Low diff oil level
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 114
From: North of DFW Texas
Low diff oil level
I know that this has been discussed before but, I decided to change my diff oil today and drained out not quite 2 quarts of oil and filled it up with 3 quarts of oil. I would say that is low. Just putting this out there for S and G. 2017 GS approximate 20,000 miles.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 478
From: Maryland, USA
yeah i would consider that low, keep hearing they were low levels from factory for rear end and clutch so far.
im doing my 7 speed and rear end fluids soon and hoping they have at least 3/4 filled.
im doing my 7 speed and rear end fluids soon and hoping they have at least 3/4 filled.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,964
Likes: 6,768
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Did you not check the level sometime along the way? These diffs are notorious for being shipped from the factory in a manner GM would label as "low," (but not the manufacturer's CEO in an old vid somewhere). 
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 147
Likes: 57
I had my 2014 Z51 7 speed and differential drained and refill by dealer last week. Although there was talk about factory fill being low on differentials from the factory my car was full ( both the transmission and rear end). This was the first drain/refill at 36,000 miles. Service manager saved some of the differential oil to show me. The oil had small bits of metal - like flakes. I read this is not a unique situation. Does anyone know what is causing this? Does it clear up with more drain/fill?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 1,353
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Picked up my car last night from the dealer's service dept.
They did a rear diff , manual trans, clutch, and coolant service. No mention of any issues with any of them, but I am glad the car is all fresh.
It was $700 for all of the above including tax.
They did a rear diff , manual trans, clutch, and coolant service. No mention of any issues with any of them, but I am glad the car is all fresh.
It was $700 for all of the above including tax.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 849
From: New Jersey
The silver particles in the oil is from the break-in wear of the ring and pinion gears. Normal, but that's why the diff gear oil should be changed early (1000 miles), and later again (5000 to 10,000 miles) to get as much of the break-in metal out of the differential.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
My 2014 was about 1/4 quart low. At my first track day I got a "Service StabiliTrak" warning due to elevated rear diff temps, however since changing the fluid the message has yet to return after several more track days. My fluid looked and smelled like what others have posted (IE: nasty!) So if the car is driven hard its obvious the fluid needs to be swapped out more frequently. I would also say that doing some kind of break-in fluid replacement is highly recommended too.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
For anyone who wants to change your diff oil, I found a good deal on the AC Delco 88862624 OEM Differential Lube. They have it at a place called OEMPartSource.com for $14.49 per quart. That is about half the cost of most places I found on the web.
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Thanks RacerRik. I probably need to check and change the diff oil in my car just to be sure it is OK. Same with the tranny fluid.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 275
Likes: 50
From: Bellingham WA
A dumb question
Since the A8 is a trans axle unit, does the transmission share fluid with the differential or is the differential separate with a different type of fluid? Also, I had a "Service Rear Axle" error message, and the dealer replaced the oil pump. Would that have most likely included new differential oil? 🤔
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 45
From: Houston Texas
The trans & diff are separate units (attached to each other) and have different fluids. I changed my diff 2 years ago and saved some in a glass jar. That jar sat on a shelf all that time and the metal dust settled to the bottom leaving the actual fluid clear but a dark honey colored appearance. Definitely a lot of metal dust for the amount of fluid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
That's a great price. I paid $63+ for 3 qts online and thought that was good.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 576
Likes: 48
From: Woburn MA
Total was $43.47 w/ shipping
