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What happens if the 2000m rear differential oil change is missed?
So I'm looking at a used 2015 E63 AMG S and from the carfax, seems the original owner didn't do the rear differential oil change at 2000 miles. He did an oil change at 10k miles (I guess that one must include the rear differential oil change). Should I avoid this car? Or it might be ok?
Most dealers miss this service and don't even know about it.
I have seen a friends car that went about 15K without a diff oil change from factory, when we did it, it was dirty with metallic fine particles from the break in of the diff but it was fine, we flushed it soon after 500 miles again and all was well. I wouldnt worry about it at all, unless the owner of the car was really using that diff around a track or something.
Most dealers miss this service and don't even know about it.
I have seen a friends car that went about 15K without a diff oil change from factory, when we did it, it was dirty with metallic fine particles from the break in of the diff but it was fine, we flushed it soon after 500 miles again and all was well. I wouldnt worry about it at all, unless the owner of the car was really using that diff around a track or something.
Thanks! Good idea. I will do it two times in short interval after I get the car.
The LSD diff wear largely depends on type/quality, driving profile, mileage, and maintenance.
Type/quality. We know that AMG uses Drexler LSD, which is a clutch ATB type. It is of great quality and performance, but the principle is based on friction. And so clutches shed material, especially when new during break-in. Hence, the first fluid change is so soon.
Driving profile. Motorsport use causes more wear. Try to find how the vehicle was driven. A grocery-shopping, children hauling, grandma driver, etc.
Mileage. The vehicle is on the road 5-6 years. I suspect around 50K miles. If the differential oil was never changed, then particles (abrasive) from new bearings and clutches were floating in oil and not helping. We do not know mileage, and so it is a speculation.
Finally, maintenance. You suspect maintenance was skipped. Carfax is not 100%. You may want to pull dealer's records based on VIN or ask the seller.
It is unlikely that all of the factors above are unmitigated. If it was the case, then I would use this argument during negotiation and reflect in price to address this risk of the LSD wear. If you get the car and still suspect that the diff fluid was never changed, recommend to change it and not wait until the next scheduled interval. Hope this can help you. Good luck.
If you can examine the vehicle on a lift (recommended), take a flashlight and look at the rear differential. Check both left and right fluid drain plugs. Mercedes applies thick charcoal paint/coating over the entire diff, axles, including drain plugs. If the drain plugs are different color than the housing, rusted, and/or there are other signs the paint seal is broken on and around them, then the plugs were removed, which means only one thing - fluid change. On the other hand, if the plugs are still painted over, then nobody touched them. See the photo I took when I drained my rear diff (exhaust was out by then). The plug is slightly rusted, and no paint over it. The rear diff was serviced before.
The LSD diff wear largely depends on type/quality, driving profile, mileage, and maintenance.
Type/quality. We know that AMG uses Drexler LSD, which is a clutch ATB type. It is of great quality and performance, but the principle is based on friction. And so clutches shed material, especially when new during break-in. Hence, the first fluid change is so soon.
Driving profile. Motorsport use causes more wear. Try to find how the vehicle was driven. A grocery-shopping, children hauling, grandma driver, etc.
Mileage. The vehicle is on the road 5-6 years. I suspect around 50K miles. If the differential oil was never changed, then particles (abrasive) from new bearings and clutches were floating in oil and not helping. We do not know mileage, and so it is a speculation.
Finally, maintenance. You suspect maintenance was skipped. Carfax is not 100%. You may want to pull dealer's records based on VIN or ask the seller.
It is unlikely that all of the factors above are unmitigated. If it was the case, then I would use this argument during negotiation and reflect in price to address this risk of the LSD wear. If you get the car and still suspect that the diff fluid was never changed, recommend to change it and not wait until the next scheduled interval. Hope this can help you. Good luck.
Thanks! The dealer didn't want to negotiate at all. But I bought it! I will update my story in a new thread.
If you can examine the vehicle on a lift (recommended), take a flashlight and look at the rear differential. Check both left and right fluid drain plugs. Mercedes applies thick charcoal paint/coating over the entire diff, axles, including drain plugs. If the drain plugs are different color than the housing, rusted, and/or there are other signs the paint seal is broken on and around them, then the plugs were removed, which means only one thing - fluid change. On the other hand, if the plugs are still painted over, then nobody touched them. See the photo I took when I drained my rear diff (exhaust was out by then). The plug is slightly rusted, and no paint over it. The rear diff was serviced before.
This is how it looks everything reassembled.
That's smart! Yeah I will check it soon when I do the differential oil change.
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