Nice one. 2 questions.

1) how do I ID what sort of diffs I have in my F250 4WD US 2003 model?
2) how about adding a toughened glass spy hole at oil height so that you can confirm the oil level is OK when stopped on level ground?

 

I copied this from Robin PaysonPSD that he posted not to long ago.

Here's an example from my truck on how to decode the diff tag.

The codes on my rear differential tag are:

S409B
3L73 102 8C11

The break down of these codes:

S409B:

S = Sterling Differential

409 = Print Number (Model Number)

B = Revision Identifier (Change in Design)

3L73:

3L73 = 3.73 Ratio

L = Limited Slip

Absence of L = Open Differential.

102 denotes the ring gear size. 10.25 inches. 105 would be a 10.5 inch ring gear.

8C11 is the build date.

8 = year of manufacture. In this case it means 1998.
C = month of manufacture. A= January, L= December so C= March
11 = day of manufacture. So My differential was manufactured on March 11, 1998

Why do you need a sight glass when you fill it up till oil comes out the fill hole and that is the full mark. I would think a sight would be a high risk of breaking and loosing all the oil then you would be screwed. Just look at your diff once and while and see if its leaking, then you would know if your low on oil.

 

On a '03 F250 you will have a Ford (Sterling) 10.5" Rear Axle and a Dana 60 front axle. This is about the only option on a 250. On a 350 dually, you would have a Dana 80 rear.

Fluid would be:
Rear: 75W-140 Synthetic for the 10.5" and 75W-90 Synthetic for the Dana 80. Plan on getting 7.0+ pints. You also will need Friction Modifier for the rear if Limited Slip.

Front: SAE 90W Premium Axle Lubricant. I use synthetic there too.

 

Yep that would be right,the brazilian built aussie trucks were a pathetic effort into the Ftruck market by ford here in aussie,2000 model trucks branded as 2005 like mine.
So i would'nt expect anything out of the ordinary in our rippoff trucks.

Even the right hand steering sytem is a pathetic effort,ford australia could'nt get it any tighter than 9% play in the steering,so they told the transport minister here that this was the best they could do,the transport minister said: you have public liabilty insurance,ford said: yes,transport minister said: well its got nothing to do with us then,so we ended up with a sloppy steering truck..

Clay could'nt get over how they only stuck XL head lights in them and then charged us $80000.00 for them.

 

I can't get over that!!

 

Yep this is the country where they bend you over before they hand you your goods

 

clay, dude, why do you do this to us? just when we think we,re done, you do this. and the front to? next you'll make a 2 piece oil pan that is split in the middle so you don't have to remove the engine. hey, could you do that?

 

that would be pretty cool if that could be done.

 

Same great information above, including the pathetic attempt to bring F-trucks down under!

Thanks for sharing. I'll check my diff-tag and order with confidence!

Any recommendations for changing the diff oil from dyno to synth? Any special flush out procedures?

 

subscribing

 

Here you go.

Welcome to guzzle's Rear Differential Maintenance Web Page

The rear diff is synthetic from the factory and is required.

 

We've got limited slip rear diff oil,which i'd say is the gear oil with the modifier already mixed.

 

Looks like at lease some Aussie models got the Limited Slip Diff.

My Diff code is

V431 F L73 105 4J29

What does the V431 mean? Not a Sterling diff I gather.

I take is the L73 means 3.73 ratio limited slip diff

105 for the ring gear

4J29 means manufactured 2004, October, 29th.

Will the Riff Raff cover fit??