Differential fluid exchange at 30k?

As encouragement for anyone who thinks they can’t do this, I just did it this weekend. Take your time, follow a really good YouTube video, watch it ahead of time and make sure you have everything you need before you get started, and it’s really just not difficult.

I do have a question though. I bought my 2022 @ 50k miles. I didn’t get around to the differential fluid until about 70k miles (transfer case and transmission are next weekend’s task.) I don’t know if any of the maintenance (other than oil I hope was changed somewhat regularly) was done by prior owner. The rear differential definitely had metal shavings in it. There was even a somewhat chunky piece stuck to the magnetic plug.​

is this a sign of something really bad? Or since this was probably the first time it was changed, just something to look for next time? I’m not opposed to swapping out of it to get another one if that’s an indication I’m in for trouble.

Appreciate any feedback. This forum is awesome. And it’s always fun searching and digging up old related threads.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405717442222

These come in handyfor differential fluid and transfer case oil changes .

 

@ $25 bucks for four, these are coming in over half the cost of a bag already filled with the desired fluid.
Do you sell them onsey twosy?

 

Some folks here report some debris (metal fuzz on the magnets and a random curled shaving now and then) in the diff oil when they change it. The consensus is that it's possibly leftovers and metal from the initial machining from when it was made. The magnets are doing their job picking it up. The initial change is important. The CarCareNut guy recommends every 30,000, especially for the first change.

When I changed mine, I had some trace metal fuzz on the magnets but no shavings or pieces. the fluid looked good in all three with the rear diff looking a little darker, leading me to believe they had been changed in the past. The transfer case fluid looked very good as well.
I refilled them with Mobil1 synthetic 75w90 gear oil.

 

Yeah, I guess my fear is that I highly doubt it was done prior to my ownership, which means it went 70k miles before being done the first time.

 

It will be just fine.
Unless some outside force, such as water intrusion occurred, the diff will not have suffered any damage from going 70K with factory oil.
None.

 

I had mine done at 170,000. I'm at 255,000 now with no issues. Shop told me to bring it back at 300,000 miles.

Unless you drive in deep water and get water inside the diff's the factory oil will likely outlast the rest of the truck.

 

100%

 

I changed mine at 120,000 not knowing for sure if it had ever been done previous. The old fluid looked good so I'm assuming it had been done sometime prior, but no hard records. 25,000 miles later, it is still as quiet as it was before I changed it.

I wouldn't worry about it. Changing the gear oil in all three units isn't going to make things worse. If you're upgrading to synthetic oil, it's icing on the cake.

 

At high milages you might also want to change the rear diff breather just in case or abandon entirely and do an open breather mod.