2003 Toyota Tundra 4.7L V8 SR5 Step Side TRD Sport
Greetings Scotty,
First off, thank you very much for sharing your experience, knowledge & expertise with everyone. You're a saint & much appreciated, sir.
My question is about my old 2003 Toyota Tundra 2WD SR5 TRD Sport package with automatic transmission. My truck is my only vehicle & currently has approximately 298,500 miles on it. I bought the truck used in 2003 with only 17,000 miles on it & it's been a great vehicle over the many years. However, I'm a automotive novice but have at least always kept up with motor oil changes always using a synthetic blend to keep oil change costs lower. My truck is used as simply a daily driver & not used for towing or hauling anything heavy.
I last had the differential fluid drained & filled (not flushed) with Lucas brand Synthetic Gear Oil in October 2017. It is a Limited Slip Differential as “LSD” is stated on it. I been reading & hearing that changing the differential oil/fluid after so much time has passed will result in problems & is not advised. Prior to Oct. 2017 it had also been many years since I had the differential fluid drained & filled without any problems afterward. I have no plans of buying another vehicle for several more years especially because my truck has been such a reliable vehicle.
I'd really appreciate your counsel & advise on this. Considering that it had been since 2017 that the differential has had any new oil/fluid, do you recommend having another drain & refill performed or do you recommend leaving it alone until it gives up the ghost as the truck is approximately 20 years old?
I been reading & hearing that changing the differential oil/fluid after so much time has passed will result in problems & is not advised.
Nonsense. Keep up every 50-60k
Change it. It's just splash lubricated, there's no pump, etc. The Limited Slip feature will require a certain amount of friction modifier to be added to the gear oil. The amount and type should be in your owner's manual.
Tighten bolts in a criss-cross pattern like tightening lug nuts.
I been reading & hearing that changing the differential oil/fluid after so much time has passed will result in problems & is not advised.
Don't know where you're reading this, but they don't know what they're talking about. Nothing wrong with changing differential fluid regardless of how much time has passed. Just make sure to use the correct fluid and use friction modifier if required. I'd stick with Toyota fluid.
Typically I’ve always changed the diff fluid every 30-40k mi. Unless someone corrects me I’ve never read or heard it’s not a good idea to change after so many mi. It doesn’t really make sense to me because if moisture gets into the diff (which in my case it could possibly because I’m always in the backwoods of MT) it will cause major issues leaving the water or moisture in there. Also, all the fluids your truck has in it deteriorate as heat/ cold, time and driving habits give all fluids a beating.
