What's the differential? The differential (or diff) is a component in the drivetrain of all vehicles that lets the outer wheels rotate at a faster speed than the inner wheels, allowing for better control of the vehicle when turning and less wear and tear of the tyres. One type of differential service required to keep the diff working properly and prevent unexpected failures is differential oil change. Unfortunately, many vehicle owners do not usually change differential oil as frequently as required. Perhaps this is because the differential is inconspicuously located on the underside of the car. Then again, it may be because some people simply take their diff for granted and wait until it breaks down to give it any attention.
Keeping your diff well-lubricated at all times can help prevent downtime as well as a myriad of costly repairs. If you own a light-duty truck, you can even change the oil by yourself. Follow these steps to ensure you change your different oil properly.
Warm the oil
When a vehicle hasn't been operated in a while, the differential oil tends to get congealed. This may make it difficult to drain all the old oil from the diff. Therefore, it is critical to run your engine for a couple of minutes just to get the oil warmed up and thus easier to drain. Keep in mind that things may get quite messy, so put on your grungy clothes.
Drain the oil out
Armed with a screwdriver, remove the differential housing screws, leaving a few screws loosely attached on top to hold the casing in place. Be sure to place an old pan just below the diff to collect the old oil. Otherwise, the oil will drain into the ground and contaminate it. Now with the oil collection pan in position, gently pry open the cover to let the oil slowly flow out. Wait until all the oil has drained completely, and then remove the few screws remaining to remove the cover.
Wipe out the remaining oil
Of course, not all the oil will drain itself out. Therefore, you will need to use a soft cotton rag or towel to wipe any remaining oil from your entire differential assembly parts, including the bearings, pinion gears, side gears, bevel ring gears, housing cover, et cetera, et cetera.
Get everything back together
Once you have wiped all the old diff oil out, you will need to get everything back together. Place a sealing gasket around the mating face of the housing cover and make holes on the screw-holes, and then tighten the screws on top of the cover with just enough force to ensure the gasket has formed a tight seal.
Add fresh oil
Fill the diff with the best-quality oil you can buy. Be sure to read your vehicle owner's manual to make sure you are using the right oil, and that you pour enough oil into the diff.
For more information, talk to a professional like Precision Automatic Transmissions.
Share5 April 2017
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