1/2 quart low in rear differential on my 2018 TRD Pro

I've owned 6 Toyota pick-ups in the last 30 years, and always checked the fluids and torque when I got it home. This time the rear diff was 1/2 quart low. I added 1/2 quart Royal Purple synthetic and wrote a nasty letter to corporate. All torque was right on, but whoever does the fluids in San Antonio must have had a hangover. I drove it over 700 miles back to Albuquerque from Salt Lake with it too. It better not start howling, or I will to Toyota.

 

Alright

 

...

 

All fluids really should be full from factory. Unless you're checking them yourself, the dealers don't do this with toyota care

 

I seen a lot of complaints and problems on this topic. Millions of threads on it. Toyota saving money by cutting transmission and differential fluids short

 

Lemon law

 

Mine was 1qt low.

 

Doubtful since people have had their diffs replaced and still had the noise reoccur. So either the issue is something else, or even the techs refilled it low after replacement, on multiple trucks in different places.

 

Good reason to change all of your gear, trans and engine fluids at 500 miles, especially to synthetic.

The last I changed was the front diff at 5200 miles because I did the ECGS bushing. The factory fluid looked like grey mud, seriously couldn’t believe it. Must have been from the break in.

Of course I put in Redline like all my trans gear fluids.

 

You just added RP to the factory fluid?

 

Yes, until I change it all at 1000 miles. The factory oil is $30 a quart and comes in the old style steel oil can. Odd.

 

Just replaced front and rear diff oil at 30k. In all, about 1 quart low between the two. Oil was pretty clean still. Magnet was doing its job.

 

It’s all compatable

 

No.

 

1/2 a quart low isn't going to hurt anything when the capacity is 4+ quarts.

 

Mine only had lube in it, 3 days after I bought it, the rear diff exploded. It was in March of 16 and I didn't have it for 3 1/2 weeks. Needs to say, I got some compensation. Ever since then, no issues.

 

Made it three days, impressive!

 

At least you found it sooner than I did (presumably). I decided to change out my rear end oil this past weekend since I off-road quite a bit and the truck gets a decent beating. To my surprise the rear end was 1/2 quart low... 2016 TRD OR w/ 28k miles. Manufactured in SA,TX.

 

1/2 quart low is probably their fill to level. Also, low fluid level has nothing to do with the rear differential howling, it has been proven to be completely unrelated. Which is why most people's diffs continues to howl after everyone tops off their fluid level.

And your diff will most likely make some sort of howling noise, whether or not you can hear it is up to you..

 

Ya, didn't have too many miles. I got my first payment back and 7 year 100K bumper to bumper warranty for free. I'm happy w/that since I'll have it forever. I just played it cool and they were good to me.