? for those that have changed the diff fluid
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
? for those that have changed the diff fluid
As I was crawling around under the car today I noticed that the drain plug on the differential is over part of the spring. How do you drain out the old fluid without making a huge mess?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl/Afghanistan
the mess is half of the fun...
honestly, it's hard to minimize the mess. I had my car on a lift, so I was able to divert most the fluid into the drain pan.
I guess you could use some cardboard to "funnel" the fluid...
honestly, it's hard to minimize the mess. I had my car on a lift, so I was able to divert most the fluid into the drain pan.
I guess you could use some cardboard to "funnel" the fluid...
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by huskeric
the mess is half of the fun...
honestly, it's hard to minimize the mess. I had my car on a lift, so I was able to divert most the fluid into the drain pan.
I guess you could use some cardboard to "funnel" the fluid...
honestly, it's hard to minimize the mess. I had my car on a lift, so I was able to divert most the fluid into the drain pan.
I guess you could use some cardboard to "funnel" the fluid...
I haven't done the diff yet, but how about a cookie sheet and a large drain pan? Uh, better buy your wife a new cookie sheet and use the old one for this project...if the Vette uses mineral oil diff fluid, it smells like prehistoric fish and dinosaurs rotting and the smell CAN NOT be washed off...Has to wear off.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by mlongo99
As I was crawling around under the car today I noticed that the drain plug on the differential is over part of the spring. How do you drain out the old fluid without making a huge mess?
(2) I made a little diverter from a scrap piece of vinyl siding that I put on top of the spring. Almost no mess. I'm sure any other thing would work, but I have some of this - it's really handy stuff!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Thanks guys. 
When the time comes (won't be too long from now) it should be interesting. I think I know what you mean about the smell. I changed out the tranny and diff fluids in my RX7 a couple weeks ago and that stuff is gross. A good whiff of it and you can feel it in your stomach. 
When the time comes (won't be too long from now) it should be interesting. I think I know what you mean about the smell. I changed out the tranny and diff fluids in my RX7 a couple weeks ago and that stuff is gross. A good whiff of it and you can feel it in your stomach.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 81
From: Whidbey Island WA
I drain into a heavy duty garbage bag in these cases. Hold it in place till the fluid is out. No mess. If your doing something like gear fluid which is pretty slow its easier to have the car at a height that allows the bottom of the bag to lay on the ground so you dont have to hold up the weight while that last little bit is drooling out interminably. Then transfer it to your waste oil container.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
rear end fluid change
It's a 10 mm ball hex, you can get it as an allen or with a 3/8 socket attachment. I have both, and prefer the socket. Depending on the exhaust will dictate just how hard it is to fill once it's been drained. I have magnaflows and they are out of the way big time. The stock exhaust seems to be more of a problem, and borlas might get in the way, I'm just guessing. I've changed mine twice now, and as for the draining of the oil, yea the spring gets in the way. I just let it drain on the spring and wipe it off after it's done. No big deal. Anyway It's not really that much of a PITA to do.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by andreas g.
It's a 10 mm ball hex, you can get it as an allen or with a 3/8 socket attachment. I have both, and prefer the socket. Depending on the exhaust will dictate just how hard it is to fill once it's been drained. I have magnaflows and they are out of the way big time. The stock exhaust seems to be more of a problem, and borlas might get in the way, I'm just guessing. I've changed mine twice now, and as for the draining of the oil, yea the spring gets in the way. I just let it drain on the spring and wipe it off after it's done. No big deal. Anyway It's not really that much of a PITA to do.
Oh, yes - you'll want some 1/4" or so flexible tubing to put on the oil bottle. That way you can hold it somewhere convenient to squeeze the oil into the diff and not have to try to work it up in between the mufflers to the filler.
The job really isn't bad at all. At least they provided a drain plug, unlike some cars where you have to remove the rear of the diff housing.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by andreas g.
My ball hex is about 6 inches long with the 3/8 drive, bought it off of a snap-on truck when I was at A&A corvette for my second cam install. It drops down below the spring. It was $26.
I could easily become a Snap-On junkie. I can just see them bringing the truck around late at night so I could sneak out and make a buy while the wife isn't looking.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,252
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by JmpnJckFlsh
it smells like prehistoric fish and dinosaurs rotting
Originally Posted by mlongo99
that stuff is gross. A good whiff of it and you can feel it in your stomach.
