Never change differential fluid reddit. Transmission fluid doesn’t last forever.

Never change differential fluid reddit It looks like it was never taken off. If you can change you oil, the changing The differential fluid is just as easy! Step 1- make sure to take off the fill bolt first. I have 150k miles on two vehicles that have original transmission fluid in them. I think the most important service is oil change and air filter. Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's post on the subject. Though, given what I see with how "well-maintained" is defined by folks here, that wouldn't surprise me. 15,000 miles for differential fluid change does seem very excessive, considering most people never service theirs, lol. The Impreza is a 4EAT, so it gets a transmission fluid and center diff oil change at the same time. And they are probably charging 1 hour labor. Approximately 30-45 minutes to do both axles, and most of that is just sitting there waiting for it to drain. Sure, that car comes in with transmission fluid more burnt than last night's "dinner" with signs the tranny may already be slipping, maybe leave the fluid alone since that transmission is already doomed. It's easy to do at the same time as the oil change. Lexus doesn’t recommend trans fluid changes, but any mechanic would. If the fluid is 50K miles over, I didn't realize that you needed to change the transmission fluid every 1,500 miles (83k km ~= 51,570 mi). You should also change the transfer case ( API GL-5 SAE 75W-90) and differential fluids (front-Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 API GL-5 or equivalent & rear-Hypoid gear oil API GL- 5 SAE 80W-90) at the same interval as the transmission fluid. Jun 29, 2005 · The VTM-4 rear has electronically controlled clutches to distribute torque as necessary. If that's the case, then change the fluid and filter. Cheaper to change the fluid than to replace your They are talking about fluid that is way over due the mileage, like 50,000 miles over where it should be. I have no clue myself. My recommendation is drain and fill it every 30,000 miles. . It's never a bad idea to do a rebuild and check oil every now and then, maybe every 6 months or whatever. dm me your vin and ill run it through mitchel if you want to make sure of the fluid. Check fluid level and add as needed at subsequent oil changes. Use good GL5 Fluid with LSD additive from any of the big brands…M1, Valvoline, redline, Royal purple, they’re all good. If successful, Step-2 - take off drain bolt and let it flow Step-3 - pump in fluid after closing off drain bolt Not sure about transmission fluid bc my G37 coupe is a closed system and not sure if g35 has a dipstick Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice!Please review the rules. Also changed the splash guard since the old one had broken. I would probably have the differentials serviced around the same time as the timing belt/water pump (which is usually around 60k). You could technically never replace the diff fluid and keep adding it if needed. First time changing the fluids on the car (I know way way past due). The safest and most effective way to "change" transmission oil is to do "differential fluid changes" every few oil changes. There are check valves and solenoids and small hydraulic circuits in the valve body that will get gummed up from sediment build up if you never change the fluid/filter. Generally, if the oil you take out still mostly looks like the new oil, go longer before the next change, heck if you drained it to a clean pan you could put it back in. Everything RWD will have an actual rear differential that is self contained and will have its own diff oil. They are very sensitive with fluid levels. Funny that the maintenance schedule is mentioned because my car doesn’t mention anything about changing the diff fluid(2019 GLi) . and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. 5i Touring. My wife's Mazda (a general pita for working on) has a drain plug in the rear diff and the transaxle. How important is it to let Never hurts to change it, just might spend more money than you need on gear oil. There is no need to remove the cover to change the diff. Just changed my rear diff fluid at 16k miles, mechanic swung around the front to take a look and pointed out the transmission fill and drain and the front differential and asked me to look into it the front diff fluid needed to be changed. Actually, I'd just use Honda fluid and change maybe 1/3 more often than the manual recommends. Also, you can get a quart of high-quality synthetic gear oil for between 10 and $15. Transmission fluid flush takes 1 hour max and is a good preventative maintenance. Just to to add my 2 cents, with the rear diff barely engaging in normal day to day driving the diff fluid lasts a very long time. Hello Subaru Forester Community, I recently had to have a transmission valve replaced, and the Subaru dealership recommended to change the differential fluid as well as some throttle something or other fluid. Any recommendations on oil, tools, crush washers, etc? I'm on mobile or else I would use the search function. Most likely there "sealed for life" units but it's always a good idea to change diff fluid. 