Never change differential fluid reddit. What is differential fluid change? Like every other fluid change in a vehicle, differential fluid change is the act of replacing the differential fluid with a new one. if you’re doing gear oil then yeah it’ll be a slower pump. 5qts ATF-WS for the V8. The front differential usually shares a housing with the transaxle on a front- or all-wheel-drive vehicle, so it needs to be changed more often than the rear. i’m constantly buying and throwing these away as needed, never any real issue. Never heard of that but let them do it to protect the warranty. And no, it's never cut and dry. Not sure what changed since differential fluid should be changed out as it doesn't hold up forever. The independent shop said it’s “too early” for a filter change, and that would be a lot more expensive. Finally got a call back and they clarified that it should only be $70 for the diff fluid (for some reason it's showing $170) and the remaining ~$200 was for changing out the transmission fluid that they didn't mention on the phone. I had a 99 TJ when I was younger and didn't know how to take care of it. Also, you can get a quart of high-quality synthetic gear oil for between 10 and $15. They denied my warranty claim as they claimed I was supposed to do it every 15k and my records show every 30k miles (I always went by the car except for the first 15k miles of course). If you see any signs of fluid leaking, definitely have it changed soon as you do not know how long it has been leaking. Nov 24, 2020 · How do you change a vehicle’s differential fluid? Changing the fluid in a differential is almost as easy as changing the oil in the engine. That only happened once in 38 years for an axle seal. I would visually inspect it first. Indeed, if you never change the differential fluid in your car, this is the worst possible scenario. 15,000 miles for differential fluid change does seem very excessive, considering most people never service theirs, lol. . but physically its a very easy job. Hindsight I would have driven the truck a little bit to have the oil warm up that way before doing the service. They break down over time and get gunked up. Dealer wanted $75 for the transfer case. 2013 g37x. The owner's manual is written so strangely I can't remember the exact numbers but it simply says to inspect every 30k miles (no change interval) but if you do severe driving, to change every 15k miles! Side note, it also lists similar strange intervals for the CVT fluid. How far behind am I on this maintenance? Any good YouTube videos out there with step by step instructions on how to perform this as a DIY? Are these the two fluids I should use? Good question and TIL my 2021 will likely need it in ~10k miles. I've done the motor oil plenty of times, just never the diff. Also changed the splash guard since the old one had broken. I think the most important service is oil change and air filter. Generally, if the oil you take out still mostly looks like the new oil, go longer before the next change, heck if you drained it to a clean pan you could put it back in. Your vehicle calls for 11. Brake fluid Cabin air filter Front & rear differential fluid These 4 things are supposed to cost 599 dollars (I just rounded up to 600 because that's pre-tax). 30 is a good interval for really any differential. I have never changed my cars differential fluid, bought it at 20k miles, it's at 125k now. What gets through the filter mixes with the fluid and helps to cause that friction. This is accomplished through the fill plug. And so, the frictions of the differential components increased on a large scale, causing overheating and spoiling the differential. 5i - Canada Could ya'll give me some clarity on the intervals to change the front and rear differential Fluid on a 2018 Outback 2. Actually, I'd just use Honda fluid and change maybe 1/3 more often than the manual recommends. The service advisor said they usually change the transmission fluid at 60k, but they will do it sooner or later based on the condition of the fluid. O. The safest and most effective way to "change" transmission oil is to do "differential fluid changes" every few oil changes. If you have the 5th gear grind that is common with MT Gennies, starting at MT-90 or using Lightweight Shockwave is usually a good first step to alleviating that. Also bear in mind the sensitivity of Acuras when it comes to fluids. Transmission fluid gets old and dirty and burnt. Is this reasonable? Local dealership quote me $250 each $500 total and a Meineke car care store quote me $1300 total what is wrong with these people? Will never ever return there again. The dealership likely used this machine or a similar machine to extra t the old fluid and install the new fluid. Posted mantinence says cvt fluid every 25k but there are no listings for differential fluid, probobally why the dealer dident care. However, the process can differ between vehicles since some differentials only have two plugs — one for filling the fluid and another for draining it – while other vehicles require you to remove the If you want to. chances are you'll need 75-140 synthetic gear oil and limited slip additive but dont quote me on that decode the tag