Do I need to change my diff fluid?

"TheOnelectronic" (theoneelectronic) 07/16/2015 at 15:43 • Filed to: None

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Edit 2: In light of remembering about the new gears, and based on Hammerhead’s recommendation, I’m going to just do it anyway.

A while ago I had air lockers installed. EDIT- I forgot a rather important detail; I had new diff gears installed at the same time. The shop recommended that I change my diff fluid after a thousand miles or so, but since I’m a lazy bastard and I can’t actually get the front skidplate on/off by myself, I haven’t done it.

Now, given that the Taco has magnetic drain plugs on the diffs, am I going to risking much at all by just leaving the diff fluid until the next natural service interval? (appx. 15,000 miles away)

Mainly I’m trying to assess how accurate the shop’s judgment is. I don’t know if there’s actually a bunch of metal rattling around in there or if they were just trying to get some more business by having me come back. In light of remembering about the diff gears it may be much more likely there’s bits of metal floating around.

Thoughts? I may just change the rear fluid anyway, since it’s easy, and if there seems to be a lot of shit in there find some way to get the skid plate off and work on the front.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:48

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do it. Do it. doitdoit.

The locker and any gears you had installed have a film and will shed fine particles. I was amazed how gross the fluid was after 100 miles with my new gears. its so easy to do as well, cheap insurance.

ly2v8-Brian > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:48

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Do it yourself, it's super easy.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:48

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Anything all brand new and freshly fresh like an air locker probably runs some risk of making metal chips and grit as it breaks in. This is *not a good idea* to leave swimming any longer than necessary. We’re not talking a “still running engine on break-in oil 10,000 miles in” thing, but it’s not a terribly great idea. I’m assuming it was just a carrier swap and all the bearings/etc. remained the same, but it’s still possible that the process rustled the jimmies of the bearings and pinion/ring interface enough they’ve had to effectively break back in.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:49

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Go with that last thought, unless you find an expert in the crowd here.

EL_ULY > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:49

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why did they recommend it?

TheOnelectronic > ly2v8-Brian 07/16/2015 at 15:49

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There’s the part about having to remove the very heavy skidplate that I can’t hold up and bolt in at the same time. I’ve also only got two jack stands and a hi-lift jack, so using either of those things to lift it into place is a non-starter.

TheOnelectronic > HammerheadFistpunch 07/16/2015 at 15:52

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Hmm. Yeah I might have to do it then. Now I just need to find some way to get the front skidplate down and up again. Sucker’s heavy.

TheOnelectronic > EL_ULY 07/16/2015 at 15:52

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I just remembered I had new gears put in as well at the time. That definitely changes the picture a bit.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:53

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Technically its part of the warranty procedure to drain the oil after like 100 miles, at least for nitro.

Alex from Toronto > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 15:56

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Bring it to a dealership or indy garage. But yeah I would do it.

Brickman > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 16:00

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Get a motor cycle jack and help support the plate. Also useful if you ever need to work on the transfer case, diffs, etc.

TheOnelectronic > Alex from Toronto 07/16/2015 at 16:01

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Every shop around here is booked solid past the date I’m leaving the state.

Well, every shop you’d want working on your vehicle anyway. I’m sure Manuel’s Discount Oil Change has an opening, but...

TheOnelectronic > Brickman 07/16/2015 at 16:02

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I might swing by Harbor Freight and pick up something like that. Good call.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/16/2015 at 16:07

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“still running engine on break-in oil 10,000 miles in”

My father did that with a Ford 5.4L Modular V8...

*I* however, would not.

Brickman > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 16:08

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http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capaci…

$90 isn’t bad, same design as my craftsman. Used it for removing a transmission.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 16:14

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I have a full set of RCV front skids and I usually use a floor jack to get them down. I bought a three ton full size and I’m glad I can use it for other things as well, especially cause it fits in the back of my Taco. It’s nice to know if I ever get a flat on the road I don’t have to fiddle with pulling out the hi-lift.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/16/2015 at 16:14

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Lolmodular. They are a bit cockroachey.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/16/2015 at 16:16

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However the air suspension on the Navigator said engine was installed in, was not cockroachy.

It was almost as bad as an Allroad.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/16/2015 at 16:20

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“suspension? Where we’re going, we don’t need suspension”

-Lincoln Engineers, probably

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 16:27

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Dude. That is one sexy Taco.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/16/2015 at 16:37

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Right before they made the V-12 Zephyr, most likely.

ly2v8-Brian > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 17:16

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Pay a friend to help (usually beer will do) or follow brickman’s advice.

LeadfootYT > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 17:43

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To my knowledge (and I’m more an expert in fast BMWs than offroad-spec equipment, so take it with a grain of salt), I don’t hear diff or transmission fluids mentioned as maintenance items often from shops, even if they come up as recommended maintenance by enthusiasts. So if the shop actually recommended it, I’d say do a fluid change, if you can.

TheOnelectronic > ly2v8-Brian 07/16/2015 at 19:08

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All by meself out here.

TheOnelectronic > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 07/16/2015 at 19:08

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That’s one of those phrases that could mean something very different out of context, but thanks!

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 19:11

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;) love me some tacos

ly2v8-Brian > TheOnelectronic 07/16/2015 at 19:23

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Tis a Shame.