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Upgraded differential....flush before install? How?

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Old Dec 11, 2017 | 08:50 PM
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Default Upgraded differential....flush before install? How?

So I purchased a 09 rear diff for my 05....looks to be in great condition, but was thinking I maybe should try and flush it some how to make sure there is NO debris/contaminates that may have been/gotten in while out of car (couple months) ? Had tape over opening when I got it and been sealed up since I've had it.....but better safe than sorry!!! Best way to flush/clean internals??

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Old Dec 12, 2017 | 04:50 AM
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If it was properly covered up I would not worry about it too much.

You could always drain, refill, run on lift for a few minutes, drain again, and then refill. Unless you think some sand or large debris other than dust may have gotten inside then I wouldn't get any crazier than that.
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Old Dec 12, 2017 | 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by User Omega
If it was properly covered up I would not worry about it too much. ×

You could always drain, refill, run on lift for a few minutes, drain again, and then refill. Unless you think some sand or large debris other than dust may have gotten inside then I wouldn't get any crazier than that.
It all seems legit....but I have been wrong before....just want to make sure as I just spent the money for the good fluids (amsoil) and dont want to use that as FLUSH
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 05:14 AM
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Flush it with cheaper fluid first. It won't hurt it. No different than when you swap from stock to aftermarket fluids. Just let it drain longer to get the max of the old out.
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by User Omega
Flush it with cheaper fluid first. It won't hurt it. No different than when you swap from stock to aftermarket fluids. Just let it drain longer to get the max of the old out.
Just probably run it for a few minutes to heat oil up?
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 11:18 AM
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Way back when I was in the service I used a 50/50 mix of oil and jet fuel (kerosene) and ran that through my motor for a few minutes, drained and then refilled with the good stuff. Oil came out nice and clean and that old Buick lasted over 150K miles when I traded it in.
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Old Dec 14, 2017 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Blindfingers
Way back when I was in the service I used a 50/50 mix of oil and jet fuel (kerosene) and ran that through my motor for a few minutes, drained and then refilled with the good stuff. Oil came out nice and clean and that old Buick lasted over 150K miles when I traded it in.
Dont know much about the diffy on the C6 but I probably would be weary of mixing in kerosene. Not sure what affect, if any, it would have on the seals.

As for flush, I would try contacting RPM or a company of that nature and see what they recommend. Although it may have been covered up for its life, you still dont know what it went through. You can probably just get away with a simple drain and fill (and break in).
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Old Dec 14, 2017 | 04:56 PM
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Wouldn't be a bad idea to buy some cheap fluid, fill, drive around for 10 min or so till it warms up a bit, then drain it overnight and fill with the good stuff.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 12:22 AM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
Just probably run it for a few minutes to heat oil up?
Its not really about getting warmed up. That would probably take some time. You are just running it long enough to get any particles suspended in the fluid to drain them out.

Last edited by User Omega; Dec 16, 2017 at 12:22 AM.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by User Omega
Its not really about getting warmed up. That would probably take some time. You are just running it long enough to get any particles suspended in the fluid to drain them out.
What about running a lighter weight (5w20) in it and just drive around the block....then drain it/replace with the amsoil stuff?
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 10:35 AM
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Anything much more than a low speed trip around the block and that would be the end of the diff with a light weight motor oil.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by demon340
Anything much more than a low speed trip around the block and that would be the end of the diff with a light weight motor oil.
Yeah,I'm talking about a 1/4 mile at basically idle (live in a 15mph zone)

*or could just leave it on jackstands and put it in gear*

Last edited by C U IN REARVEIW; Dec 16, 2017 at 06:06 PM.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 06:09 PM
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what do you gain by not using gear oil for the flush? I'd stick to gear oil.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
What about running a lighter weight (5w20) in it and just drive around the block....then drain it/replace with the amsoil stuff?
I would just spend the money and buy the correct spec gear oil for it. I am not Bob the oil guy so I'm talking out of my *** but that could contaminate your final fill with things that do not belong or maybe cause wear as you run it before flushing??? Maybe someone else could chime in with more knowledge.

I know it seems like such a waste but using the correct fluid seems like a cheap piece of mind. I think Valvoline synthetic is only $13/qt.


Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
what do you gain by not using gear oil for the flush? I'd stick to gear oil.
Well, cheap motor oil is around $2/qt and most people have an extra bottle or two laying around. I do not know enough about oils to determine whether that is safe or not.
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 09:13 PM
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Just use cheap gear oil to flush if that's what you really want to do. Any other oil will not have the EP (extreme pressure) additive and shock load capability like gear oil. Btw rear diffs tend to get very hot 170's to 220 plus
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Old Dec 16, 2017 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
what do you gain by not using gear oil for the flush? I'd stick to gear oil.
The ONLY reason i had mentioned a light weight oil is because it is obviously more fluid/thinner at lower temps.....hence would help flush anything in there out without having to heat up the differential and risk damage....im sure this is just ocd.....but thats the nature of the beast...lol
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Old Dec 17, 2017 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by C U IN REARVEIW
The ONLY reason i had mentioned a light weight oil is because it is obviously more fluid/thinner at lower temps.....hence would help flush anything in there out without having to heat up the differential and risk damage....im sure this is just ocd.....but thats the nature of the beast...lol
unless you're changing the oil in sub freezing temps, I would not expect the thinner oil to provide much benefit in terms of a flush. I'd just prefer not to have residual thin oil in the pumpkin. Probably not an issue given how little would be left over. But then if I'm worried about flushing an expensive rear, the extra cost of a couple qts of gear oil would not determine my actions.
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Old Dec 17, 2017 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
unless you're changing the oil in sub freezing temps, I would not expect the thinner oil to provide much benefit in terms of a flush. I'd just prefer not to have residual thin oil in the pumpkin. Probably not an issue given how little would be left over. But then if I'm worried about flushing an expensive rear, the extra cost of a couple qts of gear oil would not determine my actions.
I think he was more trying to determine whether or not the thinner fluid would help to get the possible contaminants out as it would run out faster instead of sticking to everything. It was I that made the assumption that he just didn't want to waste the money. That was my fault.

I really have no idea which would work better for helping to remove the maximum amount of possible contamination but the concern of contaminating my final fill with regular engine oil would have me using gear oil. You could always warm the fluid up before putting it in and preheat the pumpkin with a small space heater before spinning it up if you wanted to thin it out at bit. Probably overkill.
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Old Dec 19, 2017 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by User Omega
I think he was more trying to determine whether or not the thinner fluid would help to get the possible contaminants out as it would run out faster instead of sticking to everything. It was I that made the assumption that he just didn't want to waste the money. That was my fault.

I really have no idea which would work better for helping to remove the maximum amount of possible contamination but the concern of contaminating my final fill with regular engine oil would have me using gear oil. You could always warm the fluid up before putting it in and preheat the pumpkin with a small space heater before spinning it up if you wanted to thin it out at bit. Probably overkill.
Correct
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