Gearbox & Diff Oil

[BZG Wagon]

Thinking of changing the gearbox & diff oils in my Caldina GTT - what do I need to know?

Is there much difference between oils - do Toyota do a 'genuine toyota' oil or do they just use generic? Are there 'better' oils availible?

I take it it's a fairly straight forward job (oil out the bottom drain, back in through the top hole, stop once overflowing)?

Last time I was at the dealership the sales guy said not to bother since nothing could get in or out of the gearbox or diff, but after 14 odd years and 154kms it must make some difference?

[Grrrrrrr!]

I'd suggest not going back to that dealership... Gearbox oils break down and should be changed regularly. At least every 3 years for a nana spec daily, or more often if it gets lots of loud pedal or track use. Don't be surprised if after 14 years what come out is thin ,watery and very very gray.

All fluids in a car break down in some way over time, so all need replacing periodically.

A genuine toyota oil will just be somebody elses oil in a new packet, just buy a decent brand oil of the right grade. Mobil, Motul, Caltex etc. None of the red stamp or equivalent crap.

[Mr Ree]

Yes, never go back to that dealership, and feel free to announce the name of said place so as to let others avoid it too

All fluids need changing over time, just a fact of life.

[xsspeed]

Interested to here what you find about diffs. Even the guys at toyota weren't sure what grade to use in my mrs' caldina GT. "Same as the box" was the reply, which is well and good, but being auto I don't think putting dex3 atf into the diffs are a good idea.

I suspect a 75w-90 is fine, but keen to find out for sure.

Is yours auto or manual?

[BZG Wagon]

Yeah, I'm wondering if the oil would have broken down over time and now the car's getting older (& worth less & less each day), I find I'm punishing it a bit more then I use to so want to front foot the maintainance. My theory is the oil must degrade from the repeated heating and cooling and more then likely the box oil will have shards of metal in it (hopefully not too much).

Henderson Toyota gave the advice (also suggested I use 20w50 oil for the engine so I kinda ignored their advice from that point on).

My GTT's a manual. A GTT I looked at when buying mine had a brand new diff after a Toyota apparently put the wrong oil in it - so I'm a little worried about screwing this up. It seems fairly hard to get straight answers on servicing Caldina's / GTT's in general. As a rule of thumb I go with what ever is recommended for a Celilca GT4.

[GTsedan]

If it has a drain and/or fill bung it will need replacing at some time. I do know that some of the v8 falcon autos were sealed from factory but doubt any japanese stuff is (i could be wrong)

[cedwards]

used "castrol manual multitrax" which is what toyota albany claim to use in their service department, they also didn't seem to think the oils needed changing interestingly.

The front box and transfer are linked internally but have two seperate sump plugs but one common filler point.
I was told to watch you don't rush filling it as you can leave the transfer a little dry.
Think I tilted the car slightly toward the transfer and filled it left it for a bit then levelled the car off, took it for a slow drive around the block then checked it again.
Job is a little messy and without a filler pump you gonna wanna get some flexible plastic tubing (small enough to fit inside filler hole without slowing oil flow too much) about two feet long and fashion a funnel outta a drink bottle or something so you can pour it in from the top, then lying under the car pinch it shut when full.

[xsspeed]

Any idea if the transfer is joined to the box for auto applications? as I would have thought ATF too thin?

[tsoob]

Redline. its the sheezz heezeey.

but its really expensive

[BZG Wagon]

Redline. its the sheezz heezeey.

but its really expensive

Hey, if it lasts 14 years and 154,000kms I'll be happy

[Bazda]

Motul Hands down.

Best oil i've used for gearboxes & diffs
But yes its quite expensive. I however provide a 15-20% off retail for Toyspeed memebers.

[BZG Wagon]

How do I work out what to use? Will it be stamped or noted somewhere on the car?

Seems like 75W-90 is the norm for gearboxes & diff's?

[sergei]

I use Castrol Multitrax on my GT4s in the gearbox and syntrax in the rear diff. These oils are of same grade, Multitrax is semi-synthetic (and cheaper) and Syntrax is fully synthetic. You could use Multitrax in rear diff.
Make sure you get GL5 graded gearbox oil for the gearbox, as it has got hypoid gear inside (transfer case).

As for the replacement, two drain points but you fill it in one point. You cannot miss the drain plugs, they are 24MM nuts.

Undo two bottom and one in the middle (below starter), there is also a plug/breather on top of the gearbox, which I use to fill.

When car is sitting level you fill up the gearbox until the oil starts coming out of middle plug.

It takes approx ~5.2L for the gearbox, and ~1.1L for the rear diff.

[BZG Wagon]

Cool - thanks for the advice Sergei.

Are you definately sure it's GL5 and not GL4? I hear GL5 can damage the box & diff it's not designed for it.

Also why do you use the breather to fill? Is it easier?

[sergei]

Cool - thanks for the advice Sergei.

Are you definately sure it's GL5 and not GL4? I hear GL5 can damage the box & diff it's not designed for it.

Also why do you use the breather to fill? Is it easier?

GL5 is specified grade for that gearbox and diff. GL4 has got a lot less additives for hypoid type of gear.


I use breather as it is straight above and you could just use funnel in there (with a longish nose).

[BZG Wagon]

Well; I finally changed the oil in my gearbox and front diff today. Inetestingly despite Toyota & a few members saying GTT's take 5.2L of oil, we only managed to drain 4.1L, and 4.1L is exactly what went back in.

Found both drains, car was perfectly level. Not sure what we did wrong?!?

The car seems to 'roll' a lot better although 2nd & 3rd surprisingly feel more notchy then before (I'm using Castrol Syntrax GL5 75w90). I'm still driving the car in a very tame manner; make sure there are no leaks etc.

Off to do the rear diff tonight. Do I need to be gental on the car for the first couple hundered kays or does it not make a difference? Are ther any issues with mixing 4L of the new stuff with 1L of the old stuff (assuming it does take 5.2L)?

[Grrrrrrr!]

Well; I finally changed the oil in my gearbox and front diff today. Inetestingly despite Toyota & a few members saying GTT's take 5.2L of oil, we only managed to drain 4.1L, and 4.1L is exactly what went back in.

Found both drains, car was perfectly level. Not sure what we did wrong?!?

Wild guess... gearbox has an oil pump, and oil in the pump and cooler circuit cant gravity drain so you still have some old oil in there.. but 1.1L seems rather a lot.