Steming from 01ss87iroc's post about prepping his car for a cross country trip: how often should I change the rear differential fluid?
NiravSS ------ 2000 Onyx Black Hardtop SS All GM Options, No SLP Options
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Follow the owners manual recommendations, and use the GM synthetic or some other synthetic when you change it.
Now if you want to be a typical anal Camaro owner like the rest of us, change to synthetic on your first oil change and then change it every 15k miles thereafter.
[ 23. May 2003, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: DaddySS ]
Posted by NiravSS (Member # 778) on :
If I'm posting here, I guess I should be anal; but obviously I've been slacking. Ya, I guess that's something I need to do asap.
Thanks!
N.
Posted by BobsSS (Member # 1857) on :
Niether my owners manual or my Helms manual tells me when to change the differential fluid. The Helms manual does say that there is synthetic fluid in it already and to replace it with synthetic SAE 75W-30 and add 4 oz. of locking differential lubricant additive.
Posted by sscamaro (Member # 1330) on :
I have never changed rear differential fluid in any of my cars. I have been driving for 52 years and never had a differential go bad. I've had cars with over 150K miles and never changed it. It can't go bad. If they would have wanted it changed,they would have put a drain plug there.
[ 24. May 2003, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: sscamaro ]
Posted by 01ss87iroc (Member # 1763) on :
quote:Originally posted by BobsSS: Niether my owners manual or my Helms manual tells me when to change the differential fluid. The Helms manual does say that there is synthetic fluid in it already and to replace it with synthetic SAE 75W-30 and add 4 oz. of locking differential lubricant additive.
That's why I wasn't sure when to change it...or if I should...
quote:Originally posted by sscamaro: I have never changed rear differential fluid in any of my cars. I have been driving for 52 years and never had a differential go bad. I've had cars with over 150K miles and never changed it. It can't go bad. If they would have wanted it changed,they would have put a drain plug there.
That's what my mechanic said when I wanted to change the trans and diff fluids in my 87 Iroc a few years back. I didn't make the changes and I have not had any problems. Thinking about being a little more anal with the ss though...
Posted by Elie Garfinkel (Member # 1635) on :
quote:Originally posted by NiravSS: Steming from 01ss87iroc's post about prepping his car for a cross country trip: how often should I change the rear differential fluid?
NiravSS ------ 2000 Onyx Black Hardtop SS All GM Options, No SLP Options
I made copies of both threads for my records. Thanks Elie for posting it. Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
quote:Originally posted by sscamaro: I have never changed rear differential fluid in any of my cars. I have been driving for 52 years and never had a differential go bad. I've had cars with over 150K miles and never changed it. It can't go bad. If they would have wanted it changed,they would have put a drain plug there.
Hmmm....by that argument you should never change the automatic transmission fluid either!
Ralph, here's the reason I recommend changing it. The rear axle is a set of gears, bearings, (clutches in some posi units), etc. As they break in, there will be metal filings - so changing the fluid is more about cleaning the rear axle than the fluid going bad.
As for automatic transmissions, the same rule applies - although for automatics it's slightly different - they have special antifoaming properties that do wear out. On the the other hand, after about 50,000 miles I do not recommend changing the auto trans fluid, for some reason - maybe it's the detergents in the oil, etc. - older transmissions do not like new fuid.
Posted by 01ss87iroc (Member # 1763) on :
quote:Originally posted by DaddySS:
quote:Originally posted by sscamaro: I have never changed rear differential fluid in any of my cars. I have been driving for 52 years and never had a differential go bad. I've had cars with over 150K miles and never changed it. It can't go bad. If they would have wanted it changed,they would have put a drain plug there.
Hmmm....by that argument you should never change the automatic transmission fluid either!
Ralph, here's the reason I recommend changing it. The rear axle is a set of gears, bearings, (clutches in some posi units), etc. As they break in, there will be metal filings - so changing the fluid is more about cleaning the rear axle than the fluid going bad.
As for automatic transmissions, the same rule applies - although for automatics it's slightly different - they have special antifoaming properties that do wear out. On the the other hand, after about 50,000 miles I do not recommend changing the auto trans fluid, for some reason - maybe it's the detergents in the oil, etc. - older transmissions do not like new fuid.
What about manual trans and rear diff fluid after 50k? thanks!
Posted by sscamaro (Member # 1330) on :
As for the AT. Back in 1960, I had a 56 Olds. I changed the trans oil and filter. Not too long after that,the trans went out. Since then I have never changed the AT fluid or the filter again in any of my AT cars. To this date I have never had an AT go out. I think when you change the fluid,it shocks the trans. So, why ask for trouble. Sometimes I think we go a little over board,don't we?
Posted by SSteve_35th (Member # 1300) on :
quote: Sometimes I think we go a little over board,don't we?
Well yeah, otherwise we wouldn't spend all this time on discussing our cars! Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
If you're one of the unlucky ones and have had the pinion seal replaced twice now in a year like I have (second time they did the crush sleeve), I'd say every 13 months.......aw, I'm just kidding. I can't find any reference for the Torsen rear gearing lube changes either, although I would imagine 50K isn't necessarily a bad idea with lack of any other information.
Posted by 2K1SunsetSS (Member # 854) on :
Well I just did the trans and rear end in my SS Monday, currently at 146xx miles. I wanted to see how bad it was from the previous owner. Everything looked good so we shall see what happens.
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
quote:Originally posted by sscamaro: As for the AT. Back in 1960, I had a 56 Olds. I changed the trans oil and filter. Not too long after that,the trans went out. Since then I have never changed the AT fluid or the filter again in any of my AT cars. To this date I have never had an AT go out. I think when you change the fluid,it shocks the trans. So, why ask for trouble. Sometimes I think we go a little over board,don't we?
I agree on the automatics - change the oil and filter after break in and then leave it alone.
I was really talking about the rear, I just think it's good to get the metal out of there after break in.
To answer 01ss87iroc's question - for the rear, there are no detergents in gear oil, so no harm in changing, but you can over do it as Ralph said. I would change it about every 35 to 50k miles. For earlier tranmissions, the same rule applies.
For the later manual transmissions, they run on ATF, but there are no clutches (just synchros) to act up after a change, so the same 35 to 50k rule.
Keep in mind this is purely my opinion, and based mostly on the fact that I know there will be metal in the oil after a time. Without detergents, it will mostly settle to the bottom and not be suspended in the oil, but without a filter, what ever is in the oil will circulate through the gears and bearings.
For my Impala for instance (I have the full service manual set here in my office), they recommend changing the rear axle fluid after the first 7,500 miles and then you don't have to change it again. If you are towing a trailer however, they recommend changing it every 6,000 miles.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
