Does the Toyota Crown differential oil need to be replaced?
2 Answers
The Crown differential oil should be replaced every 60,000 kilometers. The function of the differential is to meet the requirement of different wheel speeds when the car turns. The car differential enables the left and right (or front and rear) drive wheels to rotate at different speeds. It is mainly composed of left and right half-shaft gears, two planetary gears, and a gear carrier. The steps for replacing the car differential oil are as follows: 1. First, lift the car and place a large container underneath to catch the waste oil. Use an appropriate screwdriver to remove the inner and outer casings of the transmission. Some transmission oil will flow out at this time, so be careful to avoid it. 2. When most of the oil has drained, remove the last oil pan, being careful to support it by hand as there is still a large amount of waste oil inside. 3. Remove the oil pan gasket and clean the surrounding area. If the gaps are not clean enough, use a tool with cotton thread to wipe all the cleaned transmission oil filter components, then install them one by one. 4. Wipe the surface of the replacement parts clean, ensuring there are no water or oil stains, as these can cause leaks. Install the cleaned oil pan and gasket together and add the original manufacturer's oil. Check the oil level through the filling observation hole. If the oil is full, it will flow out from the observation hole.
As a long-time owner of a Toyota Crown, I've driven it for nearly a decade. Changing the differential oil is absolutely essential—it's like keeping the car hydrated. The differential is a critical component of the drive axle, and the oil inside helps lubricate the gears to reduce friction. If you don't change the oil for a long time, it thickens and gets contaminated with metal shavings, leading to strange noises, accelerated wear, or even complete component failure. I recommend checking it every two years or 30,000 kilometers (my Toyota manual suggests every 40,000 kilometers). A differential oil change doesn’t cost much—just a few hundred bucks—but if you wait until it fails, replacing the entire differential could set you back thousands. Once, I delayed the oil change, and my car started making grinding noises when turning. The mechanic said the oil had clumped up—luckily, I changed it in time before any major damage occurred. Remember, don’t skimp on maintenance to save a few bucks; regular upkeep is the key to longevity. Driving a Crown is comfortable, but maintenance should never be neglected.
