jcjr

Just saw Castrol Syntec 5W-20 onsale for 4.3/qt....

Seems like a good deal...

Anyone have any experience with Castrol synthetic??

Lex?? Tuned-RX???

Thanks in advance

TunedRX300

Never used that oil but 5w-20 typically is more shear stable. 1mz-fe engine shear oil because of the cam gear, Toyota bulk oil (group II) which are probably Mobil 5w-30 became a 20 weight oil in <200 miles. The guy who did the UOA did not believe it and go back to the Toyota dealer to verify they did not put the 20 weight oil by mistake, dealer confirmed 5w-30 was used.
Advance Auto Parts has a buy one get one free deal on Vavoline SynPower, another Group III oil that is cheaper than Mobil 1.
I have not use it but here is a discussion thread on the deal, don't forget to get a free wrench
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...74#Post1054574
http://www.freevalvolinewrench.com/

TunedRX300

PP is on sales at www.cskauto.com
http://ads.kragen.com/kragenauto/def...pagenumber%3d1

rx300s415

Just to double-check...if I have a 2001 RX300 2wd (fwd)....do I need to change the differential oil/fluid? Earlier in this thread I heard a differential doesn't exist for my model...just wanted to confirm. If it does need changing....what type of gear oil would it use? 80w-90 or 75w-90? I live in San Francisco, California. Weather is usually around 55s-60s....lowest would be mid 30's....a lot of moisture from the fog.

salimshah

The transmission fluid circulates in the front diff. When you change the transmission fluid, the front diff gets the benefit too. See the DIY posted by Lexmex on transmission fluid change. You get few ozs more out by draining out from the plug ( directly towards the front of the car) next to the trans drain plug. This second plug is the bottom of thee front diff.

Salim

Lexmex

FWD doesn't have what I think you are referring to as the transfer case and the rear differential on the rear wheels that both use a gear oil (different from ATF fluid).

If you don't see this (transfer case) then you have nothing to worry about.

Lexmex

What Salim is pointing out is also something very important and I refer to it as the front differential and it is part of the transmission assembly.

The first thing to remember here is it uses ATF fluid, not gear fluid. See TunedRX300's transmission fluid changeout at the top of this thread, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220061

When you fill up the transmission via the tranny dipstick on the top of the engine bay, fluid that enters the transmission also enters the front differential. I have done a few tests and normally it takes about 30 seconds for it to drip over there.

However, the key thing about all of this is that when you change out the transmission fluid (the plug furthest to the right in the picture below) you also need to open the front differential plug (the furthest to the left) so that the fluid from there can drain out. It won't drain out on its own if you just drain the plug on the right.

rx300s415

Ah, I get it now. Thanks for clearing it up for me guys. It's be a good 15k since my last tranny fluid change and I didn't drain it from that plug. Just wanted to make sure I do it correctly this time.

carguy07

I have started taking the differential plug out first before the trany pan plug. I think it lets more "clean" fluid flush out the differential. The fluid in the differential seems to get stagnant and does not circulate much. I think opening it first will get a little flush action from the fluid that is in the shared part. Yea, I made it up but it feels better that way.

salimshah

When running, the pump circulates the fluid. Over time, sediments collect in the bottom and that is what you are trying to drain out.

Salim