but seen where some recommend the LS oil. Even my father-in-law "car guy" said to use it, but he's old school, ha.

 

unless there is a sticker infront of the diff that says to only use LS fluid then it might not be limited. but if you have auto LSD then you have electronic one. to be 100% sure you could check by rotating one tire and if the other one rotates opposite way then you have open diff not limited.

but adding LS fluid to a non LS diff only decreases oil life since the friction modifier they put on those are very acidic. is very hard to find 75w85 LT fluid unless you buy straight from the dealership or get either the redline 75w85 LT or ravenol 75w85 they have to be GL-5

 

I bought the AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W-90.

 

Unless you have an anal retentive personality, I would not stress over 85 vs 90 wt.
I would use the Amsoil severe gear and call it a day.