Outside temperature while changing gear oils do you warm up truck a bit?

Question

Its been around 35°F lately and ment to change fluids during the summer but life happened.

Do yall usually get the oil a touch warm before changing when its colder out?

I plan on doing front and rear diff, transfer case and manual transmission fluid change and it'll be close to freezing temps. Not ready for an engine oil change yet. I don't think I've ever changed ANY fluids during chilly weather so I'm just curious what others do.

My instinct is to just change it as it sits even though it might be a bit cold/thicker

 

Up to you - may take a little longer to drain if the fluids are cold. Me personally, I'd drive it a little just to get any sediment up in "suspended animation" before pulling the plug.

 

It would probably help if the fluid was warm.
I don’t usually make a special effort to get it warm, if it’s not already.
I usually let it drain for a long time anyways.

Just be sure to remove the fill plug first.
That’s more important to me.

 

It is really up to you.

The cold oil will drain slow, but it will drain. Just give it time.

Take a short drive, warm the oil up a bit. It will drain faster.

A reality check. You will likely spend more time getting the plugs to break loose, especially the front diff drain plug. Have a hammer and cold chisel handy for that one and a replacement plug.

 

Everything except synthetics flow better when things are warm.

With that said, the little that remains won't make a huge difference.

 

Thanks for the input @Brian_d @TnShooter @Knute

Thats interesting, never heard that before

 

Both conventional and synthetic base automotive engine oil become less viscous with temperature.

The viscosity of synthetic base oils are typically more stable over temperature ranges than conventional base oils are, but the viscosity of both has an inverse relationship with temperature (i.e. both flow better when hotter).

 

Depending on how you're getting at the t-case, you'll probably be getting close to the exhaust and a cat, I'd be leery of driving too far and getting that all too warm.

On the other hand, it might make a nice little radiant heater when you're under there

 

Thanks for the heads-up

I think I'll get the gears moving a bit but not to much and start with rear diff and move my way forwards

Appreciate the input everyone

 

Won’t make any real difference honestly.

 

I usually do once around the block to stir up any crap sitting on the bottom before draining. It probably doesn’t matter but I seems like a good idea.

 

Just drive around for a little bit,then do the change.