Transfer case oil alternatives?

I purchased MT-LV because it's GL4.

I know the manual says GL4 or GL5, but I've been told there are some yellow metals in the transfer case (not 100% sure if that's true or not) and that the GL4 was safer.

 

yeah. I rewatched the car care nut’s video on diff/tranfer case fuild changes. He explained that the brass or whatever they use for synchros can be dissolved by the additives in diff fluid. Which is why he said to use gl-4 fluid when changing out fluid on a manual transmissions.

But then again, he said transfer cases are good to go with 75w90 gl-5. So Im a bit confused. Redline says their MT oil is specifically compatible with toyota transfer case, so Im leaning toward that in order to protect the sychro metals…if indeed it had synchros

 

People are putting wayyyyyyy too much time into this.

 

Lol. Well, I’m putting too much time into this. With all the time thinking and noodling, it might have been cheaper for me to spend 160 bucks on Toyota's liquid gold…and then be short a half liter, and go spend another 80 to top it off

 

Again, no expert here, but I don’t believe a transfer case has synchro’s like a manual transmission. Hence the looser tolerance on what oil can be used in a transfer case. I believe our transfer cases are very similar in design to the transfer case in my previous 97’ Tacoma, and I changed its oil with the same. It had nearly 300k miles when I sold it and no gear box issues.

 

I have a question, I have a 2021 TRD Off Road and it has a locking rear diff, can I use the same on the rear as on the front or is there no difference because I keep seeing were people are talking about limited slip rear diff's.

 

I recently changed out the rear diff in our 2007 Tundra with BG Ultra Guard after 125k and was surprised at how clean it looked. Had some left over inventory from my technician days

Granted this truck is low work, with less than 5% towing around 4k lbs.

Originally changed at about 15k miles.

 

What I have heard, certainly not from engineers, but dealership mechanics and YouTube "experts" is that having the LSD additive in the gear oil will not hurt differentials without LSD. I take that with a grain of salt, but I'm using 75W-90 with the LSD additive for my front and rear.

Also, I have decided that I will try to team up with another 4Runner owner or two or three and buy the Toyota 75W for the transfer case and split the extra can for that extra tenth of a quart needed.

Since draining the original 75W, my guess is that I've lost around 5% on my MPG (24 to 22.8-23 MPG). While it could be many things, including fuel quality (which a lot of people have been complaining about in my area nearly 3 months), I'm starting to believe that it was related to my transfer case fluid change.

 

If you check your owner manual you’ll see that the transfer case capacity is 1 liter (1.1 Qt).
A can of the Toyota 75W Transfer oil is 1 liter. You only need one can.

 

I wish that wad true for mine. Mine was pretty gray after about 25k miles of use, and it had a fat pinch of metallic sludge on the magnet (I just made up that measurement unit lol). And i had previously changed it as well. Front diff and transfer case were still golden with about 39k miles on the oil.

What does the rear diff oil look like for the rest of you?

 

I had put OE liquid gold out of my head because of the .1 quart issue so never double checked my math, or units. My head goes soft with numbers or anything approaching math-like qualities, so I appreciate the info lol.

I think if I used it for my next change, I’d put the drain plug back in right as the flow starts to slow down. Just to make sure I dont overdrain. I like to see some dribble out of the fill hole.

 

For my first transfer case oil change, at 50K miles, I drained it completely and it looked very pristine. I used one can of the Toyota 75W and it filled it completely, even dribbled out. The only pain is opening the can with a traditional beer can opener and manipulating a hand pump to get it all out.

For my second transfer change I used Red Line MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4. Sold in quarts I bought two for less than $50.

 

Freakin love the syringe!!!

I generally agree with the sentiment about oils. But it is possible to get the wrong kind of oil. And toyota’s recommendation for transfer case oil made that specific situation a little harder for me to decide on.

 

My rear diff oil looks like that every time. Even after only 15K miles.

 

Toyota uses mostly open diffs now and simulates a LSD with the brakes. LSD additive will not harm an open diff or the locking mechanism.

 

Ahhh, I filled in that it was 1.1 quarts and a 1 qt 75W! I had also read other people mention that, so I just presumed that was the modus ripoffus. Off to parts.toyota.com

 

Makes me feel a little better lol

 

How many miles at second change ?
Was it clean ?
I just wish totota oil had a gl4 or gl5 rating to help decide on aftermarket oil

 

Redline looks Iike the best alternative to me

 

This is what I went with.

My transfer case is happy.

 

Yep, lots of people including myself use MT-LV in 3rd gen Tacoma transfer cases with good results. The Tacoma transfer case can exhibit shifting problems with normal 75W90 gear oil in the cold (the electric actuator may be timed to work with the lower viscosity fluid). Reasonably good availability at most speed shops and well priced.

6th gen will probably switch to ATF like the '22 Tundra...

 

Ours is a 5th gen 4 runner.
My Chevy uses an auto trek fluid, looks similar to trans fluid. I would think oil would be a better choice for a transfer case. It doesn't have clutches like a auto transmission and oil prevents wear better.

 

I did my second transfer oil change after 32,000 miles. It looked clear and very clean. Going forward I plan to change it at 30-40K intervals (depending on 4WD usage) along with the front differential oil. Rear diff at 15K intervals.