How to drain my rear diff with no drain plug?
- Thread starter mcrn
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You can but you will not get all of it. Cant you take the back cover off?
On my Excursion, that is exactly what you have to do...remove the cover on the pumpkin. Some aftermarket covers do come with drain plugs so this would be a good time to change if you wanna go that route.
I don't think with the gears and viscosity of the lube that you would be able to get it all out.
I don't think with the gears and viscosity of the lube that you would be able to get it all out.
What kind of vehicle/axle?
Most domestics have a service cover. Just take it off and let the fluid drain, then install the cover with RTV (I use Ultra Black) or a cut gasket.
On imports, you'll probably need a suction gun to get the fluid out from the fill hole. Any parts store will have suction guns, usually near the gear oil.
Most domestics have a service cover. Just take it off and let the fluid drain, then install the cover with RTV (I use Ultra Black) or a cut gasket.
On imports, you'll probably need a suction gun to get the fluid out from the fill hole. Any parts store will have suction guns, usually near the gear oil.
what make and model?
Thanks for all the responses and im sorry, I cant believe I did not put the vehicle. I was tired when I posted. It is a 03 Yukon with the full time 4 wheel drive system. Its annoying because the front does have a drain plug but the rear does not! I do not understand that kind of engineering but oh well.
Originally Posted By: mcrn
I know I could take the whole pumpkin off but I would prefer not to do this if I don't have to. Can I just suck the fluid out from the fill hole with a tool from autozone? Thanks in advance!
Yes, I've done this in the past for diffs with stuck drain plugs.
I know I could take the whole pumpkin off but I would prefer not to do this if I don't have to. Can I just suck the fluid out from the fill hole with a tool from autozone? Thanks in advance!
Yes, I've done this in the past for diffs with stuck drain plugs.
Just suck 99% out and refill and you will be fine IMO. Ed
Put down a big piece of cardboard under the very wide drain pan you will buy. Drain into the pan, the cardboard catches drips and drops, then throw away the cardboard.
If you're extremely anal, use a large number of paper towels to wipe out the pan, use solvent to clean out the remaining lube, then throw the paper towels and the pan away.
Problem solved.
If you're extremely anal, use a large number of paper towels to wipe out the pan, use solvent to clean out the remaining lube, then throw the paper towels and the pan away.
Problem solved.
I would take the cover off if your going to keep the truck for a while or if you tow alot. Just so you could get all the metals that settle out to the bottom of the diff. The drain plugs on my Tracker have magnets and there was quite abit of stuff on them. I wouldn't think its a good idea to leave it in there.
Ian
Ian
I guess this is what I'll be doing with my 05 Sport Trac. I can't believe they didn't bother with a drain plug.
the 6 dollar hand pump from Harbor Freight cannot be beat- even has a smaller attachment for removing p/s or brake fluid. Double as a regualr air paump as well.
I purchased 4 units cause they will stop making them someday
Steve
I purchased 4 units cause they will stop making them someday
Steve
Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
I guess this is what I'll be doing with my 05 Sport Trac. I can't believe they didn't bother with a drain plug.
You have it easier than some since you have the 8.8 rear axle. There are reusable rubber gaskets available for it so that you don't even have to mess with RTV. Ford sells the reusable rubber gaskets in their performance parts catalog. They are probably available through Summit Racing and Jegs too. I wish someone made those for the 7.5 axle.
Also, there are lots of aluminum covers available for your axle with drain plugs.
I guess this is what I'll be doing with my 05 Sport Trac. I can't believe they didn't bother with a drain plug.
You have it easier than some since you have the 8.8 rear axle. There are reusable rubber gaskets available for it so that you don't even have to mess with RTV. Ford sells the reusable rubber gaskets in their performance parts catalog. They are probably available through Summit Racing and Jegs too. I wish someone made those for the 7.5 axle.
Also, there are lots of aluminum covers available for your axle with drain plugs.
Originally Posted By: mcrn
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
Odds are your Yukon has synthetic gear oil from the factory. Synthetic doesn't smell nearly as bad as conventional gear oil.
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
Odds are your Yukon has synthetic gear oil from the factory. Synthetic doesn't smell nearly as bad as conventional gear oil.
Originally Posted By: mcrn
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
The bit about the air intake sounds very very odd to me. Of all the places inside and outside the house, the garage is the one location with a significant risk of carbon monoxide buildup. What kind of air intake is this? Fresh air for the whole house?
If the intake is for combustion air for a heating furnace, then I suppose a bit of carbon monoxide contamination in tolerable.
Whole families die here because someone left a car engine running in the garage. This is with no air intakes in the garage, the CO seeps in thru cracks and gaps. An air intake would never be allowed to be in a garage in Toronto. A lot of effort is put in to separate the garage from the rest of the house, both in terms of air contamination and to have a fire barrier.
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
The bit about the air intake sounds very very odd to me. Of all the places inside and outside the house, the garage is the one location with a significant risk of carbon monoxide buildup. What kind of air intake is this? Fresh air for the whole house?
If the intake is for combustion air for a heating furnace, then I suppose a bit of carbon monoxide contamination in tolerable.
Whole families die here because someone left a car engine running in the garage. This is with no air intakes in the garage, the CO seeps in thru cracks and gaps. An air intake would never be allowed to be in a garage in Toronto. A lot of effort is put in to separate the garage from the rest of the house, both in terms of air contamination and to have a fire barrier.
Take the pumpkin off? Do you mean only the cover plate?
That is normal. Most diffs don't have a drain, only a fill hole.
You can drill and tap for a pipe plug if you wish at that time.
That is normal. Most diffs don't have a drain, only a fill hole.
You can drill and tap for a pipe plug if you wish at that time.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: mcrn
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
Odds are your Yukon has synthetic gear oil from the factory. Synthetic doesn't smell nearly as bad as conventional gear oil.
Group III stuff can have a very strong smell to it.
Originally Posted By: mcrn
And yes I can take the cover off but I will be doing this in my garage and my air intake is in the garage so I am worried about spilling any. Gear oil smells terrible!
Odds are your Yukon has synthetic gear oil from the factory. Synthetic doesn't smell nearly as bad as conventional gear oil.
Group III stuff can have a very strong smell to it.
I have an '04 Tahoe 2WD, but I would assume that the rear diff is the same. The rear differential is filled with a synthetic fluid. I took mine to the dealership around 90K to be changed. They are typically changed around 100K, but I pull a trailer and got it changed around 90K.
I believe that the gasket on these rear differentials is re-usable. I believe the shop just dropped the rear cover, cleaned it out and re-filled with the synthetic fluid.
I am going to try and do it myself when I get to ~185K miles. I will drop the cover, drain into a pan and refill with a good Amsoil synthetic. It was pretty expensive to get it done at the dealership.
I believe that the gasket on these rear differentials is re-usable. I believe the shop just dropped the rear cover, cleaned it out and re-filled with the synthetic fluid.
I am going to try and do it myself when I get to ~185K miles. I will drop the cover, drain into a pan and refill with a good Amsoil synthetic. It was pretty expensive to get it done at the dealership.
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