Rear diff shavings found at fluid change

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Ravenol Gear Oil MTF-1 75W-85 GL-4 GL-5?

 

Im just curious if anyone has ran this fluid and found any issues? It’s quite a bit cheaper than running the dealership Toyota oil.

 

The “Ravenol Gear Oil MTF-1 75W-85 GL-4 GL-5” is for the front and rear diff.

the Ravenol MTF-3 75w is for the transfer case.
Good reviews on the website, not sure of any other literature supporting it for the Tundra but it appears to be high quality oil used in other German race applications and it’s also the exact weight the manual calls for (75w85, where as alot of people ignore that and use 75w90)

 

I would go OEM in the transfer case as there is a significant difference in the additives.

 

I think that’s what I’m going to end up doing.

 

Mine at 9300 miles

 

Thts what I usedf

 

Did anyone use thread sealant on their TC plugs? Like permatex high temp thread sealant?

 

I did not but it appears like Toyota did originally. As long as there’s no leaking which there isn’t I don’t see the need for it

 

Where you located? I may bring my truck to get the front done.

 

A drain and fill on the rear dif is easier than doing an engine oil change as long as you can physically crawl under your truck

 

My rear is done. I try to knock out everything I can myself. It adds pride and joy when looking back the truck. I currently don’t have the gear to knock it out.

 

Well I just did a oil change and diff oil change after a 2700 mile road trip. Here is the rear diff plug at 16,500 miles. Had one long piece of shaving the rest was gunk shavings. Also switched over to 5w-30, engine is so much quieter now. 0w-20 sounded like a Diesel engine.

 

That’s one hell of a piece of metal shaving. I’m planning on doing the rear diff at 10k, purely for piece of mind and curiosity.

What fluid did you decide to run in the diff?

 

The shaving was long but very thin. I used Valvoline

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

75w-90 synthetic.

 

Magnet on the diff drain plug didn’t look bad at all, thoughts, 10k miles;

 

Normal. Good to go.

 

Does anyone have extensive research on amsoil severe gear vs. royal purple? I used royal purple 3 times over the 200k miles in my last tundra and had 0 issues. I have seen many of the amsoil YouTube comparisons versus royal purple and claims of it being superior. I’m now intrigued by the squeezable bags. You guys are using 75-85 now and not 90?

 

I had my front and rear differentials and transfer case fluid changed by the dealer at 30k miles. They said the rear diff had a lot of shavings in it, but I shouldn't worry for "how much I tow." I've towed a 4,000lb trailer about 10 times. I was concerned about it for a while but I am chalking it up to the break-in process. Knowing what I know now I would have changed the factory fluids out around 10k miles, but I am not that concerned about it overall. I am going to change the rear diff myself at 40k miles so I can see what the magnet looks like with 10k more on it. If it looks bad I will probably talk to the dealer about it before my warranty runs out at 60k. I don't expect them to do anything about it, my dealer's service department is awful. 100% of the time I have taken my truck in they screw something up or I notice pieces missing or overtightened. I take my truck to an independent shop now if it needs something I don't want to deal with myself.

 

I think as long as you’re changing it with a high quality synthetic you’re doing more than enough. My main reason for using Amsoil is the bags make it so dang easy. I used 75w90.

I’ll be changing my rear again at 10,000 miles. Plan to do the front and transfer case as well. Front will get the same 75w90 and the transfer case will get Toyota’s magic oil. By the time I hit 10,000 miles I’ll have around 3,000 miles of towing on it.

 

These guys are the pros, I’d read the article
https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/ft-2536-ecgs-gear-oil-recommendation.html

 

Interesting article. I have a non contact laser thermometer that I keep in the truck when towing but never gave a thought to shooting the rear differential case to see how hot it runs.

 

Little revival on this thread…

Just changed rear diff oil again 15k mi later and pleased to see no shavings, just some minor gear sludge. See attached pic.

Also PSA for anyone running Ravenol…

BlauParts (Ravenol’s primary and possibly only US distributor)

They're now selling Ravenol’s “updated with added performance” gear oil which is no longer red in color (gold now) and is now advertised as “heavy duty.”
(DGL 75w-85 GL-5 LS)

I was advised by Blau that the MTF-3 75w gear oil for the transfer case has remained the same (gold in color)

I found all this out yesterday when I called Blau because it appeared that the MTF-1 75w85 red gear oil I was about to put in my rear diff does not contain the LSD additive (update: not needed for Auto LSD (open differentials))

She advised me that they are trying to fade out the MTF-1 and are now only selling the new “DGL 75w-85 LS” that is gold in color, however, the MTF-1 does still meet all of Toyota’s specs and is still appropriate for my truck. When I bought my gear oils from Blau all they had was the MTF-1. She sent me 2 free bottles of the new DGL, that I will be putting in my front diff when the time comes (which currently has the MTF-1 in it). If you’re OCD like me, I’d rather have the new “heavy duty” DGL gear oil. I put Mobil 1

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

75w-90 w/ LS additive in my rear diff until I can get some DGL
(update: won't use oil with LSD additive next go around, not needed)

Really just wanting to give everyone a head's up that if they choose to use Ravenol, you should opt for the DGL oil because it's updated and now "heavy duty."

Also, see attached pic of Blau responding to a review of someone complaining of the same thing.

Also the oil has increased from about $15 per qt to $24…

 

That certainly is very interesting to hear about the gear oils since I also have all Ravenol in my diffs and transfer case. Those prices certainly have gone up though! Depending on the prices when I need to do oil changes next Ravenol may or not be the oil I use if I can just get Amsoil or OEM fluid for a similar price.

However, that tech was right. Unless you added an aftermarket LSD (ex: Auburn) absolutely every Tundra from 2007-2021 has an open diff with an "electronic LSD" which just uses the brakes to simulate a LSD. You do not need a LSD additive.

 

^ this. No 2018s came with a real LSD.

 

Well, I stand corrected then. Thanks. Updated the post. Guess I could have used the MTF-1 then after all.

 

Im sure its absolutely fine but there's really no need to use 75w85 over 75w90, the 75w85 is just an OEM fluid spec to try and increase MPG for CAFE standards. 75w90 which is readily available at Walmart for half the price will be good if not better.

 

Just changed mine out again at 40,000, this is the fluid and bolt after 30,000. Definitely better than the initial change at 10,000.

 

Royal purple sychromax is compatible with the ridiculous OEM transfer case liquid gold oil. They list the fluid on their spec sheet. It's good stuff

 

People need to be wise about what goes in the transfer case. It has brass synchronizers and needs GL-4 fluid or GL-5 that is compatible or the brass can experience higher wear rates...

PO owner said they changed the fluid at 60k, I dumped it at 105k and found this lovely peice left from the machining process.

TG for magnets! lol




FWIW even stuff made in Japan comes with quality break in material. This from a used IS-350 I bought from LKQ while I install an OS-Giken Super Lock LSD.

Best guess is this came from the ring gear or the flange of the open diff carrier and stayed along for ride to be dumped out at 90k mi as the idiots at LQK shipped it full of fluid w no plugs in it.