Rear axle seal leaks caused by syn. gear oil

Dude Boy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 02:18 AM

Quote:

be sure to only use regular gear oil in your rear diff as per the most recent Tundra TSB. Syn will cause axle seals to leak (00-02 only).

Glenn:

I saw this mentioned in another thread. Can you post a link to this TSB if available?

Thanks,

Bob

MrGrowl791 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 09:23 AM

What's this about syn. gear oil causing rear axle seal leaks? I have a 01 tundra with syn. in rear diff. Thanks

nhparrot · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Warren

What's this about syn. gear oil causing rear axle seal leaks? I have a 01 tundra with syn. in rear diff. Thanks

See the TSB DL003-03 posted in the thread Requests for TSB's

nhparrot · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hovisimo

any idea how the seals are incompatible? this is wierd. i don't doubt that this is a major problem, having replaced 2 front and 1 rear seals, but it's unacceptable that it took toyota 3 years to tell us we should not be running synthetic gear oil.

I do not know and the side note in this TSB is the first I have ever heard of it. I will pose a question to Toyota's National Customer Assistance Center via their website.

nedjames · #5 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 09:36 PM

What should we look and listen for if we have a leak? Hov, you've had to change your seals, what got your attention. This is bumming me out! I thought I was doing a good thing putting Mobil 1 in the diff, but I will change it out if I get enough info. Anyone else had axle seal problems?

nhparrot · #6 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 11:04 PM

Just as a followup and headsup to folks. On August 6th, TSB DL002-03 titled REAR AXLE SEAL DESIGN CHANGE was issued. This TSB is applicable to ’01 – ’02 Sequoia, ’95 – ’02 Tacoma & ’00 – ’02 Tundra. The TSB states "The rear axle seal lip design has been changed from a flat face type to an angled face type."

Another TSB, DL003-03, was issued October 1st. This TSB is titled SYNTHETIC REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INFORMATION and applicable to ’03 – ’04 Sequoia & Tundra vehicles WITHOUT Limited Slip
Differentials (LSD). DL003-03 states "The 2003 – 2004 Sequoia and Tundra rear axle assemblies have a synthetic fluid with special additives installed during assembly. Maintenance intervals for the rear differential fluid have changed as a result." The TSB goes on to explain the how to determine proper inspection and replacement intervals for Toyota Genuine Synthetic Differential Gear Oil, Non–Toyota Synthetic Differential Gear Oils and Mineral Differential Gear Oils.

A note in DL003-03 states that "Toyota Genuine Synthetic Differential Gear Oil (P/N 00289–75140) CANNOT be used in 2000–2002 Tundra vehicles and 2001–2002 Sequoia vehicles. The rear axle oil seals are not compatible and will leak if synthetic differential gear oils are used in these vehicles."

I have emailed Toyota's National Customer Assistance Center for clarification around the use of synthetic gear lubes in the front & rear differentials and transfer case. As soon as I hear something back, I will post it here.

kelltl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 11:30 PM

You gotta be kidding me. I just changed both diff's and transfer case over to Mobil1 synthetic last weekend. Mine is an 02. Thanks for email Toyota....I hope you get more of a response than I figure corporate will give.

KLS · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 11:54 PM

Keep in mind that there are several different types of synthetic base oils and different types of seal materials. Lots of us have many thousands of miles on our trucks with the popular synthetic gear oils and no problems.

Ken

Dude Boy · #9 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hovisimo

any idea how the seals are incompatible? this is wierd. i don't doubt that this is a major problem, having replaced 2 front and 1 rear seals, but it's unacceptable that it took toyota 3 years to tell us we should not be running synthetic gear oil.

This is unrelated to automotive use, but I run synthetic oil in some of the ammonia compressors that I have at work. A few of them experience problems with shaft seals due to shrinking and hardening of the elastomers used in construction of the seals. Right now I can't remember if the effect is due to the synthetic oil itself or the additive package. The problem seems to be worse on Nitrile (Buna N) parts than on Neoprene.

SATundra · #10 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhparrot

I do not know and the side note in this TSB is the first I have ever heard of it. I will pose a question to Toyota's National Customer Assistance Center via their website.

Thanks Glenn.

Im sure there are quit a few of us that will be interested in what they have to say.

RichR · #11 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 02:23 AM

I have had Mobil Synthetic in t case and diffs for about 20k-18 months.
I am wondering if this might be a breather vent problem?
A member had to replace seals. I had a pressure build up in rear diff that I used the breather mod to fix.
Or we might need to go to a blend type lube.
Please post the response Glenn!
Thanks
RichR

nhparrot · #12 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 09:05 AM

----- Original Message -----
From: Ask Toyota
To: nhparrot@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 1:44 PM
Subject: Use of Synthetic Gear Oil [Incident: 031003-000035]

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We apologize; at this time we are experiencing extremely high volume. We appreciate your patience. Please understand that it may be several days before we are able to respond to your email. If you need immediate assistance we recommend you contact the Customer Relations Manager at your local Toyota dealership. You may also reach our National Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-331-4331 Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM Pacific Time. We appreciate your consideration and hope to have your email addressed as quickly as possible.

Discussion Thread
Customer (Glenn Arsenault) 10/03/2003 10:44 AM
A Service Bulletin (DL003-03) released recently specifies that Toyota synthetic differential gear oil CANNOT be used in 2000–2002 Tundra vehicles and that the rear axle oil seals are not compatible and will leak if synthetic differential gear oils are used in these vehicles.

Is this true? Can any synthetic gear oils be used in the rear differential without causing damage? Does this also apply to the front differential and transfer case?

Thank you

KDTundra · #13 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 12:09 PM

I wonder what this means to all of us who made the switch from dino to synthetic and will probably run into problems down the road?

I have read the TSB and although it specifically states that you shouldn''t use Toyota's Synthetic nor any non-Toyota synthetic, it's bit too late for some of us!!! Drain and refill w/ dino and hope nothing happens????

KDTundra

DevinSixtySeven · #14 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 03:20 PM

i'm going to stick with not believing the hype, and running mobil-1 75w90 synthetic. lemme guess, not using toyota fluid will void the warranty? i have not had any problems with my seals, plugs, diffs, etc...i have an extended and vented rear diff breather, so everything leads to the engine compartment, and i do not think that an axle seal clogged with dino oil resi