Maintenance TechThis forum is for discussion of all aspects of maintenance that should be performed on the FJ Cruiser to keep it operating at maximum efficiency.
The color isn't really all that important. If it's dark, it typically means the fluid is doing it job by suspending the fine particles in it. What you are mainly looking for is material on the magnet, the 'feel' of the lube between your fingers and the consistency (as compared to fresh).
DEWFPO
Dropped off the FJ at the dealer today for its 15k maintence, and asked the service mgr. to check the diff fluid, and change if necessary, due to lots of wheeling, and towing my Jaco Baja camper. He lectured me on how Toyotas dont need any diff maintence untill around the 30k service. Well, about an hour later I get a call from him telling me that my diff fluid is very dark and in need of changing. was feeling good about having them check, and change it, now wondering if I got taken for $65?
Dropped off the FJ at the dealer today for its 15k maintence, and asked the service mgr. to check the diff fluid, and change if necessary, due to lots of wheeling, and towing my Jaco Baja camper. He lectured me on how Toyotas dont need any diff maintence untill around the 30k service. Well, about an hour later I get a call from him telling me that my diff fluid is very dark and in need of changing. was feeling good about having them check, and change it, now wondering if I got taken for $65?
After changing my rear diff yesterday and finding the oil very dark and badly in need of a change (just under 20 k miles), I did my front diff today - while not quite as bad, it too was very dark with a lot of sludge.
It appears that lots of folks are finding that they need to change their fluid sooner than recommended - I'm definitely not sorry that I changed the diff fluid early!
__________________
An FJ rolls on
hills muted by mountains pass
a true adventure
6 spd MT Voodoo Blue
Rear diff and e-locker scuba mod
CB w/ custom CB antenna mount on uppper rear door hinge
A-Trac switch installed
Custom tube bumper in the works...
Dropped off the FJ at the dealer today for its 15k maintence, and asked the service mgr. to check the diff fluid, and change if necessary, due to lots of wheeling, and towing my Jaco Baja camper. He lectured me on how Toyotas dont need any diff maintence untill around the 30k service. Well, about an hour later I get a call from him telling me that my diff fluid is very dark and in need of changing. was feeling good about having them check, and change it, now wondering if I got taken for $65?
Well, if you didn't want to change the fluid yourself and/or didn't have the time then I think $65 was a worthy investment to preserve your rear diff. If you have the time to do it all it takes is a 24mm socket, wrench/breaker bar, two new washers would be nice, and about 3.5 liters of oil. You could do it yourself for $35 or a few bucks less if you run Mobile1. Do you know what the dealer put in? I assume it was the Toyota stuff...
Well, if you didn't want to change the fluid yourself and/or didn't have the time then I think $65 was a worthy investment to preserve your rear diff. If you have the time to do it all it takes is a 24mm socket, wrench/breaker bar, two new washers would be nice, and about 3.5 liters of oil. You could do it yourself for $35 or a few bucks less if you run Mobile1. Do you know what the dealer put in? I assume it was the Toyota stuff...
Apparently part of the service was to flush out the old oil, cleaning the gears, and putting new oil in. No idea what oil they put in.
The more I think about it, the better I feel about having it done, once it's paid off I'll begin doing the maintence myself, but I paid for the landcar service when I bought it, that provides all oil changes until paid off, so I figure while its there I might as well let them do all the maintence.
They did save me $90.00 confirming I did not need a wheel alignment after putting ICON coil-overs on the front, so at least their not just charging up the bill for unneeded service.
"Wanted - young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Original newspaper add placed by William Hepburn Russell, founder of the The Pony Express
When I got back this morning, I called the dealership where I purchased my FJ. They claim they have been using the new TSB-spec synthetic gear oil since April of this year. Apprently they wanted to use up the non-synthetic bulk 75W-90 first
__________________
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C" package, Sun Fusion
2004 Toyota Prius "B" package, Tideland Pearl
I originally did mine at 10k on the rear and 16k on the front, due to other members mentioning the wear and dark fluid. Mine had shavings front and back. I always warn other FJ's that I meet to get it done early.
__________________
Toys: 07 Toyota FJ Cruiser Voodoo Blue (goes anywhere)
Go Rhino Stepbars, Gorilla Locks, Trex Black Grill Upper & Lower, BFG Mud Terrains 285/70/17, Trailmaster 3" Lift, KC Lites Fog Lights, Daylighters, & HID Driving lights, KC Light/Push Bar, Aries Tail Light Guards, Putco Dome Lights, Garvin Wilderness Rack, Tuffy Roof Light Bar, Hi-Lift, Garvin Jack, Shovel & Axe Mounts, TRD Exhaust, Fujita Intake, Draw Tite Hitch, Cobra 75WXST, Firestik, & Wolo Train Horn. (New things coming Bud Built Skids & Sliders, Sonoma Steel Lower Control Arms, TLC LCA Skids.)
Apparently part of the service was to flush out the old oil, cleaning the gears, and putting new oil in. No idea what oil they put in.
I missed this yesterday
How - exactly - did they "flush" the gear oil, and "clean" the gears?? The rear diff doesn't have a sheet metal cover that you can remove the bolts, peel off the cover, and visually inspect the R&P. It's a fairly major operation to remove the 3rd member to see the R&P
Anybody thinking of "flushing" their differential, never EVER use a solvent to do so. Yes, the solvent will remove any sludge and other crap, but you will never get all of it out. When you add the fresh gear oil, the remaining solvent will cause the gear oil to foam and quickly break down
This is one system cleaner I'm familiar with for industrial use. It's "safe" at the recommended dilution.
Again, not sure how this dealership "flushed" the differential and "cleaned" the gears. Most likely, it was padded service they didn't actually do: they drained and refilled
__________________
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C" package, Sun Fusion
2004 Toyota Prius "B" package, Tideland Pearl
I had changed my rear differential oil at appx 14,000 miles. The oil was a dark grey color with alot of metal particles suspended in the oil. There were also some metal shavings found on the differential drain plug. I kept a sample of the oil and replaced it with a non synthetic. 2 days ago I purchased Red Line Synthetic for the front and rear diff's as well as the transfer case and the manual transmission. The rear diff oil still looked like new, as I had only replaced it appx 4000 miles ago. The front differential was just as horrid as the original rear differential fluid. A really dark grey color with metal particles suspended in the oil and metal shavings on the drain plug. The transfer case and transmission oils were prestine. Although the manual transmission drain plug was finger tight when I went to remove it, that has me a bit worried. I ensured that I torqued it down and will recheck it again in a few weeks. I would definately recommend that any FJ owner change the FRONT and REAR differential oils as soon as possible, based on what I found in my differentials.
2008 4x4 5A/T with Off Road pack, AFE Cold Air Intake,3" Camburg/Sway A Away Coil overs,Old Man Emos 2" rear coils,Old Man Emos N71 rear Nitro shoks
17" Helo HE 835 Wheels,305/70/17 Good Year MTR
,Front LED Lights,Roof Light Bar with four KC's,All Casy Hi Lift with Mounts, RASTA Skids, TRD Rock Rails,Midland CB,CO2 Tank,Rear Light Guards,Front/Rear Cameras, 900BT DVD/Navi in dash, Kappa's components all around with a 12" Treo Eng. sub.
2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
Linear Mode
