Differential Oil Changes
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Rochester USA
Differential Oil Changes
For all of us maintenance is fairly important and differential maintenance is often overlooked or put off because it’s a pain in the butt. Taking the tin cover off to drain the oil is messy and finding a way to suck out the old lube oil can be a problem. I have found a way to do it that is much easier to do so you tend to do it more often.
This only works on differentials (7.5, 8.8, Dana’s or even GM’s) that have the tin covers on them. Diff’s with removable third members (9 inchers) already have drain plugs or you can drill and tap the cases for one. If needed.
First go to the local auto parts store and pick up a new gasket and a magnetized oil pan drain plug. Take the plug to the nearest hardware, Home Depot whatever is handy and pick up a nut and a copper or nylon washer to fit it.
Once you get home jack up the truck properly (use jack stands) mark the bottom edge of the cover on the side away from the ring gear and proceed to remove it. Remember it’s messy. Once you have the cover off do the usual gasket surface cleaning and thoroughly clean out the inside of the cover. Remove the magnetic pad on the inside of the cover. Now take the cover and making sure you are working on the bottom edge. Mark and drill a hole as close to the bottom as you can without compromising the gasket surface with a drill slightly larger than the drain plug. Smooth out the edges with a file and be sure you clean it again to remove all the metal particles. Now put the nut on the outside surface of the cover and use another smaller nut and bolt to hold it in place temporarily. Now carefully weld or braze the nut into place. Remove the temporary nut and bolt and you can put your new plug with washer in. Don’t use the drain plug to hold the nut in place or you might compromise it’s magnetic properties. You may now reinstall the cover with a new gasket. The next time you need to change the oil in your diff’s you’ll have a nice drain plug to that will pick up any metal particles in the oil and make the job much easier not to mention a lot less messy.
Good Luck
This only works on differentials (7.5, 8.8, Dana’s or even GM’s) that have the tin covers on them. Diff’s with removable third members (9 inchers) already have drain plugs or you can drill and tap the cases for one. If needed.
First go to the local auto parts store and pick up a new gasket and a magnetized oil pan drain plug. Take the plug to the nearest hardware, Home Depot whatever is handy and pick up a nut and a copper or nylon washer to fit it.
Once you get home jack up the truck properly (use jack stands) mark the bottom edge of the cover on the side away from the ring gear and proceed to remove it. Remember it’s messy. Once you have the cover off do the usual gasket surface cleaning and thoroughly clean out the inside of the cover. Remove the magnetic pad on the inside of the cover. Now take the cover and making sure you are working on the bottom edge. Mark and drill a hole as close to the bottom as you can without compromising the gasket surface with a drill slightly larger than the drain plug. Smooth out the edges with a file and be sure you clean it again to remove all the metal particles. Now put the nut on the outside surface of the cover and use another smaller nut and bolt to hold it in place temporarily. Now carefully weld or braze the nut into place. Remove the temporary nut and bolt and you can put your new plug with washer in. Don’t use the drain plug to hold the nut in place or you might compromise it’s magnetic properties. You may now reinstall the cover with a new gasket. The next time you need to change the oil in your diff’s you’ll have a nice drain plug to that will pick up any metal particles in the oil and make the job much easier not to mention a lot less messy.
Good Luck
