Differential Fluid Change
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Hawthorn Woods IL
Differential Fluid Change
I've just posted this to the Tech Topic section. But since it won't show up for awhile, I'm posting here so I can see what it looks like:
I just finished changing from the stock Differential Fluid to Red Line. I searched unsuccessfully for tips on how to do this without making a mess and came up empty. So now that I have figured out an easy, clean way to do it, I thought I'd share it with everyone else.
1) After driving your car until it is warm, raise it up high enough to get to both the Fill and Drain Plugs. It should be level, just like changing the oil. A lift obviously makes it very easy.
2) Loosen, but do not remove the Fill Plug.
3) Place a drain pan under the differential and remove the Drain Plug.
Removing the Fill Plug at this time helps it to drain.
4) Let the stinky old fluid drain completely. I left it over night.
5)Wipe the drain and Fill Areas completely.
6) Reinstall the Drain Plug. Tighten to 26 ft-lbs.
7) Fill until some fluid seaps out through the Fill port. It should take about 1.6 Qts.
8) Re-install the Fill Plug. Tighten to 26 ft-lbs.
9)Go for a drive and check for leaks.
To make life easier, I made a special fill tube from some flexible PCV tubing hot glued to the cap off one bottle of fluid.
[Modified by THamilton, 8:39 AM 9/9/2001]
I just finished changing from the stock Differential Fluid to Red Line. I searched unsuccessfully for tips on how to do this without making a mess and came up empty. So now that I have figured out an easy, clean way to do it, I thought I'd share it with everyone else.
1) After driving your car until it is warm, raise it up high enough to get to both the Fill and Drain Plugs. It should be level, just like changing the oil. A lift obviously makes it very easy.
2) Loosen, but do not remove the Fill Plug.
3) Place a drain pan under the differential and remove the Drain Plug.
Removing the Fill Plug at this time helps it to drain.
4) Let the stinky old fluid drain completely. I left it over night.
5)Wipe the drain and Fill Areas completely.
6) Reinstall the Drain Plug. Tighten to 26 ft-lbs.
7) Fill until some fluid seaps out through the Fill port. It should take about 1.6 Qts.
8) Re-install the Fill Plug. Tighten to 26 ft-lbs.
9)Go for a drive and check for leaks.
To make life easier, I made a special fill tube from some flexible PCV tubing hot glued to the cap off one bottle of fluid.
[Modified by THamilton, 8:39 AM 9/9/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Differential Fluid Change (THamilton)
Great pictures and write up. I'm glad you mentioned the fill plug first; don't want to drain it and then find that you can't get the drain plug out!! What did you do about the Limited Slip Additive? I did mine with Mobil 1 synthetic, but made sure to use the LSA too. :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 47
From: New Milford CT
Re: Differential Fluid Change (Mean Green 2000)
Thanks for the excellent write up, I am going to do mine soon. One question though, is there enough room near the differential to get the bottle and that short hose in position for the gear oil to flow out of the bottle completely? In the pictures it looks, like only a half a bottle worth will go in?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Hawthorn Woods IL
Re: Differential Fluid Change (CJS)
CJS,
That's a good question.
Actually, the oil won't flow at all, even when you tip the bottle hose down. You need to squeeze the bottle over and over to get the oil into the differential.
It might flow if you poke a hole in the bottom of the bottle, but I didn't want to make a mess. Also, the second bottle doesn't get used completely so a hole would be inconvenient.
That's a good question.
Actually, the oil won't flow at all, even when you tip the bottle hose down. You need to squeeze the bottle over and over to get the oil into the differential.
It might flow if you poke a hole in the bottom of the bottle, but I didn't want to make a mess. Also, the second bottle doesn't get used completely so a hole would be inconvenient.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 319
From: N. CA
Re: Differential Fluid Change (THamilton)
Nice write-up! I did the very same thing about 5 months back. I did however buy a cheap hand pump which fits into the mouth of the Redline bottle. Worked well for me.
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