on the diff bolt and make sure, no quicker way to burn a diff up than wrong fluid or additives. messy? transferring fluid is never a 100% dry job stiff hoses? sure but not all that stiff to where you can’t work with them. The maintenance minder (#6) interval is calculated by the PCM and will generally appear between 12,000-18,000 kilometres depending on driving habits, though I have seen it come up at even lower mileage on vehicles that tow or do an excessive amount of stop & go driving. I say this with all due respect as I have 362,000+ miles on my 2000 4 runner and never change these fluids. Reputable shop so don’t doubt their recommendation is accurate. Learn step-by-step DIY methods for fluid change, warning signs to watch for, and the importance of using the right fluid type. Some change the eCVT fluid at some point for peace of mind. On my '23 my first maintenance minder was A16. I've only done fluid changes at the dealership for my 2012 TL SH-AWD, now over 200k kms and all powertrain systems running flawlessly with aggressive driving daily. Seems like mixed views on how often transmission fluid needs to be changed, if ever. Differential differential fluid change Does anybody has anybody changed out their differential fluids rear or front Period I just had a gasket replaced and they told me the rear fluid Was nasty and needed to be changed forty one thousand miles I've never changed any differential fluid in any of the trucks i've owned maybe that My fault but I'd Hi all just paid $283. They think fluid change is all that’s needed. If you never had any services I would 100% do the brake fluid, that is a huge safety issue having old fluid. I'm looking to change my diff fluid, the dealer wants over $100. The clutches wear and material gets into the fluid and eventually clogs up the filter if you never change it. The 1 means oil and the 6 means rear differential. You could technically never replace the diff fluid and keep adding it if needed. That's what my dealership told me, 15k the first time for break in, then 30k after. The Subaru 2018 maintenance schedule never says anything about replacing the CVT or Differential fluid, but ONLY to inspect these fluids, UNLESS driving under severe conditions, where you may replace the diff fluid after 15000 miles of severe driving or the CVT fluid after 30000 miles of severe driving. There is no need to remove the cover to change the diff. I traded a 12 Y. If you read it cold, there might not be any fluid in the dipstick or just barely touching, when it is actually the correct level when hot. Thoughts? Changing the diff fluid should have almost 0 to do with the transmission shifting. It’s not a hard job to do if you have a jack and a drain pan. People are always like "don't change "lifetime fluid" or fluid with 80,000 miles on it because it might upset the automatic gods or something. First, other than brake fluid you never flush fluids. The transmission fluid was very dark. Motor oil yes of course, the other stuff you top off. That's how people get into trouble with their vehicles. Never hurts to change it, just might spend more money than you need on gear oil. Toyota has no set mileage to change diff fluid. Was just at the dealer for my wife's first oil change and was told diff service at 45k and transmission at 60k. Took it to my buddies shop in seaside, CA to get the work done. As well as my transmission fluid at 50,000 miles. Hello! I own a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. It was cold when I did the change. Honda calls for their own fluid, so your mechanics may be disinterested in doing the job. 3 qts ATF-WS for the V6 model and 11. But surely if you would rebuild the transmission, a fluid change when needed is never a bad idea. NEVER change transmission fluid if it has exceeded 100k miles since its last change and the fluid looks dark when initially draining it. I make sure the level is up and that's it. Most likely there "sealed for life" units but it's always a good idea to change diff fluid. They just get drained and refilled. As they degrade, imagine a fine sand like substance to fall off the plates. You can see the gunk on the diff fluid magnet, fluid was pretty clear. There are check valves and solenoids and small hydraulic circuits in the valve body that will get gummed up from sediment build up if you never change the fluid/filter. I have changed the differential fluid as my rear seals went out at 299,000 and 314,000 respectively. Differential fluid typically lasts a long time. In this blog post, we dive deep into the myth, debunking misconceptions, and providing you with the truth behind differential fluid maintenance. Also if your Pilot is a 4WD change the rear differential fluid. Acura tech here. You do need to change fluids just like oil. In a higher mileage vehicle, there's lots of wear and lots of sand. I fully expect this vehicle to last over 250K miles. The friction from the fluid to the plates is what makes your car move. I am also adding the transfer case which I did before I did the rear dif. All cars have a differential, but for the most part FWD cars transmission fluid also serves as the diff fluid. Not trying to be a dick just that's not how transmissions