Working on the car myself
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Working on the car myself
Well now that my high end job is gone and I have several items to get done on the Vette I am going to try and tackle some of the hopefully easier stuff because I am no mechanic but if I have directions and the available tools I do pretty well. First off I have the classic posi sticking so I am going to change the rear end fluid + additive. I have done some research and it does not appear too hard to do. I have seen that getting a pump from Advance or Auto Zone is the best way to get it out. Can you use that to get it back in or use like a turkey baster? Also I saw it is a good idea to remove the right rear tire for better access to the fill bolt. Getting that off in my concern. What else should I do while there and are there any gotchas I need to look out for. Sorry for the rookie guestions!
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
It sounds like you are on the right track. You will have to suck out the old fluid as much as you can but understand that rear axle fluid is very thick. Make sure the pump you buy can suck out heavy fluids. It sounds like you know what to buy but I used Lucas Oil products for the rear axle and a bottle of GM additive. However, the Lucas products say their rear axle oil is good for posi-traction units so putting in the additive is up to you. Now, getting the fluid back in can be a small pain. Most rear axle bottles of fluid come with a pointed tip. You can purchase some clear hose at Home Depot that you can cut a couple of feet of hose and push it on the end of the tip. Insert the hose in the drain/fill plug and then you squeeze the bottle and force the fluid into the rear axle. It will take about a bottle and 1/2 if my memory is correct. You will have to hold the hose on the end of the bottle or it will squirt off but it isn't too much of a pain. Good luck and you will do fine with it.
Last edited by 71corvette; May 11, 2013 at 01:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i bought a cheep fluid transfer pump < 10 bucks at harbor freight to suck it out then cleaned it and used it to put the new stuff in . took under 10 min and then threw it away.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If you buy a hand pump at Autozone etc, it will have two hoses. When you're done sucking the fluid out, just reverse the hoses and suck the fluid out of the bottle and into the diff. Worked for me. Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 9
From: South Bend IN
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If you buy the GM posi additive that little bottle works well to put the new oil in too. I put the posi additive in and then filled that little bottle with the oil and squirted it in that way. It took a little time, but the bottle was free.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
My suggestion
My suggestion:
Suck out with a suction pump like described above. Think I used a outboard motor hose and outboard motor gas suction bulb and drained to an oil pan.
For refilling, get a hand suction pump that is used for filling outboard motor lower units. This pump should screw on the 80/90 wt Corvette rear oil container since it is the same size and type as the outboard motor lower unit oil. Also, the outboard motor lower unit oil pump is designed for pumping 80/90 wt oil.
Suck out with a suction pump like described above. Think I used a outboard motor hose and outboard motor gas suction bulb and drained to an oil pan.
For refilling, get a hand suction pump that is used for filling outboard motor lower units. This pump should screw on the 80/90 wt Corvette rear oil container since it is the same size and type as the outboard motor lower unit oil. Also, the outboard motor lower unit oil pump is designed for pumping 80/90 wt oil.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
If you use the hose on the tapered end of the bottle lid to re-fill the diff carrier, stick a long pin (needle) through the hose / bottle to lock the hose onto the lid, (especially important if your just using a short little hose)
This eliminates the possibility of shooting the hose off when squeezing the bottle and pouring fluid out over everywhere (or shooting the little hose into the diff)
Mooser
This eliminates the possibility of shooting the hose off when squeezing the bottle and pouring fluid out over everywhere (or shooting the little hose into the diff)
Mooser
