Transfer, Gearbox, Front and Rear Differential and Clutch Oils that aren't "genuine Toyota".

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

Toyota really want you to buy their oil products and have their workshops put them in for you at their service prices but does anyone use Transfer, Gearbox and Front and Rear Differential and Clutch Oils that are an "equivalent" to the specs and aren't "genuine" Toyota"?

I'm struggling to find information as to alternative "equivalent" oils at their specs, that I can put in to my 150 series manual Prado.

Perhaps there is someone out there in Pradopoint land that does use "equivalent" oils at Toyota specification that they may wish to share with us all on this forum.

I don't want to go to the Toyota dealership and have their workshop do some basic oil changes at their prices that I can do myself at home.

The Prado manual states the following oils and fluids must be used but is there an alternative (equivalent) product out there that others are using? Tell us what you are using.

Engine Oil
Capacity - 7 litres
Oil grade – G-DLD-1, API CF-4, CF or ACEA B1 (You can also use API CE or CD)

Manual Transmission Gear Oil
Capacity - 2.1 litres
LF SAE 75W
Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear Oil LF SAE 75W

Transfer Case Oil
Capacity – 1.4 litres
Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear Oil LF (or equivalent)
LF SAE 75W

Front Differential Oil
Capacity - 1.4 litres
Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil
LT 75W-85 GL-5 (or equivalent)

Rear Differential Oil
Capacity – 2.65 litres
Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil
LT 75W-85 GL-5 (or equivalent)

Clutch Oil
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3

Brake Fluid
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
 
Power Steering Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid
DEXRON II or III

Chassis Lube
Spider – Lithium based chassis grease NLGI No. 2
Slide Yoke – Molybdenum – Disulphide lithium based chassis grease NLGI No. 2 or Lithium based multi purpose grease NLGI No. 2

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

My Toyota service center uses Castrol oils for its servicing. The only fluid I've noticed they use, that is Toyota brand is the cooling fluid.

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

I have been looking through past posts and found this from two Pradopoint members.

"Castrol LSX90 in the rear diff, Castrol EPX 80W-90 in the front diff and Caltex Easyshift 75W-90 in the transfer and manual transmission. The only reason for the easyshift is we have found it the best oil in Toyota manual boxes without going to a expensive synthetic oil."

(and)

"Fuchs 75W-90 in both diffs - haven't done transfer case yet. Considered the Fuchs 75W-85 as per Toyota's advice, but at $70 per litre way too expensive for my budget.

I bought oils at dealer, 75w 85Gl5 for diff and 75w for transfer as manual states, and replaced at independent shop."

C'mon folks, surely there are others out there that service their own vehicles, let us know what oils and fluids you use for your Prado.

[madmax1982 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close madmax1982]

I bought both diff and transfer oil at dealer, toyota original oil, at least that said the cans. Each quart cost $29.00. At the same service lube drive shaft, moly grease was 10.00, not at dealer.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Hey mate, the first post you quoted was mine, we're using that set of oils in lots of Toyota 4wds, Hilux, Prado and Landcruiser. We use genuine Toyota brake fluid in both brake and clutch systems, but only because it is the cheapest dot 3 that is readily available. Also use genuine coolant because mixing coolants is a really bad idea (some react and form a jelly like substance, some can cause electrolysis, etc.) and the Toyota coolant does a good job so why change it. Engine oil really is a preference, and I won't get into that argument, but any correctly graded reputable brand will be fine.

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

Thanks for your replies guys.

Does anyone know what the LT and LF at the front of LT 75W-85 GL-5 and LF SAE 75W mean?

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

OK this is what I'm gonna use on my manual Prado, speak now if you think I'm nuts using any of these products or should use a genuine Toyota product for something.

