30K Maintenance

Hey everyone, I'm getting close to the 30K maintenance and wanted some opinions on which products to use so looking at the manual 2.2 qts(2.05 L) for the front diff and 3.8 qts (3.60 L) for the rear diff of the Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 GL-5. For the transfer case I need 1.6 qts (1.5 L) of the Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear oil LF (75W). So basically I'd have to buy 6 liters of the diff fluid and 2 liters of the transfer case. If I use the toyota brand fluid for both, the cheapest I can find the diff fluid is $39.73 for a liter so $238.38 just for the f'ing diff fluid and for the transfer case is an astounding $88.38 for a liter so $176.76 for a grand total of $415.14 that's without taxes to replace both sets of fluids.

I mean I'd love to use genuine toyota fluids but that just seems absolutely ridiculous for a maintenance item that is supposed to be done every 30k miles.

So my questions are:
1. Are there any great alternatives to the toyota brand fluid? I'm very meticulous about doing my truck's maintenance and enjoy doing everything myself and if I have to spend that amount of money on toyota's fluids, I will, but I won't be smiling about it.

2.) Are there any other things I need to replace when I do the diff and transfer case such as washers, etc? and I'll obviously need to buy a pump for them.

3.) If i do go with toyota's brand fluids, are there any places I can find it other than the dealers that sell it for cheaper or where I can use a discount code?

4.) I also have a trd air intake, I was planning on cleaning the filter while I'm doing the other stuff and I haven't heard good things about the trd air filter cleaning kit and I think they even stopped making it, but I have a K&N filter cleaning kit from my last car, will it be alright to just use that? I can't imagine there's much if any of a difference in the cleaning spray and oil that is applied.

 

I'm at 65k and have been using the cheapest oil and filters on the shelf. Same on the diff oil. No issues. I also use the K&N filter cleaning kit, I just don't go crazy when spraying the oil on..

 

I am doing 35k service on Friday and so far I just did oil and filter change. Owner manual is confusing as hell and my Toyota service advisor said we will do other oil changes like differential fluid changes around 45k. Because I am not towing anything.

 

I would recommend to check with your local Toyota dealership. And if you are not towing anything just do regular oil change.

 

If you wanna follow the book exactly.

 

I know it's pretty common to change the diffs and transfer case at 30k and in my book it says to do that.

 

Thank you for posting this question. I just hit 32k and I tow a travel trailer in the summer months quite a bit.

 

Changing the transfer case oil every 30k is a waste of money (and oil). I’m at 55k, use 4WD frequently, and it looks new.

I use Amsoil severe gear 75-90 for diffs.

 

I 2nd that ^^^. I did the diff's at 55,000 but not the transfer case. Will prolly do the transfer case at 110,000 when I do the diffs again.

 

Yeah, I've heard that a couple of times now about 30k being a waste of money for transfer case. I think I'm gonna do that every 60k and just do the diffs every 30k.

 

My rear diff needed it at 40k. My front diff and transfer case did not.

 

I use the Amsoil in the diffs and when I change the transfer case it will be with Royal Purple Synchromax. It is a replacement for the LF fluid requirement and way cheaper than the Toyota LF. It's the only fluid I could find that lists as a replacement for the super expensive Toyota LF golden child fluid. Used it in my 4Runner with no issues.


https://www.royalpurple.com/product/synchromax-manual-transmission-fluid/

 

I use redline fluid for diffs

changed the Tacoma rear diff a few months ago at 48k and it looked pretty clean still

 

X2^^^, I also use redline for the differential and the Toyota for the TC.

 

Yep I decided to go this route and do amsoil severe gear

$39 75w-90 GL-5 Limited Slip, Ultra Long Drain 500k Miles, Manual Transmission, Gear/Differential Lubricant (1 Gallon)

75w-90 for the diffs and I got the toyota TC gear oil from sparks parts. It was the cheapest I could find at $63.77 per liter and got free shipping. Gonna wait a couple weeks to change the fluids though because I'm not quite at 30k yet.