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Differential fluid, also called gear oil, is the fluid that is poured into the rear differential housing. It needs to lubricate the clutches, gears, and bearings in the rear end. It also keeps all of those components cool so that all of the parts in the differential don’t overheat and belt.
Do I need to change rear differential fluid?
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.
What happens if you don’t 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 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.
How do you know if you need rear differential fluid?
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. Once you realize that your differential oil is contaminated, the next step is to replace it immediately.
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 kind of differential fluid do I need?
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.
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 transmission fluid the same as differential fluid?
Differentials use gear oil/fluid. A manual transmission also uses gear oil but the viscosity may be a bit different. In an automatic transmission, definitely not; the fluid is much thinner and is called ATF – automatic transmission fluid.
How long does differential fluid last?
Most manufacturer maintenance schedules require the differential fluid to be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, however, it can differ between vehicles. The job itself is actually pretty easy, however, if you’re planning to change your vehicle’s differential fluid at home, then it can get messy.
Can low differential fluid cause slipping?
Yes it may, the bearings gears if worn out may lead to slippage of the differential.
What does low differential fluid sound like?
Worn gears and low differential fluid will result in a grinding or humming noise coming from the differential. Any strange noises should be checked out by a professional technician to ensure the problem is properly taken care of.
How often does the 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.
What is the most common rear differential fluid?
Gear oil (e.g., SAE 75W-90, 75W-140, 80W-90, 80W-140, 85W-140) is the most common differential fluid. Some differentials use limited slip additives.
Do all cars have differential fluid?
At least one differential is found on all modern cars, SUVs, and trucks. In front-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is typically built into the transmission or transaxle, and shares the transmission fluid.
What causes damage to the rear differential?
The most common cause of a bad differential is lack of oil, which could result in grinding at high speed, cause the carrier to break, or in most cases, block the rear wheels. It often happens when you have a worn-out differential seal or a cracked housing which could cause oil leaks.
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.
What is the best differential fluid?
Editor’s Choice: Red Line 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil. Red Line Synthetic Oil is one of the top companies making synthetic lubricants for all parts of your car. Lucas Synthetic Racing Gear Oil. Royal Purple Max-GEAR. Liqui Moly Fully Synthetic Gear Oil. Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS.
What color should differential fluid be?
Well-Known Member If you have water in your oil or differential fluid, it will be a brown color like a chocolate milkshake.
What weight oil goes in rear differential?
In a rear-wheel-drive car, the differential has its own housing and lubrication, a thick, dark oil usually heavier than 80 weight.
Is it worth fixing a rear differential?
The truth is that sometimes replacing your rear differential will end up costing more than your car is actually worth. But that doesn’t mean you’re at a total loss. You can still junk a car with broken or faulty parts—and walk away with cash for it.