Engine - PENRITE HPR DIESEL ENGINE OIL 15W-50
Rear diff - Castrol LSX 90 Rear Axle Differential Fluid
Front diff - Castrol EPX differential and manual transmission fluid 80W-90
Transfer Case - Nulon Full Synthetic Manual Gear Oil 75W-90 Gearbox & Transaxle
Gearbox - Nulon Full Synthetic Manual Gear Oil 75W-90 Gearbox & Transaxle
Clutch - Castrol Response Brake Fluid - Super DOT 4
Brakes - Castrol Response Brake Fluid - Super DOT 4
Coolant - PENRITE 6 YEAR RED RADIATOR COOLANT
Chassis lube - yoke (? not sure yet) and spider (? not sure yet)
Power Steering - Castrol ATF Dexron III

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Oh, just noticed, DONT USE DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID!!!!!!!!!

I have seen ABS modules leaking on a few Toyotas of unknown servicing, and two that were done by the owner with dot4. After talking to the brake place that rebuilt some for us the specifically said dot 3 only in toyotas, apparently something in the dot 4 causes ABS to leak. I wasn't sure but have discussed it with a ex toyota service manager who I trust and he said the same thing. Even if there is no truth in it, not worth the risk in my oppinion.

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

Thanks Andy for the letting me know, it's back to Supercheap then.
I read the specs on DOT 4 and it said no probs using it in DOT 3 cars, that's why I was OK with putting it in.

Really appreciate the tip mate!!!!! Won't be putting the DOT 4 in the Prado.

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

OK. Well I've relented and changed my mind after talking to the Toyota dude, apparently there are additives in a couple of these oils. So I'm going with their product. DUH!

Engine: Penrite Diesel 15W-50 (it's hot where I live)
Gearbox and Transfer Case: Toyota 80W-90 GL4
Rear and Front Diff: Toyota 75W-85 GL5
Coolant: Toyota pre-mix coolant
Brake: DOT 3
Clutch: DOT 3

He also told me a story about some poor guy who used the DOT 4 brake fluid, total rebuild of the brake master cylinder.

[turbo30 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo30]

ive got a 2010 prado and i run
engine castol edge 5w30 A3/B4
manual trans and transfer castrol syntrax universal 75w90
front diff and read diff limited slip 90
hope this helps

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

Thanks for your replies and tips, I ended up using these products. The Toyota Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 GL-5 only comes in 1 litre cans at $35 per can in Darwin. I need 5 cans so very expensive, thanks Mr. Toyota.

Engine: Penrite Diesel 15W-50

Gearbox and Transfer Case: Caltex Easy Shift 75W-90 GL-4
(I found out that one of the larger Toyota service centres in Sydney are using this product for my model Prado).
http://www.caltex.com.au/FPL%20PDS/E...E%2075W-90.pdf

Rear and Front Diff: Toyota Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 GL-5
(Both the front and rear diff on my GX are not limited slip and require a non limited slip diff oil. It was suggested to me to use the Toyota genuine in this case due to an additive in their product. The Prado owners manual says to use a different oil altogether that Toyota does not even sell here in Australia, very confusing).

Coolant: Toyota pre-mix 50/50 coolant

Brake: Nulon Brake Fluid DOT 3

Clutch: Nulon Brake Fluid DOT 3

Universal Joints – Lithium based chassis grease NLGI Number 2. Lithplex EP2

Slide Yoke – Molybdenum Disulphide lithium based chassis grease NLGI No. 2 or Lithium based multipurpose grease NLGI No. 2. Molytac 2 Grease

[Ben80 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben80]

I have found with a few hiluxs (not prado but still relevant) including my own that castrol LSX90 makes the lsd clutches noisy and can get a shudder at low speeds. Changed to the nulon equivalent and instantly quiet. Not pushing nulon it was just the one that I tried first.

[ss--ss Member Find all posts View Profile Close ss--ss]

G'day, I put in Penrite Pro Gear 75W-90 into the front & rear diff and also the transfer case. Just returned from a 13000 ktm trip towing a 2T caravan & no problem at all..

[Great Dane Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Great Dane]

G'day, I put in Penrite Pro Gear 75W-90 into the front & rear diff and also the transfer case. Just returned from a 13000 ktm trip towing a 2T caravan & no problem at all..

I thought the transfer case and gear box oil had to be GL-4, the Penrite Pro Gear 75W-90 is API GL-5/GL-6/MT-1.

I'm glad to hear you didn't have any troubles ss--ss.