Changing diff / axle fluid ?

Hey Fellas...

My neighbor, who has been an engineer on Navy fighter jets for over 20 years, asked if I had changed my diff / axle fluid....

I have never heard of this, thought of this, but I do have 97k miles on the ol truck, so what do you think?

How do I do this?
Anybody done this?

Can you give a link or write up or something?

Thanks

Cheers

 

well yours should be changed every 30k
its very easy

 

Your neighbor is referring to the gear oil in the rear differential, front differential (if you have 4x4), transfer case (if you have 4x4), and manual trans oil (if you have manual). As the ring gear in your differential spins, it dips into a pool of oil contained in the differential case which keeps the gears lubricated. Heat generated from hard use, towing, age, and offroading eventually causes it to break down just like your normal motor oil in the engine. Eventually it should be changed to keep it clean and at a full level.

There are some threads on here if you search for them. Off hand I don't recall when the maintenance manual says to do it, but I did mine at 60k miles because I want to keep the truck running good for years. It is more important to change it if you tow and/or off road often, otherwise, you're probably due just about now.

The quick procedure is as follows:
1. find the drain and fill plugs on the differential
2. crack open the fill plug first to ensure you can get it off (you don't want to drain all the oil only to find out you can't refill it!!)
3. open the drain plug and drain the differential
4. clean the metal shavings off the magent on the drain plug...if it is excessive you might have a problem
5. close drain plug, fill with proper gear oil, close fill plug...you're done.

 

Then I did the rear diff. Here are some pics.
I took out the top bolt first.

Then I took out the bottom bolt out.

It was windy so I had to drop moving blanket from the doors to block the wind so it wouldn't spray the oil all over the place

When it was finished dripping i clean it up.

Clean off the nasty crap off the magnet

CLEAN and put back on nice and tight.

Then I pumped in the knew oil.

Then I put the top blot back in and clean it up.

All done now to clean up and take a shower.



P.S.

I did not put 5w-30 motor oil in my rear diff. The stupid pump I bought was a little too big to fit in the mouth of the gear oil bottle. I left this part to tell you for last because I knew you all would have fun with it

 

Awesome

thanks fellas

Just go to car store, get "gear oil"? are there specific kinds?
and to pour it in... great little mechanism you got rigged up. Where did you buy the bottle top?

 

Yeah, gear oil is rated like motor oil...I think it's something like

$29 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 for these trucks, but check your owner's manual, it will tell you what kind and how much. Also, if you have a limited-slip differential, there's a specific kind for that too....the guy at the parts store should be able to help.

Most gear oil bottles are a squeeze type bottle, but the plunger and hose makes it much easier! Again, any auto parts store will have them.

Note: if you're looking for longevity and slightly improved gas mileage, consider synthetic gear oils like Royal Purple. They are a lot more expensive, but typically worth it. There are threads on here about that topic too.

 

i just did mine and all i used was a piece of surgical tubing for the front and rear diff's worked great.....

 

awesome

 

oh 1 more thing you need very important
a big
hitch cover

 

oh thanks... but i have a better one

 

all i have to say is 18-1
remeber that
and did you watch thursday ouch like deja vu

 

who cares about preseason....
i like the giants

but keep the banter about the thread