70k miles cause that’s the lifetime of the warranty. NEVER change transmission fluid if it has exceeded 100k miles since its last change and the fluid looks dark when initially draining it. I do not see it listed in the USA manual at all, or if I missed something. Jan 31, 2010 · I never change differential oil unless it has to be opened up for some reason. Thoughts? They claim both components have good for life fluid, but as I've found out in the past from various manufacturers (I'm looking at you Ford with your PTU) that that's a load of horseshit. However it seems to me that a lot of owners never change differential fluid at all. I've used them multiple times for oil change, but not for something like that. 30 is a good interval for really any differential. Some say that the friction material from the clutches gets suspended in the fluid. The clutches wear and material gets into the fluid and eventually clogs up the filter if you never change it. The rear differential fluid does have an initial early change interval, but only on the first fluid change. All cars have a differential, but for the most part FWD cars transmission fluid also serves as the diff fluid. Jan 30, 2021 · As others have said, most people never change the differential fluid, and they arrive at the junkyard on their factory fill. But surely if you would rebuild the transmission, a fluid change when needed is never a bad idea. I'm the third owner on my 2006 4Runner and when I went to get the diff fluid changed, the entire rear differential was shot (2WD). Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford is a renowned automotive manufacturer with a rich history of producing quality vehicles. Flushing will damage things. We'll change the transfer case fluid almost 4 times before even looking at the rear diff. This is accomplished through the fill plug. "Lifetime part, doesn't need changing" He got them to change the fluid regardless but I was astounded they don't advise changing the diff fluid, especially on a performance car. If you see any signs of fluid leaking, definitely have it changed soon as you do not know how long it has been leaking. Differential Fluid change interval 2018 Outback 2. They think fluid change is all that’s needed. Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice!Please review the rules. 3 qts ATF-WS for the V6 model and 11. Always change transmission fluid every 60k miles if you can drain all of its contents. Transmission fluid is a bit harder to do because you may need to remove the air intake and it is hard to do without breaking its plastic clips. But generally every 40k miles you should change differential, transfer case and transmission fluids and a full chassis lube. He asked his local dealer when the diff fluid should be changed. We had a tech at a Subaru dealership use the wrong fluid, and it actually ate through most of the seals and transmission. The other theory is that if your transmission is slipping it's because the filter is clogged. Acura tech here. And no, it's never cut and dry. I have other Honda dealers in the area so I was going to check their serv specials. Always change transmission fluid every 20k miles if you can only drain a portion of it. Locking differential – Drain fluid at first oil change and refill. Saw a flyer from Valvoline that mentioned transmission and differential fluid changes. Hi all just paid $283. That's how people get into trouble with their vehicles. The original unofficial subreddit for the Ford Motor Company. It was already costing me $145 for an oil change and tire rotation so I told them I would come back. This may be a topic discussed more often than I see on the page, but I have a 15' Edge SEL AWD with 145k miles that I've never changed the differential fluid on. I've done the motor oil plenty of times, just never the diff. Subaru CVT's are very particular about their fluid, make sure they used the correct one. Opening a drain on an automatic transmission drains only what is in the transmission pan, which is typically 2-3 quarts and is about 1/3 of the entire capacity including all lines and the transmission oil cooler. I looked up my vehicle’s CarFax information and it doesn’t not mention any history of transmission service. I was just wondering if anyone here has used them for their car. I'm looking to change my diff fluid, the dealer wants over $100. 