Changing Differential Fluid
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 33
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From: Central Pennsylvania
Changing Differential Fluid
I have a 2000 3.0 Supercab XLT 4wd. I would like to change the front and rear differential fluid. Does anyone have any directions? Do I need any special tools?
Thanks
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
On the rear end, you pull the bolts and the cover and let the fluid dump. Scrape off the old sealant. Wipe all surfaces clean. Apply a bead of Permatex black to the cover and place it on the cleaned differential housing. Snug down the bolts, maybe just a few foot-lbs. The cover is plastic; if you severly overtorque those bolts you may break the cover. The odds of breaking the cover go up further if you go out and buy a gasket. Permatex black is an awesome sealer and adhesive; no gasket is needed. Fill the rear end with the recommended fluid and add the friction modifier if you have limited slip. Fill until the oil is up to the top of the fill hold. After a few days when the sealant is dry, slide under and tighten the bolts up a bit more. All done 
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I really don't think you have to worry about the front one unless you submerged it under water. With the thing in 2WD, nothing is turning in there. No turning (useage) means no wear. The miles you do drive in 4WD are probably very few compared to what is on the odometer so you shouldn't need to change it.
.I really don't think you have to worry about the front one unless you submerged it under water. With the thing in 2WD, nothing is turning in there. No turning (useage) means no wear. The miles you do drive in 4WD are probably very few compared to what is on the odometer so you shouldn't need to change it.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Jan 24, 2005 at 01:19 PM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
It seems I could get quite a bit of extra gunk out of the rear differential if I could spray it with a cleaner.
Is there any approved method for cleaning out the inside of the differential body after getting the cover off? Hose it down with some carb cleaner or other suitable cleaner and then let it dry before put putting the cover on and adding new fluid?
Is there any approved method for cleaning out the inside of the differential body after getting the cover off? Hose it down with some carb cleaner or other suitable cleaner and then let it dry before put putting the cover on and adding new fluid?
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 782
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From: South Carolina
i cleaned out my rear diff with brake cleaner. Mine had 120000 hard miles with lots of tire smoking burnouts so i had lots of pieces of metal and other gunk. I completly gutted the rearend cleaned while there were no gears or seals in axle. Wiping out with a good cloth and some wd-40 or pb blaster might help get yours clean without worrying about seals. In my experience brake parts cleaner has been known to eat up rubber seals.
