Front and rear diff different viscosity

[skiller1nc]

My 2007 4x4 automatic Nissan Xterra calls for these gear oil viscosities for the diffs. 80w-90 front. 75w-140 rear. Is it fine to swap both to something like a 75w-90? I live in Eastern NC so winters down to 20f and summers up to 105f. I tow very little, maybe a uhaul once or twice a year. I've been using whatever Valvoline I could fine on the shelf the past 2 changes, used amsoil severe gear onve prior the these last 2 changes. I would like to swap to one grade so I can just buy a 6qt case from hpl or maybe a gallon from amsoil. Would it be safer to go with the thicker grade in both? Is thinner fine sinve I don't stress the diffs much? What do y'all recommend

 

[LenZee]

I would go thicker not thinner. 75w140 for both.

 

[Torrid]

I would go thicker not thinner. 75w140 for both.

Same. I'd be a bit apprehensive to go lighter on the one calling for thicker oil much so more than putting in thicker than the other calls for.

 

[thastinger]

It could probably only do harm, you wouldn't notice any potential gas mileage difference.

I think all of the truck chassis Nissan's call for this. Walmart has 80-90 or tractor supply.

 

[LenZee]

It could probably only do harm, you wouldn't notice any potential gas mileage difference.

I think all of the truck chassis Nissan's call for this. Walmart has 80-90 or tractor supply.

More likely to protect but mpg but suffer 1%.

 

[cmarshall78]

Use what the manufacturer calls for, why risk it?

 

[MolaKule]

With the problems I have had with Nissan differentials, I would use what is specified. I use 75W110 for the front and rear differentials in my Nissan Frontier which specs 75W90 in both front and rear.

Some sponsor's that have various grades of gear oils:

HPL Differential Life https://www.advlubrication.com/products/differential-life#:~:text=HPL Differential Life protects against thermal degradation, wear,modifier chemistry, eliminating the need for additional additives.

Amsoil Severe Gear https://www.amsoil.com/search/#q=amsoil severe gear 75w-140 100 synthetic gear lube&t=totalProductsTab&sort=relevancy&numberOfResults=20

 

[skiller1nc]

With the problems I have had with Nissan differentials, I would use what is specified. I use 75W110 for the front and rear differentials in my Nissan Frontier which specs 75W90 in both front and rear.

Some sponsor's that have various grades of gear oils:

HPL Differential Life https://www.advlubrication.com/products/differential-life#:~:text=HPL Differential Life protects against thermal degradation, wear,modifier chemistry, eliminating the need for additional additives.

Amsoil Severe Gear https://www.amsoil.com/search/#q=amsoil severe gear 75w-140 100 synthetic gear lube&t=totalProductsTab&sort=relevancy&numberOfResults=20

What problems have you had? Historically Nissan has used very strong axles in their trucks and SUVs?

 

[MolaKule]

What problems have you had? Historically Nissan has used very strong axles in their trucks and SUVs?

See this thread:

Thread 'Nissan Frontier Rear Differential'

Sep 19, 2024

Well, my 2012 Nissan Frontier's rear differential has to be rebuilt. It is a torque sensing diffy similar to the Eaton TrueTrac.

I change gear lube each year before hunting season and this time a chunk of metal came out that looked like a gear tooth and indeed it was.

I had my mechanic put it on a lift and remove the cover and indeed teeth were missing from the drive pinion and the torsen gearing.

The axle assembly will be removed and sent to an axle shop that specializes in a rebuild.

No noise or cornering issues were ever noticed.

• MolaKule
• Replies: 40
• Forum: ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S

• 
• 
• 

In your case I would suggest using 75W90 front, 75W140 rear.

 

[skiller1nc]

See this thread:

Thread 'Nissan Frontier Rear Differential'

Sep 19, 2024

Well, my 2012 Nissan Frontier's rear differential has to be rebuilt. It is a torque sensing diffy similar to the Eaton TrueTrac.

I change gear lube each year before hunting season and this time a chunk of metal came out that looked like a gear tooth and indeed it was.

I had my mechanic put it on a lift and remove the cover and indeed teeth were missing from the drive pinion and the torsen gearing.

The axle assembly will be removed and sent to an axle shop that specializes in a rebuild.

No noise or cornering issues were ever noticed.

• MolaKule
• Replies: 40
• Forum: ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S

• 
• 
• 

In your case I would suggest using 75W90 front, 75W140 rear.

Interesting. I've never heard of a torsion diff factory on a frontier, only the m226 elocker. Did someone install an aftermarket one?

 

[MolaKule]

Interesting. I've never heard of a torsion diff factory on a frontier, only the elocker

No, it was a factory unit.

Much to my surprise I didn't know it had a Torsen-type system until I had my shop remove the rear cover only to find gear teeth missing from the ring gear, drive pinion, and the Torsen gears.

https://torsen.com/how-it-works/

 

[Egg_Head]

How often are you changing your diff fluids? Do you drive your truck through water crossings?

 

[skiller1nc]

How often are you changing your diff fluids? Do you drive your truck through water crossings?

Every 30k. If I do a water crossing I change it after. But I've only done major water crossings twice, and I have a breather on the diff that goes up behind my tail light. Neither time was there any water inside.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I would follow Nissan's specifications.

 

[LenZee]

I would follow Nissan's specifications.

That's it boys/girls, turn off the servers, turn off the lights. No need for anything besides what your owner's manual says.
Bobistheoilguy.com is no longer needed.

 

[MolaKule]

Every 30k. If I do a water crossing I change it after. But I've only done major water crossings twice, and I have a breather on the diff that goes up behind my tail light. Neither time was there any water inside.

I can understand you wanting to use a single grade of oil to reduce inventory but for the reasons I have stated, I would definitely use a 75W140 grade for the rear differential. Just about any 75W140 of any brand will suffice

Mine was an 8-bolt differential with an ~ 3.37:1 gear ratio and required about 2.25L of gear oil. In my view, with that gear ratio, this volume of oil is insufficient, which is why I change it yearly.

 

[barkingspider]

75w140 in the rear and 80w90 in front is what I would use. Especially if you change it that often.

 

[Jarpin]

My 2001 Forester also calls for two different viscosities for the front vs. rear. After maybe 2004 they made it so both ends can take the same fluid.

 

[Krieg]

Follow OM

 

[DadTim@No1]

Use what the manufacturer calls for, why risk it?

Are these the same manufacturers that have the " Lifetime " CVT fluid ?