5qts ATF-WS for the V8. My brother-in-law recommended getting both filter and fluid changed. Like others have said, you shouldn't be consuming differential gear oil. Transmission fluid gets old and dirty and burnt. In dusty areas, or trailer towing applications drain fluid at every 15,000 miles (24 135 kilometers) and refill. Finally got a call back and they clarified that it should only be $70 for the diff fluid (for some reason it's showing $170) and the remaining ~$200 was for changing out the transmission fluid that they didn't mention on the phone. If the diff fluid was so bad it was causing shifting issues your rear end would have been toast. That being said I recommend same time as diff fluid, every 70k/6 years, transfer case as well. If you never had any services I would 100% do the brake fluid, that is a huge safety issue having old fluid. CHANGE THE DIFF FLUID. Shocks and brake fluid are next. Regarding the transmission fluid change, get that done too, moreso if its a CVT. Sep 20, 2023 · Is it good to never change differential fluid? Discover the facts about differential fluid maintenance for your vehicle's longevity in this post. Dual differential is only front and rear differential, you must have AWD. The reason to flush/change your brake fluid, isn’t because it “wears out” but because it becomes contaminated with moisture. The dealership likely used this machine or a similar machine to extra t the old fluid and install the new fluid. The transmission fluid was very dark. Current Nissan master tech entered the chat! Ive also seen this from customers driving 100+ miles a spare tire. Not trying to be a dick just that's not how transmissions and rear ends work. I say this with all due respect as I have 362,000+ miles on my 2000 4 runner and never change these fluids. So far what I can find is that the rear diff should only be changed if it gets water in it, and the transmission fluid should never be changed. Transmission fluid doesn’t last forever. Honda calls for their own fluid, so your mechanics may be disinterested in doing the job. They just get drained and refilled. Can definitely help catch anything early before the whole setup turns to chips and metal fragments. Therefore, it could be super low on fluid, you do not want to seize up the rear-end. Not original differential fluid. You can do the change yourself for like 60 bucks in parts. Not a problem, so long as they did it right. Your vehicle calls for 11. The Legacy is a 5MT Dual Range, so that gets a transmission oil change at the same time, as the diff and transmission share the same casing and oil. It’s not a hard job to do if you have a jack and a drain pan. If you want to. However it's never a bad idea to change or at least check it if your mileage is getting high (100k+). I would do some research on type of fluid to use and have a rock solid reason not to use the correct Honda fluid. I would never perform work on either the diff or the transmission on these newer subarus. Took my '03 Ranger XLT 4x4 (154,000 miles) in for front and rear differential fluid changes. The oil can break down and loose its shear strength making it less effective causing wear on the gear face. Ever since I bought the car, I’ve been hesitant to change the transmission fluid because I’ve heard that if you do not change the fluid at 30,000 miles, and then you change it late, it will ruin your transmission. Your mechanics may also be trying to avoid the transmission fluid change because Honda wants their own fluid for that, as well. It cost me 300 for the front and rear and transmission but I go to a performance shop for my car. I couldn't find anything on ROC or in the owners manual and was wondering if anyone has heard anything. But it's better to change it, no it's not like a tranny with high miles getting a flush. That's one theory. A new rear diff was backordered for like four months so I had to go with a used one and that was over $3000 with labor. You really should be doing your own oil changes, too - cheaper, faster, and eliminates having a dealership touch your vehicle (especially one that's out of warranty). I'm highly skeptical that the fluid was actually changed out. For a basher, change it if it's leaking obviously or if the diff starts to feel crunchy or otherwise off from the normal feel/behavior. I'd much rather pay to get the fluid changed. It's almost never bad to change fluids early, but it's always bad to change them late. Hey guys, I've been seeing a lot of posts about changing the fluid in the locking differential on PP GTI's (or 2019 S's and up). I have changed the differential fluid as my rear seals went out at 299,000 and 314,000 respectively. Not sure why dealers charge more than an oil change (fluid is very cheap too). Hello! I own a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, or it attracts water/moisture like a sponge (it’s the reason brake fluid reservoirs are transparent, so you can check the level without opening the sealed lid) Motor oil yes of course, the other stuff you top off. Idk if I should still change it or not atp cz my car runs great and I have no problems, no weird sounds or nothing. Took it to my buddies shop in seaside, CA to get the work done. There are exceptions to this though, due example mid 90s Toyota Camry's use a separate ATF and diff fluid. I think they did add fluid as seen here. It's a Canadian model currently with 74,000km that we bought used 2 years ago and the diff fluids are almost certainly original (never changed). Unless you’re doing heavy towing, offroading or racing then every 60,000 miles would be more than most people. Is this reasonable? Local dealership quote me $250 each $500 total and a Meineke car care store quote me $1300 