hey guys I searched, couldnt really find what i was lookiing for..I finally got my diff bolt off and i checked the fluid. its a mix between a fraputino and mustard color and i was curious as to what color it really needs too be? thanks ~kyle

 

The Hypoid gear oil I have seen is honey in color, well that's new. The stuff I drained last week out of my rear diff. was a dark nasty.............can't explain the color. May have had Tuhuya and Reiter mud and water in it. The amsoil I put in was a nice greenish blue. The front diff. I drained was a darker honey color.

 

Ya it varies definitly. I think last year when changing my Tundra's fluids, the differential in the rear used an LSD type oil that was...blueish-green as you said, and the front used a yellow-honey like oil (definitly didn't taste like honey though )

 

You have water contamination. I'd suggest you drain and refill as soon as possible.

When new, the oil is clear honey colored. As it ages, it darkens, gradually turning a murky brown. It can become sparkly with suspended metal particles.

If it becomes milky looking, like frapachino or mustard, it's contaminated with water.

 

And so what do i buy when running up to the local Pep Boys? whats it called and such?

 

I've been using Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear lubricant SAE 75W-90 in both diffs. If you want a cheaper oil Valvoline makes a 75W-90 Gear oil but it's harder to find. If you have the ADD front diff the manual recommends 75W-90 in the front and SAE 90 in the rear. I don't want to buy two different gear oils so I use the 75W-90 front and rear.

If you got water in your diff you may want to run the cheap stuff for a few miles and change the oil again before putting in the syntheic oil.

I have seen some gear oil that is red too.

 

Thanks Dale and everyone else. I can always rely on you guys for quick and good answers.

 

geez ok so i put in a full quart of fluid in my diff and i still cant see any fluid in there. how much fluid does that diff hold, i know there was a ton in the oil catch pan, but maybe it will take another half or full quart still? who knows?

 

About 2 qts, just keep putting it in untill it starts running out the fill plug hole.