Trans Axle Fluid Change.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Do you mean the transmission, the rear differential or both? There isn't a transaxle per se. The transmission sits right in front of the rear differential, in the rear of the car but is serviced separately. Also, do you have an auto or a stick?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Corona CA, sometimes Austin TX or Las Vegas NV
The trans. If I were to have said "Transmission", someone would have hammered me on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Redline is a good oil as well. Not sure on their ATF whether their base is ester like their oil. Also, some run MTL in the tranny, not sure how well that works but I have considered trying this. There is a lot of discussion on the blocker rings, with earlier trannys being a paper that is susceptible to synthetics. I would do some searching to get more information on the the blocker rings.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
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C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Corona CA, sometimes Austin TX or Las Vegas NV
Redline is a good oil as well. Not sure on their ATF whether their base is ester like their oil. Also, some run MTL in the tranny, not sure how well that works but I have considered trying this. There is a lot of discussion on the blocker rings, with earlier trannys being a paper that is susceptible to synthetics. I would do some searching to get more information on the the blocker rings.
Thanks again and if you hear of anything else, please let me know.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Ok, so let me ask about the rear-end fluid. The maintenance schedule in the owner's manual says nothing about its longevity. Mine still has the original stuff within and still quiet with a gazzillion miles on it. It has never even been apart. Since with my many miles, people will assume that I would know this answer, but I don't. Anyone had their rearend apart and any indication that the lubricant needed changing?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Ok, so let me ask about the rear-end fluid. The maintenance schedule in the owner's manual says nothing about its longevity. Mine still has the original stuff within and still quiet with a gazzillion miles on it. It has never even been apart. Since with my many miles, people will assume that I would know this answer, but I don't. Anyone had their rearend apart and any indication that the lubricant needed changing?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
Check at least twice a year.
A4 = Change fluid at 50k or 100k, depending on usage
M6 = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
Diff = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Section 7 of your Owner's Manual https://www.mygmlink.com/pdf/go2cont...98corvette.pdf
Check at least twice a year.
A4 = Change fluid at 50k or 100k, depending on usage
M6 = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
Diff = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
Check at least twice a year.
A4 = Change fluid at 50k or 100k, depending on usage
M6 = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
Diff = None Required (Fluid loss may indicate a problem)
I read that to, but it is very hard to swallow that anything that is lubricated and has gears and could wear does not have a service interval. I would think that ~50K would be good for the last two, it sure could not hurt right?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
As some have stated, they changed at 10k. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some change motor oil every 3k. Also nothing wrong with that. The owner's manual is giving GM's minimum recommendations.Over the years I've owned a couple of manuals and I don't recall any of them requiring fluid changes. And I think today's technology is better than before. I personally follow the recommendations. If I'm a little harder on the equipment than normal, then I adjust my maintenance accordingly.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
One reason I offered my observations above is that it seemed after a couple of changes the initial wear material was out of the differential and the fluid came out much cleaner. So not sure how much material ends up in the oil from the initial break-in period, but for the long term I got rid of it.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
One reason I offered my observations above is that it seemed after a couple of changes the initial wear material was out of the differential and the fluid came out much cleaner. So not sure how much material ends up in the oil from the initial break-in period, but for the long term I got rid of it.
Also, somewhat applicable to the discussion, AMSOIL recommends that even its best gear oil, the AMSOIL Severe Gear Extreme Pressure Synthetic 75w90 I use in my 02 Z06 for the track, should be changed out at 50k mile intervals in severe service. Given the high temps the diff in the C5 sees and the relatively small fluid volume, I'd consider our applications "severe" service.