total what is wrong with these people? Will never ever return there again. It seems more like preventative maintenance rather than something that needs to be done. A quick youtube search shows that seems to be the case. fluid. Seems like mixed views on how often transmission fluid needs to be changed, if ever. I have never changed my cars differential fluid, bought it at 20k miles, it's at 125k now. First, other than brake fluid you never flush fluids. They break down over time and get gunked up. Posted mantinence says cvt fluid every 25k but there are no listings for differential fluid, probobally why the dealer dident care. If it's black and crusty go less. You can see the gunk on the diff fluid magnet, fluid was pretty clear. If you change the fluid, then that material goes away, and it may make your transmission worse. The Subaru 2018 maintenance schedule never says anything about replacing the CVT or Differential fluid, but ONLY to inspect these fluids, UNLESS driving under severe conditions, where you may replace the diff fluid after 15000 miles of severe driving or the CVT fluid after 30000 miles of severe driving. I make sure the level is up and that's it. but physically its a very easy job. I drain and fill both on about every 3rd or 4th oil change because its so easy. You do need to change fluids just like oil. If you read it cold, there might not be any fluid in the dipstick or just barely touching, when it is actually the correct level when hot. Here is the differential housing before the change, and here it is after the change. That only happened once in 38 years for an axle seal. It only adds about 20 minutes to the oil change and I'm already under the car. Thanks! Changing the diff fluid should have almost 0 to do with the transmission shifting. • Standard differential — Check fluid level and add as needed at every oil change. The maintenance minder (#6) interval is calculated by the PCM and will generally appear between 12,000-18,000 kilometres depending on driving habits, though I have seen it come up at even lower mileage on vehicles that tow or do an excessive amount of stop & go driving. Is $168 the going rate everyone else is paying? chances are you'll need 75-140 synthetic gear oil and limited slip additive but dont quote me on that decode the tag on the diff bolt and make sure, no quicker way to burn a diff up than wrong fluid or additives. He cuts me a great price for all my work and I know for a fact everything will be done 100% The flawed reasoning that some guys use to say never change the fluid in an automatic transmission if you do not know whether it has been changed in the recommended intervals up to the point of problems is based on the myth that the pump will not pick up and circulate fresh clean fluid, because it is used to the worn friction material being A friend of mine has a BMW M2. 94 total for 2021 Rav4 transfer case and rear differential fluid change. Only question that's dumb, is one that's not asked. How far behind am I on this maintenance? Any good YouTube videos out there with step by step instructions on how to perform this as a DIY? Are these the two fluids I should use? Differential fluid requires a tool to fill up from the bottom but other than that it is simpler than oil. General I'd say 30k-40k but my dad's tundra has 250k miles and his Sequoia is at 200k both original diff fluid and it's held up perfectly, no noise or anything, I'd very strongly recommend against that though. The independent shop said it’s “too early” for a filter change, and that would be a lot more expensive. On the rear diff, if you have any oily buildup on the bottom of the housing, or on the axle seals, you might have lost some oil over time. 2013 g37x. Oil 5k (minimum 2,500 for first oil change), brake fluid 30k or 3 years (unless you live in a humid climate than it’s once it’s dark yellow/milky), filters 15k or once very dirty, Front transfer case 30k, Rear differential 15k, transmission 45-50k depending on how much off roading/towing you do. 5i - Canada Could ya'll give me some clarity on the intervals to change the front and rear differential Fluid on a 2018 Outback 2. I’ve had mixed answers when I asked, Im probably still going to do it next oil change along with trans fluid Gear oil in axles and differentials actually has a life span. Lexus says lifetime transmission fluid Most people never change it. A good sealed diff will be totally full and the oil will barely even be dirty. Changing it at 45k is fine, no problem at all, and still way more often than most people change it anyway. His mechanic is recommending a good preventative maintenance. Also if your Pilot is a 4WD change the rear differential fluid. Sounds reckless but it actually is a trick I learned from a master mechanic. Do I need the filter change or is the fluid change enough? Thanks! Edit: thanks to those responded! My dealer told me I was due for my initial rear differential fluid change at 15k miles. They quoted me $168. Manual Subarus use the same oil sump for the trans and the front diff. xmd ckcew ljgmve bjiky lzvvvg fkw nnwk jvbzk hszgp ljkf