mikekuriger

I just drained my rear diff expecting some nasty foul smelling stuff to come out. instead, I get what looks like brand new clean oil. I have 130,000 miles and I've never changed this fluid before. WTH?

Viper98912

The previous owner might have replaced an axle seal due to leak. They're slightly common on our cars. Check to see if any of your seals look newer, and/or if your axle nut (near the wheel) looks new or removed and renotched.

mikekuriger

Well even if that's true, I've put over 90,000 miles on her myself :-P

mrobinso

That is encouraging to hear. I am about to do my differential fluid change and from posts I have read throughout the forum, most people, when doing the change, find that their fluid is filthy and dark in color. I would hope that my fluid appears new too at only 44000 miles!

Did you have any trouble removing either the drain or filler plugs? What fluid did you use for the change?

Budget Baller

Just curious, what does this help with? Might do my own if it's worth it.

saer1one

Preventative maintenance is all it is.. Just like an engine oil change, not sure at what mileage it should be done at..?? My car just reached the 50k mark a couple days ago but also would like to do this oil change since it just turned 9 and a half years old..

mikekuriger

I don't think anything bad will happen if you never change this stuff. There is no dirt or combustion going on in the area, and the diff has a decent heat sink on it. I only changed mine because I'm going to the track this weekend.

lkfoster

I do mine every 40-50k as a preventative measure. I like the idea of getting accumulated metal filings and moisture out as well as renewing the additives. That, and it's cheaper than buying a new parts.

JUAN CASAUS

+1...A new diff or gears would be more than the car is worth outing into if you had to buy it new. It's cheap and only takes a few minutes. When I changed mine it looked like glitter with all of the metal shavings present plus the oil breaks down with time. If any moisture ever gets in there you want it out asap otherwise it could be catastrophic for the gears.