and rear ends work. This article delves into the critical role of differential fluid in reducing friction and preventing overheating. That's one theory. There are exceptions to this though, due example mid 90s Toyota Camry's use a separate ATF and diff fluid. Prius with 105,000 miles and no fluid changes other than oil, was running perfectly. Your mechanics may also be trying to avoid the transmission fluid change because Honda wants their own fluid for that, as well. It's easy to do at the same time as the oil change. Yeah it was a little cold. Over time, due to water contamination or dirt and debris, the differential fluid can go bad. This may be a topic discussed more often than I see on the page, but I have a 15' Edge SEL AWD with 145k miles that I've never changed the differential fluid on. I actually used a heat gun to blow heat into the top bolt on the rear differential and just allow airflow into the system to loosen up the oil a little bit. Now I've read plenty of stories on here of people getting it flushed and replaced, and that the whole "lifetime fluid" thing is more of a Subaru America thing compared to the maintenance Remember the hybrid has no drive shaft going to the rear wheels. Jan 7, 2023 · With the rear differential fluid, you might only need to change it every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The reason to flush/change your brake fluid, isn’t because it “wears out” but because it becomes contaminated with moisture. Regarding the transmission fluid change, get that done too, moreso if its a CVT. The appropriate schedule for your vehicle can be found in the owner’s manual. Opening a drain on an automatic transmission drains only what is in the transmission pan, which is typically 2-3 quarts and is about 1/3 of the entire capacity including all lines and the transmission oil cooler. Use good GL5 Fluid with LSD additive from any of the big brands…M1, Valvoline, redline, Royal purple, they’re all good. If I never change the transmission fluid and blow the tranny at 100K miles, then that was the expected life of the vehicle. So $425 Total. fluid. However it's never a bad idea to change or at least check it if your mileage is getting high (100k+). The rear diff is pretty simple and there is no center transfer case. It's at 150,000 miles now, and I don't think it's ever had differential fluid replaced. The theory is that if its never been changed and its way past its due date, don't change it because what could be happening is the material from the plates wearing down is still in the fluid causing it to have increased grip/traction allowing it to shift normally ish, if you change it at that point it will start slipping because you lost the $250 for rear diff fluid change from dealer and $350 for both. People seem to change the preference according to local climate. I would do some research on type of fluid to use and have a rock solid reason not to use the correct Honda fluid. The rear differential fluid does have an initial early change interval, but only on the first fluid change. It's a Canadian model currently with 74,000km that we bought used 2 years ago and the diff fluids are almost certainly original (never changed). In other words, while other diff fluids do the same work, stick with only the manufacturer-recommended fluid. dm me your vin and ill run it through mitchel if you want to make sure of the fluid. First time changing the fluids on the car (I know way way past due). Flushing will damage things. 94 total for 2021 Rav4 transfer case and rear differential fluid change. Therefore, it could be super low on fluid, you do not want to seize up the rear-end. I've got a 93yj now and I change the diff fluid every 20k or so. I guess you have to make the call on this one? I change mine every 30,000. If you change the fluid, then that material goes away, and it may make your transmission worse. If a special fluid is specified make sure you use it. You should also change the transfer case ( API GL-5 SAE 75W-90) and differential fluids (front-Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 API GL-5 or equivalent & rear-Hypoid gear oil API GL- 5 SAE 80W-90) at the same interval as the transmission fluid. Any recommendations on oil, tools, crush washers, etc? I'm on mobile or else I would use the search function. If the diff fluid was so bad it was causing shifting issues your rear end would have been toast. My brother-in-law recommended getting both filter and fluid changed. I would probably have the differentials serviced around the same time as the timing belt/water pump (which is usually around 60k). If it's black and crusty go less. also initially told me that the front trans fluid never needs to be change, but then a week later called me and told me that it should be changed at 100k. For normal driving, it is a lifetime fluid that never needs replaced. Hello Subaru Forester Community, I recently had to have a transmission valve replaced, and the Subaru dealership recommended to change the differential fluid as well as some throttle something or other fluid. Jan 31, 2010 · I never change differential oil unless it has to be opened up for some reason. Unless you’re doing heavy towing, offroading