Would appreciate some advice please. In Peru getting some work done and would like to change the oil in the rear diff (LSD)

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%"><tbody><tr><td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Build Date:</td> <td> 24.06.2000</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Vehicle Line:</td> <td> F250/350/450/550 Super Duty</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Body Style:</td> <td> Super Single Cab</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Version:</td> <td> 350 Series</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Engine:</td> <td> 7.3L Diesel V8 Turbo</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Transmission:</td> <td> 4 Spd Auto Trans EAO A4LE</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Drive:</td> <td> LHD 4WD (PTD) Dually
</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Axle Ratio:</td> <td> 4.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Emission:</td> <td> California Emission Requirements</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Air Conditioning:</td> <td> Manual Air Conditioning</td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="25%">Paint:</td> <td> Oxford White</td></tr></tbody></table>

Info I have says the oil capacity is 3.3 Litres, 6.9 pints -- which seems pretty small given the size of the diff. Is that correct?

The other question is what sort of oil. Friction modifier is a given, but should it be conventional diff oil or synthetic.

Truck has done about 170,000 miles and there is a small amount of metallic particles in the oil, but according to the mechanic, within expectations.

Appreciate any words of wisdom I can get.

Thanks

Tony

 

Hi Tony,

I'm not the expert, but what I'm seeing doesn't make sense. Everything I can find on the 2000 model year says the DRW F350 uses the 10.5" Sterling axle. Which doesn't compute, I believe the DRW trucks always got the Dana M-80 axle. Do you have a photo of your differential laying around?

 

Hang on, Ill pop down the stairs and take a photo.

That info comes from the build data for the VIN



Bit dark and lying on my belly in the dark has just convinced a heap of locals waiting for the bus that we westerners really are crazy

Ah, I see what you are getting at. My OKA in Australia does have a DANA (70??) axle and it doesn't have a drain plug either. Have to take the plate off to drain it,

 

On one of the cover bolts there should be a tag that specifies what kind of oil you need. The amount sounds about right. The diff only fills about half way

 

Close, but not right.

Thanks Tony, that's very helpful. Definitely NOT a 10.5L Sterling, which makes the literature wrong. Looks like you need 4.0L of 75w-90 synthetic oil. Depending on brand you may need to add ~8 oz of friction modifier, Ford calls theirs XL-3. Some synthetic oils come with friction modifier, so you may not need it.

 

What am I missing here? This is the second time you talked about the 10.5. He doesn't mention anything about a 10.5 just says it's a dialog which should he a D80.

 

Thanks both of you. Trouble here is there is no autozone or NAPA so we have to go to a specialist oil man to get oil - and to a filter man to get filters, and a brake man to get pads, and import everything else from the US etc etc and then take it back to the garage to get it installed. Normally I do my own stuff, but this job was two new HD spring packs for the rear, new shocks all round plus new brake pads, rear caliper pistons, rotor machine and front suspension rubbers and bits and pieces and I'm getting too old for this amount of work (and I doubt whether I'd get the spring pack into position by myself anyway given it took two strong young'uns a fair bit of effort to do it.)

 

Sorry, I should have spelled it out better in my post above. I didn't get much sleep, so I'm half braindead today.

He has the Dana M-80, which is a completely different axle than the Sterling 10.5". The Sterling axle takes 3.3L of fluid, the larger M-80 takes 4.0L. The photo he posted of his rear differential is most certainly the Dana axle.

 

Ok that makes sense. I was going nuts reading the post over and over trying to figure out what I missed.

 

Ive got the owners manual which talks about the 250/350 having a 10.5" crown wheel and only the 550 having a Dana - which is why I asked the question here because it didn't seem right. Generic owners manual that doesn't cover all the models.
I guess Tom saw that in some of his literature too

 

The single rear wheel f 2/350 have the 10.5. The dually 350 has a D80

 

Another problem solved. Pity they all aren't so easy -- and cheap -- to sort out.