Because the differential is at the rear and under the car, it gets none of the star treatment that the engine up front does. But if lubrication in the car differential fails, you won’t be getting very far for very long. Fortunately, you only need to change this oil every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
When should I change my differential fluid?
Generally speaking, differential fluid should be changed anywhere from every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles. Your Chevrolet Owner’s manual should outline differential fluid changes in the recommended maintenance schedule.
How much does it cost to change the differential fluid?
You’ll only pay somewhere between $80 and $140 for differential fluid change. The labor should be between $50 and $70, while parts can cost anywhere from $30 to $70.
Why is differential fluid so expensive?
Getting the old fluid out of your car can ensure it runs smoother and prevents any damage to the gears, which would make the differential fluid change cost much higher than just changing the oil itself.
How do I know if my differential fluid is low?
What are the Symptoms of Bad Differential/Gear Oil?
- Burning Smell from the Differential. When you notice a bad smell coming from your gearbox, you should take it as a sign of bad differential oil which can be contaminated hence not operating as it should be. …
- Weird Noises. …
- Vibrations.
How long does differential fluid last?
Most manufacturer maintenance schedules require the differential fluid to be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, however, it can differ between vehicles. The job itself is actually pretty easy, however, if you’re planning to change your vehicle’s differential fluid at home, then it can get messy.
Is differential fluid same as transmission fluid?
Differential oil contained in its own housing is sometimes referred to as gear oil. It is thicker than engine and transmission oil and designed to perform under the high pressure of gears mashing together. … The purpose of differential oil is to cool and lubricate the differential.
What does differential fluid smell like?
Sulfur compounds used in extreme pressure lubricants smell either like rotten eggs or worse depending on additive concentration. A good call is to wear clothes you can throw away and not get any gear oil anywhere you don’t want to smell it for a while. This applies in particular to the interior of the vehicle.
What should differential fluid look like?
What Does Differential Fluid Look Like? Differential fluid looks like engine oil but is thicker. There are two types of differential fluid. One is mineral oil, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid.
Can you pump out differential fluid?
If your differential has both a drain plug and a fill plug your first step is to remove the two plugs with your ratchet and socket. In some models, there’s only one plug, and the old fluid must be drawn out with a hand pump. … Once the fluid is drained, if your drain plug has a crush washer, replace it with a new one.
Does synthetic gear oil last longer?
Synthetic oils have better resistance to aging and high temperatures and a longer service life than mineral oils. Depending on the base oil (SHC or PAG), the oil change intervals may be three to five times longer at the same operating temperature.
What does bad differential sound like?
A failing differential will often produce loud whirring noises or sometimes rattling. Any time you hear a strange noise coming from your vehicle, you should get it checked out by an auto repair expert. It can be any number of problems, including the differential.
What does low differential fluid sound like?
The most common sound of a failed differential is a whining noise. This is often due to poor lubrication within the differential, meaning there is a good chance that the differential fluid is leaking. If you spot a reddish fluid under the differential, there is certainly a leak.
How important is rear differential fluid?
Every front or rear axle is filled with a special oil (also called differential fluid, or gear oil) that takes care of this. The differential fluid lubricates the gears, bearings and other internal parts, and provides cooling to these components as well.
What is the best rear differential fluid?
Differential fluid, also called gear oil, is the fluid that is poured into the rear differential housing.
…
- Editor’s Choice: Red Line 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil. …
- Lucas Synthetic Racing Gear Oil. …
- Royal Purple Max-GEAR. …
- Liqui Moly Fully Synthetic Gear Oil.
How much is a rear differential?
You can expect a rear differential replacement to cost up to $4,000. Now that you know what to expect for a rear differential repair you have the information to decide whether or not a replacement is worth the cost and if a new car might make the most sense for you.
How do you fix a noisy differential?
How to Quiet Differential Whine
- Prep the area.
- Replace Differential Fluid.
- Replace the seal.
- Test the Vehicle.
- Inspect rear differential gasket, pinion seal, and side seal.
- Clean the housing.
- Replace broken parts.
- Lubricate and re-install axle into differential.
What type of fluid goes in rear differential?
There are two types of differential fluid. One is mineral oil, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid. The other is synthetic differential fluid, which is created in a lab. As with all synthetic oils, synthetic differential fluid oils can be fine-tuned for optimal performance.
Can you use diff oil in a gearbox?
Penrite has a full range of Full Synthetic, Semi Synthetic and Premium Mineral Gear Oils suitable for use in manual gearboxes, transaxles, transfer cases and differentials.
Is differential same as transmission?
The differential is a set of gears that transmits engine power to the wheels, while allowing them to turn at different speeds on turns. With front-wheel-drive (FWD), the differential is alongside the transmission inside a housing, and the unit is called a transaxle.