The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

DanP · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 15:53 Post subject: LC3 120 series Diffs

Hi. Can anyone please confirm what type of diffs my truck has, Limited Slip Diff or Fully Lockable? Front, centre and rear diffs please. My truck is an LC3 120 series (Prado), manual 5 speeds, LWB, D4D engine, 2004, UK model. The reason for asking is because I never received a convincing answer, even Toyota dealers and many garages gave me contradicting info, even after I gave them my VIN. The confusion is mainly about the centre diff, some say is LSD others say is fully lockable. Please help, I need to know with certainty. Searched forums but couldn’t find the answer. Thanks.

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TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

As far as I know the LC3 has a rear locking diff (not lsd) and normal front diff (no locking) and a torson centre locking lsd diff transfer case with the the lsd unlike the limited slip diffs that need lsd diff oils, all above that is if your LC3 is Euro spec .

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

As you state its UK spec that makes it a Euro spec 120 ,

DanP · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 19:28 Post subject:

Many thanks for your answer Tony. What do you mean the centre LSD diff is unlike the LSD that needs LSD oil? Please elaborate.

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Limited slip diffs need an additive in the diff oil for the LSD clutches in the diff , hence LSD specified diff oil . the centre LSD Torson locking diff in the 120 uses standard GL5 75w-90 diff/gearbox oil so no need for the gear oil that LSDs call for that have the LSD additive , hope that makes it clearer .

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Limited slip diffs need an additive in the diff oil for the LSD clutches in the diff , hence LSD specified diff oil . the centre LSD Torson locking diff in the 120 uses standard GL5 75w-90 diff/gearbox oil so no need for the gear oil that LSDs call for that have the LSD additive , hope that makes it clearer .

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Sorry double post 🙈

Tractionman · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 20:21 Post subject:

Easy done Tony - it's that delay after clicking submit, catches us all out at sometime. 😀

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Yes your right tractionman and when your using your phone to comment its easy to double post 😃

DanP · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 16:57 Post subject:

Once again, many thanks for your replies Tony. So the centre diff functions as a Torsen Limited Slip Diff permanently, and then gets fully locked when switching to low gear (yellow centre diff light on dashboard). Or the centre diff is open and switching to low gear activates the Torsen Limited Slip. Which one is correct?

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Yes centre diff is limited slip permanently and gets fully locked when switching to low gear with yellow diff lock light on dash , on later 120s you turn on diff lock switch on centre console , it locks drive to 50/50 front and rear ,I dont know if in a older manual like yours if you can lock the centre diff in High speed gears , the later 120s you can by putting the stubby gearstick in H high and press the diff lock switch on the centre console just as you can have the centre diff in L [low] unlocked and press diff lock switch to lock centre diff in low ,

Beekeeper · * Joined: 16 Feb 2022 Posts: 39 Location: Scotland

Mine, which I'm sure is standard, has High - High Locked - Neutral - Low Locked on the second lever. All modes are four wheel drive.

DanP · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 13:22 Post subject:

Cheers Tony. It’s all pretty clear now. Considering the info I gave above about my truck, do you think the diffs set up could be any different than what you said, or it’s unlikely? I’m asking because a manual 120 is pretty rare.

I’m also looking to change all diffs oils and according to what you said there no need to use LSD oil in any of my diffs. Can you confirm that?

TONYCY11 · **** Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 409 Location: CYPRUS

Yes no need to use LSD oils in any of your three diffs , toyota specify 75w_85 gl5 oil in the front and rear diffs and 75w-90 gl5 in the centre diff , I always use fully synthetic 75w-90 gl5 in all three diffs ,as in my oppinion 75w-90 gl5 covers a wider range , and being fully synthetic are far superior oil than the standard mineral based oil toyota specify ,and the only place you are likely to find 75w-85 gl5 oil is a toyota dealer and the price at the toyota dealer for the oil will be ridiculously over priced .

karl2000 · **** Joined: 25 Apr 2021 Posts: 318 Location: North West

Good advice from Tony as usual! I put this stuff in the rear diff, front diff and transfer box

https://www.roughtrax4x4.com/toyota-4x4-parts/service-parts/fluids-oils/5-litres-fuchs-titan-75w-90-gear-syn-gearbox-differential-oil.html