Chassis grease - Lithium or Synthetic?

hi guys!
My new Haynes manual tells me to get NLGI 2 lithium-based grease for lubing my u-joints, etc. However, I also see NLGI 2 synthetic grease. Which one is better for my truck? Can I add synthetic to old lithium?
Thoughts and suggestions?

Thanks!

 

I use Mobil 1 synthetic. In fact, I just got done lubing the driveshaft this morning.

 

On a serious note, how often should this be done?

 

Either choice is good. As far as when....Depends on a few things for instance do you wheel a lot in the mud/water muck? Do like me...crawl underneath and do a visual inspection. If all the joints look dry....lube time.

 

It's sad and a little amazing that the 2 year "Toyota care" doesn't include grease or air filters.

 

Agree, but doing your own lube job gets you underneath your Tundra. Forces you to do a good visual over all inspection yourself that the dealer may miss.

 

Absolutely agree, and I like doing it. However, not everyone is like us old guys and some put lots of miles on their trucks.

 

It's a 5 minute job to get 4 out of the 5 grease fittings. One of the front drive shaft fitting took me over an hour once. It’s a giant pain in the neck to get the grease gun onto. I must have went through half a tube of grease the first time I attempted it.

 

You need to get the special "fitting adapter" and remove transfer case skid. I went thru the same bs you did. I'll go to my storage unit and post the adapter you need. If I freaking remember. Getting ready to cook dinner for the kids. Old rust never sleeps......

 

I use something like this but it's squared off and not sharp at the end

 

Bingo!!!!!!.Saves me some freaking time. "Never use a dirty needle"....heh..heh. But you may still need the adapter. Pretty sure I went both routes..."Ahh....preemptive strike..yeah go ahead and go there". Gutter heads....hee...hee.hee.......shit...

 

Where do I go look to see what needs lubed? Any pics will help, or DIY.

 

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/front_end/lube/

 

Thanks. I will crawl up. A grease gun is in order

 

I used to always buy two tubes of grease when my grease gun went out. Now I watch a video every time I change tubes. Lol

 

Thanks, great link - but the original question - is it OK to top off with synthetic if there was older lithium grease in there already?

 

I went with Lucas red sticky and I think it is synthetic. Just flush out all of the old grease with the new grease. It makes a bit of a mess but at least you don't have two types of grease. Just pump until you see the new color grease coming out of the joints. And I do it at every oil change.

 

The short answer is, yes, it's fine.
You would be far more likely to be doing damage by disassembling and cleaning the parts than by either having no grease or several kinds of grease.
The insertion of new grease pushes the old stuff out. After several cycles, you will have nearly exclusive contact on all the moving parts with the new lubricant.

 

Only found 4 of 5 but o well. Greased with super lube synthetic grease. What I use on my total chaos uca's as well

 

There are 3 on the rear shaft and 2 on the front. Are your UCAs uni ball or ball joint?

 

@Roman
Would it be possible to post a picture of the grease zerk location schematic from the 2015 4x4 Tundra dealer service manual?
'14-'18 should be similar, correct?

 

I have one ball

 

In the comments, they recommended this grease:

Synco Chemical 41150 Synthetic Grease, 400-gm.

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-4...8&qid=1504112551&sr=8-1&keywords=41150+grease

 

Should all be the same.

 

Thank you for this.

 

Grease fitting 2 on the front shaft is a total chode

 

That is what I use to grease my one ball

 

Purchased gun plus lithium from harbor freight and grease the drive shaft - 3 point areas. Also completed the SPC UCA.

any other place to grease?

 

You should have 2 more points to hit on the front driveshaft if you have 4 wheel drive.

 

I do have 4x4. Let me go check thanks