I have never done it before, how do you change the diff. oil? Is it different in fwd and rwd (other then the location)?
how to change diff
- Thread starter spursfan600
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What kind of car are you changing it on?
usually front wheel drive vehicles that are automatic have the differential in the transmission, correct me if i am wrong.
I have only done differential changes on rwd trucks, there is usually a drain plug and a filler plug. Similar to manual transmissions. ALWAYS make sure to loosen the filler plug first. then remove slowly the drain plug and make sure theres a oil pan under. Once the oil drains (give it a few mins, and drain it after you drive around a bit to get it warm.) replace the drain plug and pump new oil in with a oil pump. Do this slowly sometimes if you pump it too quickly it will come out and give you the impression u filled it. Once you've pumped enough in and it slowly starts leaking out of the drain plug, put the plug back and tighten to manufactuer specs. check the oil again after you drive to make sure it does not need more due to settling etc.
good luck!
I have only done differential changes on rwd trucks, there is usually a drain plug and a filler plug. Similar to manual transmissions. ALWAYS make sure to loosen the filler plug first. then remove slowly the drain plug and make sure theres a oil pan under. Once the oil drains (give it a few mins, and drain it after you drive around a bit to get it warm.) replace the drain plug and pump new oil in with a oil pump. Do this slowly sometimes if you pump it too quickly it will come out and give you the impression u filled it. Once you've pumped enough in and it slowly starts leaking out of the drain plug, put the plug back and tighten to manufactuer specs. check the oil again after you drive to make sure it does not need more due to settling etc.
good luck!
defektes is right. If you are changing one without a drain plug you need to remove the cover.
"ALWAYS make sure to loosen the filler plug first."
Yep. If you can't get the fill plug loose, don't remove the oil.
Yep. If you can't get the fill plug loose, don't remove the oil.
indeed, #1 most common mistake people make.
If you have trouble use a breaker bar, if you do not own a breaker bar make a cheater bar, or more commonly known as a pipe wrench. Put your wrench in a pipe for extra leverage, lol.
Oh, I forgot to mention be carefull if the filler plug is off the gear oil will shoot out with suprising speed. If the oil is hot put he filler on. That way it wont shoot in your eye.
If you have trouble use a breaker bar, if you do not own a breaker bar make a cheater bar, or more commonly known as a pipe wrench. Put your wrench in a pipe for extra leverage, lol.
Oh, I forgot to mention be carefull if the filler plug is off the gear oil will shoot out with suprising speed. If the oil is hot put he filler on. That way it wont shoot in your eye.
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Originally Posted By: river_rat
And wear an old shirt you can throw out...'cause your laundry will smell something like old tomcat urine if you bring that oily shirt into the house.
LOL, please bring us up to speed on your experience with " old tomcat urine" smell...
And wear an old shirt you can throw out...'cause your laundry will smell something like old tomcat urine if you bring that oily shirt into the house.
LOL, please bring us up to speed on your experience with " old tomcat urine" smell...
Back to basics:
On a rear wheel drive car, there is an engine >transmission > driveshaft > differential.
On the vast majority of FWD cars, the transmission and differential are in one assembly/unit.
So to change the diff oil on a FWD means changing the trans fluid.
What are your intentions? What car?
On a rear wheel drive car, there is an engine >transmission > driveshaft > differential.
On the vast majority of FWD cars, the transmission and differential are in one assembly/unit.
So to change the diff oil on a FWD means changing the trans fluid.
What are your intentions? What car?
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Back to basics:
On a rear wheel drive car, there is an engine >transmission > driveshaft > differential.
On the vast majority of FWD cars, the transmission and differential are in one assembly/unit.
So to change the diff oil on a FWD means changing the trans fluid.
What are your intentions? What car?
Mostly. Occassionally there are some FWD transaxles that have a separate section for the differential and its own fluid. The Dodge Intrepids used a longitudinally mounted engine as opposed to a transverse as you would typically see in a FWD vehicle. The transaxle they used had a separate differential case, part of the transaxle but separated by seals inside and it ran its own 80W-90 I think was the weight they ran.
Back to basics:
On a rear wheel drive car, there is an engine >transmission > driveshaft > differential.
On the vast majority of FWD cars, the transmission and differential are in one assembly/unit.
So to change the diff oil on a FWD means changing the trans fluid.
What are your intentions? What car?
Mostly. Occassionally there are some FWD transaxles that have a separate section for the differential and its own fluid. The Dodge Intrepids used a longitudinally mounted engine as opposed to a transverse as you would typically see in a FWD vehicle. The transaxle they used had a separate differential case, part of the transaxle but separated by seals inside and it ran its own 80W-90 I think was the weight they ran.
Originally Posted By: river_rat
And wear an old shirt you can throw out...'cause your laundry will smell something like old tomcat urine if you bring that oily shirt into the house.
its the sperm whale oil that they put in gear lube that gives it that smell my dad told me. It is probably one of the nastiest smells I have ever got a whiff of, next to cat spray of course.
And wear an old shirt you can throw out...'cause your laundry will smell something like old tomcat urine if you bring that oily shirt into the house.
its the sperm whale oil that they put in gear lube that gives it that smell my dad told me. It is probably one of the nastiest smells I have ever got a whiff of, next to cat spray of course.
Toyota Corolla's with the 4AFE engine and the 3 speed transmission have a separate differential. My Geo has this drivetrain. The fill plug is a pain to get to. It takes Dexron III.
my intensions are on my daily driver Stratus. Its front wheel drive. I already changed the atf last month
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