- Lift the vehicle with a jack and place it on jack stands.
- Locate the front or rear differential and its corresponding fill and drain plugs.
- Remove the fill plug first to ensure that it’s not seized on there.
- Carefully remove the drain plug and drain the fluid into a pan.
How do you drain differential fluid?
Draining the Differential.
Place a container beneath the differential
. Make sure you have a sealable container to catch the old differential fluid as you drain it from the vehicle. Place the container beneath the drain bolt so the fluid will pour into the container once you remove it.
How long does it take to drain differential fluid?
Place a drain pan under the differential to catch old oil. Remove the drain plug or differential cover bolts and cover. Allow the differential to drain for 30 minutes in warm weather or
two hours if temperatures are below 50 degrees F.
Does the car need to be level to change differential fluid?
It’s
important to keep the car level
, even when raised up, to ensure the correct amount of new fluid makes its way into your diff. … Fluid will come out, so make sure you have something to catch it with.
How do you know if your front differential fluid is low?
- Burning Smell from the Differential. When you notice a bad smell coming from your gearbox, you should take it as a sign of bad differential oil which can be contaminated hence not operating as it should be. …
- Weird Noises. …
- Vibrations.
What happens if you don’t change differential fluid?
If this fluid isn’t changed in the manufacturer-prescribed intervals, then
it can get dirty and thick
, which could damage the differential over time.
What kind of fluid goes in a differential?
There are two types of differential fluid. One is
mineral oil
, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid. The other is synthetic differential fluid, which is created in a lab. As with all synthetic oils, synthetic differential fluid oils can be fine-tuned for optimal performance.
Can you drive with no differential fluid?
Also a
lack
of lubrication in the bearings that hold all the gears in place, which again, wear and heat. Keep it going very long and you can cause severe damage. You’re likely to notice a noise if you’re conscientious at all.
How much does it cost to change front differential fluid?
When changing the differential fluid, the overall differential fluid change cost averages between $80-$150 for the rear and
$70 to $130 for the front
change, coming in at a total price of between $150-$280 for the differential fluid change cost.
How often should you change front and rear differential fluid?
Most manufacturers recommend that the differential fluid be changed
every 30,000 to 60,000 miles
. It is a messy job, and should be done by a licensed mechanic.
What happens when front differential fails?
If vehicles were not equipped with front and rear differentials,
the left and right tires would be forced to spin at the same speed despite these different paths
. This would cause one or both tires to slip, causing loss of traction, excessive tire wear, and additional stress on other powertrain components.
What are the signs of low gearbox oil?
- Drips or puddles underneath the car.
- Difficulty shifting through gears and/or slipping.
- Shuddering or shaking.
- Lurching or sudden jerks.
- Transmission won’t engage.
- Humming or clunking noises.
- A burning smell.
What happens if differential fails?
More importantly, a compromised differential can negatively impact your safety when you’re behind the wheel by making it difficult to turn. A faulty differential can also
cause your car’s wheels to lock up
, and this can put you in a dangerous situation if it happens while you’re in traffic.
Is Thicker gear oil better?
Higher-viscosity gear oils offer
thick films
, better wear resistance and protection from corrosion, making them suited to slower gearboxes that operate under more intense pressures and loads. They also seal components better, affording longer change intervals.
How is differential fluid level checked?
Differentials require gear oil for proper operation. This oil lubricates and cools the internal gears and bearings. It’s a good idea to check your
differential fluid level if there is any sign of an external differential leak
. You’ll also want to check the level if the differential has just been serviced.
Is differential fluid the same as transfer case fluid?
The transfer case acts
like a differential
, but channels power to the two differentials on different axles rather than to two wheels on the same axle. As in a gearbox, a differential and transfer case require fluid to lubricate the gears, shafts and bearings where metal slides over metal.
