I have 20,000 miles on my '02. I don't track the car. When should I change the differential oil? Just wondering if it needs to be changed more often because of the limited slip. I have full lockers in the front and rear of my 4Runner, and the oil needs to be changed at least once a year, dependant upon mileage and whatever off-road beating I put it through.
Thanks.

 

I change the diff and tranny fluids every other engine oil change. Since I'm running Mobil 1 oil, I change the engine oil every 5000 miles. Bottom line is: every 5000 on the engine and every 10000 on the tranny and diff. Makes it kind of easy to remember too.

If I were you I'd change your diff oil now. Make sure you use a GL-5 rated fluid.

Look here for all the info you'll ever need on fluid changes: http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...threadid=108435

 

I also change my diff oil every other time I change my engine oil. The 1st change is the most important, due to break-in. I wish I would have changed my diff oil at 1K miles.

 

yep. i would have suggested 10k on both myself. i haven't looked in the helms lately, but i think it recommends a much longer interval. i see nothing wrong with shortening it though.

 

Changed my diff. oil the first time at 3,500 miles when I did the first oil change.

Changed it again at 10,000 miles and will do so every 7,500 from now on.

 

The AHM severe service recommendation is every year or 15K miles.

 

True, but more frequent maintenance might help prevent some of the failures that seem to be so common.

 

Wow, thanks for all of the replies. Guess I better schedule an appointment.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gernby

 

I agree - I admit to being a maintenance fanatic, and well known for being a lube fanatic, but changing the diff oil every year is a bit over the top, even for me. I do changes at 1k miles, 1 year, and then every 2-3 years after that. The failures that have been described were shock-induiced mechanical ones, and Queen Elizabeth's tears would not have prevented those sort of failures.