1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Transmission, Transfer, Differential Gear Oils - 3rz, Manual, No-Locker.

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BatteredTaco, Jan 8, 2024.

  1. Jan 8, 2024 at 2:36 AM
    #1
    BatteredTaco

    BatteredTaco [OP] with carne asada

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Member:
    #262849
    Messages:
    349
    First Name:
    Joseph
    Temescal Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    3rz stick 4x4 ext cab
    JDM 3rz@300k Yota1 cylhead@400k ARB-OME 880/5100s
    Specs from 2003 FSM:

    Front diff 1.15L or 1.2qts of hypoid API GL5 75w-90

    Rear diff 2.5L or 2.6qts of hypoid API GL5 SAE90(+degF), 80w(-degF), or 80w-90(-degF)

    Xmsn (W59) 2.5L or 2.6qts of API GL4 or GL5 75w-90

    Xsfr 1.1L or 1.1qts of API GL4 or GL5 75w-90

    IMG_0006.jpg

    IMG_0005.jpg

    Top 4 on the chart: Amsoil Severe Gear 75w-90, Red Line Synthetic 75w-90, Lucas 75/90 Synthetic, and Valvoline HP 80w-90. Lucas 75/90 Synthetic's initial high viscosity seems to be a bad idea to me (maybe better for tractors, lol).

    After going nuts trying to find gear oil off the shelf, I am using Valvoline HP 80w-90 for all gearboxes that i found at AutoZone. It is sort-of comparable, cheaper (66$ for 2gallons), not synthetic, no limited slip modifier. Without the friction modifier the onset of oxidation should be less. There is only a 14degF difference on low temp threshold between 75w and 80w, it satisfies GL4 and GL5, I can buy in 1gallon containers, and I can buy locally-late night. On a side note I will not be using the friggin squeeze bagged quarts again, a friggin mess.

    If you are starting off with dirty gearboxes, the Valvoline could be a flush before using the more expensive Amsoil or Red Line. IDK, maybe I'm justifying.

    IMG_0007.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2024
  2. Jan 8, 2024 at 12:38 PM
    #2
    BatteredTaco

    BatteredTaco [OP] with carne asada

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Member:
    #262849
    Messages:
    349
    First Name:
    Joseph
    Temescal Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    3rz stick 4x4 ext cab
    JDM 3rz@300k Yota1 cylhead@400k ARB-OME 880/5100s
    Soooo, Redline is now being missed for the xmsn. Valvoline is getting the job done. But the shifting is easier with Redline. Maybe 75w makes shifting easier too.
     
  3. Jan 8, 2024 at 12:53 PM
    #3
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2021
    Member:
    #359086
    Messages:
    3,666
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    01 Double Cab v6 4x4 TRD
    F: Kings SPC, R: 5100s+J59s. Custom armor.
    That's a whole lotta fancy numbers and graphs for "The best oil is the one changed on time".

    I run Mobil 1 synthetic in everything except the auto transmission (MaxLife ATF). Everything gets changed on time, and haven't had any problems in ~22.5 years of ownership. The oil has never come out burnt, with metallic bits, or issues indicative of a larger issue.
     
  4. Jan 9, 2024 at 5:27 PM
    #4
    BatteredTaco

    BatteredTaco [OP] with carne asada

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Member:
    #262849
    Messages:
    349
    First Name:
    Joseph
    Temescal Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    3rz stick 4x4 ext cab
    JDM 3rz@300k Yota1 cylhead@400k ARB-OME 880/5100s
    Fancy numbers like 75w or 80w, and fancy charts like bar charts. And maybe "The best oil is the one available". It could be said that the manual transmission is the toughest player here, maybe the most finicky.

    Really just wanted to post something simple for manual transmission-4x4 newbie and frugal guys and girls, like me, to look at while they make a decision at the shelf. Tried to work with the title to make the project easily searched. Maybe I'll add links to the stickies.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2024
  5. Jan 10, 2024 at 11:20 PM
    #5
    Diablo169

    Diablo169 ROKRAPR

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    Member:
    #181079
    Messages:
    2,906
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Max
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Vehicle:
    99’ Bro-Coma’s Revenge 3RZ 345k+
    Stock
    Redline MT-90 is the best for any manual trans.
     
    BatteredTaco[OP] likes this.
  6. Jan 11, 2024 at 2:01 AM
    #6
    BatteredTaco

    BatteredTaco [OP] with carne asada

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Member:
    #262849
    Messages:
    349
    First Name:
    Joseph
    Temescal Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    3rz stick 4x4 ext cab
    JDM 3rz@300k Yota1 cylhead@400k ARB-OME 880/5100s
    I think so too. I have used it before and one can tell immediately with smoother shifting. You can also tell when you stop using it, lol. I will be ordering some shortly.
     
  7. Jan 11, 2024 at 8:13 AM
    #7
    Diablo169

    Diablo169 ROKRAPR

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    Member:
    #181079
    Messages:
    2,906
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Max
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Vehicle:
    99’ Bro-Coma’s Revenge 3RZ 345k+
    Stock
    I always ran it and I forgot why, then I had my 88’ Runners transmission rebuilt and the local rebuilder, who only does standard transmissions, said to only ever use MT-90.

    That being said, I use Amsoil Severe Gear in my Diffs. It’s relatively inexpensive.
     
  8. Jan 14, 2024 at 11:54 AM
    #8
    BatteredTaco

    BatteredTaco [OP] with carne asada

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Member:
    #262849
    Messages:
    349
    First Name:
    Joseph
    Temescal Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    3rz stick 4x4 ext cab
    JDM 3rz@300k Yota1 cylhead@400k ARB-OME 880/5100s
    I had to hit the road for work in slightly north California before I could think about MT-90. I stopped in a Napa store in Cloverdale, Ca, close to my Motel. It was a real Napa parts store, stuff packed all over, country boys trying to get stuff for their old trucks.

    I went through the whole Tacoma spill with the counter man after looking at the gear oils they had, and they had options which was cool. Then the counter man said "I think I have some of that stuff". He had all sorts of Redline and MT-90 on a little stand sort of out of sight. 15$ a quart and he gave me a Vet discount, which might be a Redline thing. Going to order some 75w-90 for me, for next time.

    Rare, old school, Napa
     
    Diablo169[QUOTED] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top