Got a ?

Bought my 1st yota, '88 Pickup extcab SR5 4x4 5spd.

I changed motor oil/filter, rear diff oil, and transfer case oil.

The ORIGINAL owners manual called for 75W90 in both diffs, transfer case, and transmission. another "repair" manual said the same.

The fluid I took out of the the transfer case, looked very much like automatic transmission fluid. Kind of had a red tint? Looked nothing like what came out of the rear diff.

I know its not uncommon to use auto transmission fluid in transfer cases, but whats up? Should I drain it again and use auto trans fluid?

Thanks in advance.

 

Use OEM Specifications. Someone prob had the wrong fluid in the case which is a big no no. If theres no noise then its prob fine. You put the correct oil in there so you are good to go. Always do what Toyota says, they know more about that truck than you do.

The Trasnfer case in my 86 Toyota 4runner has gear oil in it and has for about 265k miles.

And no its not uncommon to use ATF in transfer cases. Alot of manufacturers are going to thinner fluids to conserve energy(MPGs).

 

Thanks Kiroshu!

That's what I was thinking too.

The rear diff was VERY noisy, could only really hear when back window was open. Now with new gear oil it sounds much better. I can still detect the sound, but its much quieter and the pitch?/overall sound had changed, sounds better.

The oil I took out of the rear diff was VERY dark, and felt VERY gritty, smelled horrible. This was a ONE OWNER truck (135K), is that gritty(?)ness common for the 1st change, 25 years and 135K miles. Or should I expect problems in the future?

Oh. this is a DD that will see the occasional forest road or light trail.

 

Hmmm. Yea its not uncommon after 25 years for the oil to be somewhat contaminated. Posssible some "dirt" or "mud" made its way into the axle housing causing the "gritty" oil. I would suggest driving the truck a few thousand miles and changing the oil again to try and gett all the debris out of the housing.

If the noise is not too loud its prob not going to be a big deal. But if it starts getting louder further inspection my be required in the axle. Dirt and debris may have slighty damaged some of the Differential carrier bearings... But not to worry if noise is at a minimum

 

They don't smell the same. It's pretty easy to tell the difference based on that.

Anyway, the 88 FSM says to use API GL-4 or GL-5, SAE 75W-90 or 80W-90 in all transfer cases(with manual or automatic transmissions).