Which Cars have Serviceable Differentials?

[Nick1994]

I mean cars, not trucks. Yesterday I replaced the differential fluid in my Camry. I suspect most people out there don't even know if they should change it or know if their car even has a differential that's serviceable. Mine took almost 2 quarts of ATF, was a 10mm Allen key to drain and a 17mm wrench to remove the drain cap. Was a piece of cake. Wasn't as dirty as I thought it would be but was still pretty nasty.

So just out of curiosity, what cars have serviceable differentials? Or do you even know if your car has one?

 

[aquariuscsm]

Mine has a separate drain and fill plug. I change it once a year. Holds 1 1/2 quarts. Going with Redline 75W110 next refill.

 

[bdcardinal]

OEM diff cover on my Mustang

 

[dishdude]

There aren't many FWD cars with serviceable diffs, most just use the ATF.

 

[Blinker]

Well on all my front wheel drive cars they use the ATF so i would say that in mh experience they are all serviceable. I believe some toyotas have separate fluid as someone else stated.

 

[OVERKILL]

Replaced the diff fluid on the M5 with AMSOIL gear lube in the spec grade. Will be doing the same with the Charger when it is due.

Anybody with a RWD card.... this is going to be pretty common.

 

[92saturnsl2]

Had no idea that some front wheel drive transmissions had separate sumps for the differential.

I'm used to the common FWD transaxle which uses the ATF fluid from the transmission. Great post.

(other than longitudinal arrangements of course)...

 

[Chris142]

My 68 scout had a drain and fill plug on its rear axle

 

[RedOakRanch]

My wife's new subaru has 2!

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
OEM diff cover on my Mustang



Nice cover, and it has a drain plug too. Looking on fordparts.com, even full MSRP isn't bad either. Looks like $90-110, which is cheaper than a lot of aftermarket covers that are similar.

 

[bdcardinal]

Yup, my other Mustang has the Ford Racing diff girdle. Love the drain and fill plugs.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I mean cars, not trucks. Yesterday I replaced the differential fluid in my Camry. I suspect most people out there don't even know if they should change it or know if their car even has a differential that's serviceable. Mine took almost 2 quarts of ATF, was a 10mm Allen key to drain and a 17mm wrench to remove the drain cap. Was a piece of cake. Wasn't as dirty as I thought it would be but was still pretty nasty.

So just out of curiosity, what cars have serviceable differentials? Or do you even know if your car has one?


All my cars have been MTs with either separate diffs (RWD, AWD rear) or integrated into the transmission and lubricated by gear oil (FWD, AWD front and center).

I would think very nearly every vehicle would have replaceable differential lube, even if it's shared with the transmission. Do you know of any vehicles that don't?

 

[Nick1994]

Lol I shouldn't have just said cars, I meant other than the obvious RWD cars that of course have rear differentials.

I meant the weirdos like my car that is FWD and has a separate differential.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Do they really fill that sum-b as high as that fill plug is?

 

[TFB1]

RWD Fords haven't had a factory drain plug since the '50s, and 95% being a carrier(pumpkin, hogshead, etc) type it isn't practical to drain... On the integral rears(pictured above, basically all RWD since mid '80s), even without drain plug, it's easy enough to remove rear cover...

Me?? I have a 1972 Mercury Comet that AFAIK has orig grease, not much doubt so does my 186K mi beater '96 F-150 and both Grand Marquis with around 71K each ... I've never checked any of these, run quiet, not leaking so if it left factory with grease it's still in there... The Comet is scheduled for a rear gear change this spring, it'll get fresh grease at that time...

 

[NHGUY]

Early Chrysler FWDs (78-83) had a separate fill plug on the side cover,also you needed to squeeze the CV clips before removing them (meaning rear diff cover had to come off).

 

[topbliss]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I mean cars, not trucks. Yesterday I replaced the differential fluid in my Camry. I suspect most people out there don't even know if they should change it or know if their car even has a differential that's serviceable. Mine took almost 2 quarts of ATF, was a 10mm Allen key to drain and a 17mm wrench to remove the drain cap. Was a piece of cake. Wasn't as dirty as I thought it would be but was still pretty nasty.

So just out of curiosity, what cars have serviceable differentials? Or do you even know if your car has one?


The Toyota trans and diff are one unit but you can drain the diff separately or if you want just the trans and it will also do the diff.

 

[Andrew1972]

Acura's SH-AWD system is dead easy which is used on older RDX, MDX, RL, TL, and TLX. The front diff is easy too.

How easy? My Subie mechanic charged me $15 labor last winter to change out SH AWD fluid when I supplied fluid during an oil change.

Subaru easy too.

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Early Chrysler FWDs (78-83) had a separate fill plug on the side cover,also you needed to squeeze the CV clips before removing them (meaning rear diff cover had to come off).


Any left on the road to service?

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: madRiver
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Early Chrysler FWDs (78-83) had a separate fill plug on the side cover,also you needed to squeeze the CV clips before removing them (meaning rear diff cover had to come off).


Any left on the road to service?


I see a guy around here driving a Rampage, not sure if it's an auto though.