Gear Oil Recommendations for a 2011 4Runner TE

[homeyclaus]

We have been towing. We have been offroading. And depending on the maintenance schedule, we should have changed the diff and t/c oil at 20,000 miles.

Given that the interval is so short, what's best?

Toyota's oil is a 75W85, but there is no aftermarket in that viscosity, and 75W90 is close enough, and perhaps better for a towing application.

My short list:
Super Tech 85W90 Synthetic
Peak 85W90 Synthetic
Valvoline 85W90 Synth
Ultra-Lube G15 80W90 Bio-based Gear oil (assuming the fine print says it meets GL-5 specs)

Of just whatever is on that list is cheapest?

 

[Rand]

you typoed about 5 things there..


redline makes a 75w85
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?product=50104

they also say the transfer case requires some special fluid..
might want to double check the manual.


edit:
i checked the online manual

toyota specifies:
Toyota Genuine Transfer gear oil LF or
equivalent
Recommended oil viscosity SAE 75W

so thats pretty much going to be dealer only.

also I was reading their maintence schedule the
severe with offroad schedule is

rear diff every 15k miles transfer case every 30k miles
and front diff every 30k miles.

or did I miss something?

Nothing wrong with changing it usually the first change has tons of crud from break in wear anyway.

online toyota manuals

 

[homeyclaus]

The intervals are correct, and yes, I know I am behind.

Per the factory service manual (formatting bad because it's a copy and paste from a pdf):
"T oyota G enuine
D ifferential gear oil
LT 7 5 W-8 5 G L-5 or equivalent"

The dealership "lube sheet" states to use 75W90, but I lost it - if I find it I'll post it here.

So the question is: given the OCI is 15k for the diffs and 30k for the transfer case, is synthetic really worth it?

 

[Rand]

the diff gear oil is 75w85

which redline makes.

the interval is 15k rear 30k front for SEVERE service..

the transfer case is LF sae 75weight fluid
not the same.. and 30k intervals.

if it was the same redline would recommend their 75w85 for it or 75w90 70w80 etc.

Their application chart says non of their products are recommended for the transfer case

 

[Bgallagher]

I'd throw in the Supertech for 15k. Supertech isn't bad! It is serviceable stuff made by a reputable blender.

If you want to keep the fluid in longer I recommend Amsoil or Mobil 1.

 

[Mike_dup1]

The only credible product on the list is Valvoline.

 

[artificialist]

Does the truck have rear LSD? If it does, read the back of the bottles and see if they contain additives for it.

Also, I use Valvoline gear oil in many cars simply because it is easy to find and comes from a major manufacturer.

 

[homeyclaus]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Does the truck have rear LSD? If it does, read the back of the bottles and see if they contain additives for it.


No, they're all normal differentials on the 5th gen axles.

Quote:

Also, I use Valvoline gear oil in many cars simply because it is easy to find and comes from a major manufacturer.


That's probably what the dealership uses too. They claim to 'put in the same type that came out of it' but I doubt they'd spring for the Toyota gear oil at a princely $11.00 per quart.

Personally, I am still surprised at the OCI for this stuff, especially since they claim the whole driveline is synthetically lubricated at this point. On the other hand, our use pattern checks every box for severe service other than taxi/delivery/police use.

I am starting to lean towards either SuperTech Semi-syn 75W90 or Coastal Semi-Syn 75W90 (which is the same, it's all Warren Oil (not WPP)). If I can score the Castrol Syntec 75W90 full synth at $6.90 like Pep Boys claims, that's also an option.

ETA: Given what I hear here, I think running any semi-syn or dino GL5 is probably worth sending to Blackstone after 10k. Some other threads say the 75W90 will shear to an 85 under hard use anyways.