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How often does differential fluid need to be changed?
Generally speaking, differential fluid should be changed anywhere from every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles. Your Chevrolet Owner’s manual should outline differential fluid changes in the recommended maintenance schedule.
Does rear differential fluid need to be changed?
The recommendation of most car manufacturers is that you change your rear differential fluid about every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles. When you are ready to change the fluid, have a licensed mechanic do it so that you don’t mess anything up. It is a dirty job and the differential fluid needs to be thrown away properly.
How long does it take to change rear differential fluid?
Our certified technicians can perform this service in about 10 minutes – while you wait in the convenience of your car. Plus, you could save between 20% to 50% versus the dealership. Many auto manufacturers recommend replacing differential fluid at regularly scheduled intervals. Check your owner’s manual for details.
Can I change differential fluid myself?
Changing the fluid in a differential is almost as easy as changing the oil in the engine. However, the process can differ between vehicles since some differentials only have two plugs — one for filling the fluid and another for draining it – while other vehicles require you to remove the housing cover.
What are the symptoms of low differential fluid?
If the gear oil runs low or becomes excessively dirty, it can cause the gears to whine or howl as they turn. The whining or howling is caused by lack of lubrication and may increase in volume as vehicle speed increases.
What does differential fluid smell like?
A final note is that all differential fluids possess a particular odor that may or may not appeal to your senses. Sulfur compounds used in extreme pressure lubricants smell either like rotten eggs or worse depending on additive concentration.
What color should rear differential fluid be?
If you have water in your oil or differential fluid, it will be a brown color like a chocolate milkshake.
How important is it to change differential fluid?
In most cases, you will need to change differential fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. It’s important to stay on top of changing differential fluid because metal-on-metal contact creates heat from friction. It also weakens gears and wears down surfaces. That can lead to differential failure, which is a costly problem.
How much does it cost to replace a rear differential?
The average replacement cost for a whole rear differential is between $1000 and $4000. Luckily, you can just repair it or replace it with a used differential, which will decrease the costs a lot. Most differential repairs will cost between $200 and $400 to repair.
Is differential fluid the same as transmission fluid?
Oils for differentials, transfer cases, and all geared mechanism have different requirements than transmission fluids. They may be called oils, but are not at all interchangeable. Always use the manufacturer’s recommendations for differential fluid. If you have a manual transmission, it may be the same.
What kind of oil do I put in rear differential?
The construction and maintenance of front differentials mirror that of the rear on the same vehicle. Most differentials call for SAE 75w90 gear oil, however some heavy-duty and limited-slip differentials need SAE 75w140 gear oil. Consult your owner’s manual for the proper weight oil to use.
What happens if you never change differential fluid?
Most differentials need a fluid change at about 50,000 miles. If left too long or if the fluid starts to run low, the differential will become noisy and can eventually fail. If that happens, the gears can seize, locking up the rear wheels and potentially causing a lot of damage or even an accident.
What is the difference between gear oil and differential oil?
Differential oil, which is also known as gear oil, is thicker compared to engine oil. The heavy-duty automobile fluid works under high pressure to ensure that all the gears, clutch packs, and bearings are continuously oiled, keeping all the differentials working smoothly and safely.
Can I pump out rear differential fluid?
If your differential has both a drain plug and a fill plug your first step is to remove the two plugs with your ratchet and socket. In some models, there’s only one plug, and the old fluid must be drawn out with a hand pump. Once the fluid is drained, if your drain plug has a crush washer, replace it with a new one.
Does Lucas make a differential oil?
Lucas Oil SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Transmission and Differential Lube. Contains a special additive package that cushions gears and resists “squeezing out” under extreme pressure situations where other gear lubricants just aren’t good enough. Specially designed to stand up to high temperatures without losing its lubricity.
What is a front differential?
A front differential is a device on your vehicle that divides the torque so that your tires can spin at different speeds. This device is very important because when you turn your car, the outside of the tire needs to spin faster than the inside of the tire to keep up with the car in the turn.
How do you know if your rear differential needs fluid?
Here are the most common bad differential symptoms to look out for: Your vehicle is quickly going through oil. Difficulty steering. A loud front differential noise, such as the grinding of gears, clunking, or a “howling” sound. Rear differential noises. Extensive and inexplicable wear and tear on your tires.
Can rear differential cause transmission problems?
When the differential doesn’t perform well, it creates metal-on-metal friction that wears down surfaces. The resulting heat weakens gears and can cause component failure and transmission problems.
How do you fix a noisy differential?
How to Quiet Differential Whine Prep the area. Replace Differential Fluid. Replace the seal. Test the Vehicle. Inspect rear differential gasket, pinion seal, and side seal. Clean the housing. Replace broken parts. Lubricate and re-install axle into differential.
What does burnt diff oil smell like?
Burnt oil It has an acrid smell to it, and is most pungent when it burns. It’s also visible, leaving a bluish-white trail of smoke. Check for an oil leak. If you’re losing oil and notice a cloud in your wake when you’re driving, check that dipstick.