or racing then every 60,000 miles would be more than most people. Old fluid is not helping anyone. MT-85 is the standard, with MT-90 also being an option if it doesn’t get colder. Sep 20, 2023 · Some argue that leaving the differential fluid untouched is the key to a well-functioning drivetrain, while others advocate for regular maintenance. The flawed reasoning that some guys use to say never change the fluid in an automatic transmission if you do not know whether it has been changed in the recommended intervals up to the point of problems is based on the myth that the pump will not pick up and circulate fresh clean fluid, because it is used to the worn friction material being If I never change the oil and blow the engine in 20K miles, then that was the life of the engine. But last year my rear diff died due to an unknown leak. Changing the fluid early in the vehicle's life is good to get that stuff out and have clean fluid. Mine also leaks a bit so I don't want to go too long between changes. Sep 5, 2024 · Discover why a differential fluid change is essential for your vehicle's performance and longevity. If changing the fluid breaks anything then you either did it wrong or stuff was so close to failing you'd be replacing it in 1000 miles anyway. Shocks and brake fluid are next. If that's the case, then change the fluid and filter. Oil 5k (minimum 2,500 for first oil change), brake fluid 30k or 3 years (unless you live in a humid climate than it’s once it’s dark yellow/milky), filters 15k or once very dirty, Front transfer case 30k, Rear differential 15k, transmission 45-50k depending on how much off roading/towing you do. Jun 29, 2005 · The VTM-4 rear has electronically controlled clutches to distribute torque as necessary. Can definitely help catch anything early before the whole setup turns to chips and metal fragments. The diff makes the most metal and contamination during initial breakin as all its metal parts get to know each other better. OEM only, and as the car ages, change fluids more frequently. However it seems to me that a lot of owners never change differential fluid at all. Idk if I should still change it or not atp cz my car runs great and I have no problems, no weird sounds or nothing. Always change transmission fluid every 60k miles if you can drain all of its contents. The other theory is that if your transmission is slipping it's because the filter is clogged. I have no clue myself. and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. Most people never change it. My recommendation is drain and fill it every 30,000 miles. Some say that the friction material from the clutches gets suspended in the fluid. Everything RWD will have an actual rear differential that is self contained and will have its own diff oil. I didn't change the diff fluid in it until 100k miles and I never had any issues. Change it. It's to be expected that a neglected engine will last only a short time. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, or it attracts water/moisture like a sponge (it’s the reason brake fluid reservoirs are transparent, so you can check the level without opening the sealed lid) never had any of the problems with these that others are commenting. I was looking at other subaru forums and one said the differential fluid didn't need to be done any less frequently than every 100K. But Mazda also states that you never have to change your transmission fluid either which is a load of BS as well. Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's post on the subject. Differential Fluid change interval 2018 Outback 2. 5i Touring. I took it in this week for oil change service and was informed the service schedule shows it should have a transfer case flush. When you change the fluid in that circumstance. Only question that's dumb, is one that's not asked. But it's better to change it, no it's not like a tranny with high miles getting a flush. When I mentioned I wanted to get the CVT fluid and diff fluid checked out, he told me that I never have to worry about changing it out unless I've been towing. local tech told me it never needs to be changed, but I don't believe in forever fluids, because they last until they break, and I don't want it to break. How badly would I need to change the fluid now? I had a shop do a CVT drain and fill last year when I got it, but never thought about the differential fluid. Don't neglect this vital maintenance task—ensure your Sure, that car comes in with transmission fluid more burnt than last night's "dinner" with signs the tranny may already be slipping, maybe leave the fluid alone since that transmission is already doomed. Do I need the filter change or is the fluid change enough? Thanks! Edit: thanks to those responded! Always change transmission fluid every 20k miles if you can only drain a portion of it. It seems more like preventative maintenance rather than something that needs to be done. Thanks! The maintenance minder will have a code on when to change the rear diff. Sounds reckless but it actually is a trick I learned from a master mechanic. Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice!Please review the rules. edjwmi mvgi kxbywe jxrw xzrid potrzrm kodyxjxp wbc bvlk wvqfh