Front Diff 4Matic - Sealed?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,053
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
Front Diff 4Matic - Sealed?
So I decided to change out the front/rear differential fluid today. The rear diff was pretty simple - the fill and drain plugs were readily accessible. Car was raised and leveled, took about 1.2 qts.
But when I got to the front, I could not find a fill plug? I looked online at some diy stuff on the front, but where I expected to find a hex plug, there is a seal, looks like a small freeze plug. Definitely factory installed. I did find what I thought was an 8mm hex drain plug right on the bottom of the diff, but there was nothing else up higher on the unit.
Online info showed an 8mm hex plug just to the right of the passenger side axle shaft. As mentioned in my case this is a flat seal not designed to be removed.
What am I missing? I know that the transfer case shares fluid with the transmission, but I was expecting the front diff to have its own fluid.
But when I got to the front, I could not find a fill plug? I looked online at some diy stuff on the front, but where I expected to find a hex plug, there is a seal, looks like a small freeze plug. Definitely factory installed. I did find what I thought was an 8mm hex drain plug right on the bottom of the diff, but there was nothing else up higher on the unit.
Online info showed an 8mm hex plug just to the right of the passenger side axle shaft. As mentioned in my case this is a flat seal not designed to be removed.
What am I missing? I know that the transfer case shares fluid with the transmission, but I was expecting the front diff to have its own fluid.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 7
2013 E350 Sedan
So I decided to change out the front/rear differential fluid today. The rear diff was pretty simple - the fill and drain plugs were readily accessible. Car was raised and leveled, took about 1.2 qts.
But when I got to the front, I could not find a fill plug? I looked online at some diy stuff on the front, but where I expected to find a hex plug, there is a seal, looks like a small freeze plug. Definitely factory installed. I did find what I thought was an 8mm hex drain plug right on the bottom of the diff, but there was nothing else up higher on the unit.
Online info showed an 8mm hex plug just to the right of the passenger side axle shaft. As mentioned in my case this is a flat seal not designed to be removed.
What am I missing? I know that the transfer case shares fluid with the transmission, but I was expecting the front diff to have its own fluid.
But when I got to the front, I could not find a fill plug? I looked online at some diy stuff on the front, but where I expected to find a hex plug, there is a seal, looks like a small freeze plug. Definitely factory installed. I did find what I thought was an 8mm hex drain plug right on the bottom of the diff, but there was nothing else up higher on the unit.
Online info showed an 8mm hex plug just to the right of the passenger side axle shaft. As mentioned in my case this is a flat seal not designed to be removed.
What am I missing? I know that the transfer case shares fluid with the transmission, but I was expecting the front diff to have its own fluid.
I ran into the same issue. I talked to my local MB dealership. They claimed that in order to drain the front diff, both the half axles have to come off....not sure if I trust them.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 347
2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
Wow ...That's crazy just to avoid threading in a fill plug! But who knows maybe so that 30 min job can take hours and $$ !
I'll ask the dealer since I have to take it in for a warranty item anyway. Thanks for verifying that seal.
I'll ask the dealer since I have to take it in for a warranty item anyway. Thanks for verifying that seal.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
See here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w212...fill-hole.html follow link in post 5 http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w212...l#post16285034
