Too Late to Change Rear Differential Oil??

Is it ever too late to change your rear differential oil? I have 120K on my 2008 truck and I was thinking of changing it for the for the first time.

I haven't had any problems with the truck so far, but I'm thinking if I change the diff oil I may change my luck.

Has anyone else been in this mental dilemma?

 

its never too late.. do it or pay later

 

My BMW mechanic told me that in his opinion if you never changed it - don't.

YMMV of course ;-)

 

You can make a decent argument for that when it comes to an automatic transmission but that makes no sense when it comes to a rear end. The rear end is a constant mesh gear system, any grit just wears the gears faster where as having some grit in a worn out torque convertor can actually keep it running.

That's why you don't let a BMW mechanic near a pickup

 

I realize this is the 2nd gen section but my dads 1st gen 02 DC tacoma has 315k miles on it with no rear diff fluid change. never had any problem but he is not rough on the truck and it only sees pavement with a path here and there you could drive a cadillac down.

 

Yikes

 

no doubt but he does keep up with transmission fluid filter and oil and filter changes alone with the air filter.

 

Sounds like he does keep up on maintenance generally, why did he let the rear diff go? That one is probably the easiest of them all to change. No filter, just drain and refill.

 

just never has not really sure he has a reason but he still drive it over 100 miles daily. but yes i agree no hard to change i just changed mine about 6 or 7k miles ago.

 

The arguement of to change or not to change ANY fluid/oil/lube is clear cut. Fluids oxidize, and additives become neutralized over time. Change it according to the MFG's guidelines or at your next earliest opportunity.
Any benefits to not changing a fluid are negated by the damage caused by old fluid/oil/lube. Old school thinking on this subject is false.

 

Thanks for the insight everyone. Leaning toward changing it.

 

Of course you change it, it is a recommended service for the truck. Mobil 1 (75-140) for the rear. I changed mine (at the dealership) when the truck went through deep water at 6 months old, and it was contaminated. I performed the rear breather mod. Now, at almost 40,000 miles I did it again (at Speedfreeks in Vista) and it was dark, but no water contamination. Did the transfer case and front diff as well (75-90 Mobil 1).

Oil breaks down, it needs to be changed to maintain lubrication of the gears! You change your motor oil, don't you?

 

Iirc, doesn't BMW say they use a lifetime fluid?

 

Find a new mechanic.

 

I will get in line with everyone else, change it!!

 

Change it if you can remove fill plug and drain plug. Although 120K could have welded fill plug to diff.

 

thats why op should remove fill plug first that way if he cant get it off he can take it somewhere or do whatever.

 

x2 and that is awesome advice for any fluid change! If you can't get fluid back in, don't drain it! Even shitty fluid is better than no fluid. No fluid = tow truck.

 

Change it man.

 

it's too late when the diff starts making noise

i bought my truck with a little over 100k on it, maintenance record unknown. i dumped the diff's, t-case, trans and the oil wasn't too bad. now she's rolling with Lucas 75-90w and it's smooth.

everyone has their own schedule of preventitive maintenance, gear oil should be part of it