Rear Differential fluid change -- Help please.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Rear Differential fluid change -- Help please.
I have a 2001 Ranger 2.5 l engine. I am at 30,000 mi. Bought the truck with 24,000 miles. Tried yesterday to drain the oil out of the rear through the fill hole with a squeeze bulb siphon. Good grief! Got 2 cups out. Saw that I had to go to work so I pumped new stuff in till it ran out with the hand pump I bought to do the manual tranny with. Sorry I am learning. The guys at work all laughed at me and said they never did it. Well I would like to try this again on my day off. Am a little gun shy about taking the rear cover off especially since it is still under warranty. Also the oil stinks and it is grey. There was only some grey grease on the magnet on the plug. Thank you in advance.
Gail
Gail
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Southern California
Rear Differential fluid change -- Help please.
It's normal for gear oil to smell like that. It's the sulfur compound in the EP additives. The gray color, indicates to me that the factory installed lube had some graphite in it. So I wouldn't worry too much about that.
Once you remove the bolts from the cover, it may be stuck on a little bit. After you remove the cover and the oil is drained, you can use a clean rag to wipe out any goop on the bottom. They probably make gaskets for the cover, but you can also use RTV. (Room Temperature Vaulcanizing compound.) Follow the instructions on the tube. Reinstall the cover and wait for the RTV to cure, shouldn't be too long. Then refill with fresh oil until it overflows the fill hole and reinstall the plug.
When the guys at work pay to have it done, or have to ask you how to do it, you can have the laugh on them!
Once you remove the bolts from the cover, it may be stuck on a little bit. After you remove the cover and the oil is drained, you can use a clean rag to wipe out any goop on the bottom. They probably make gaskets for the cover, but you can also use RTV. (Room Temperature Vaulcanizing compound.) Follow the instructions on the tube. Reinstall the cover and wait for the RTV to cure, shouldn't be too long. Then refill with fresh oil until it overflows the fill hole and reinstall the plug.
When the guys at work pay to have it done, or have to ask you how to do it, you can have the laugh on them!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Rear Differential fluid change -- Help please.
Be sure to use RTV that is oil resistant. I once used plain old RTV and it dissolved in a little while. I prefer gaskets and sealer, some people prefer gaskets with no sealer and some trucks just use RTV. All kind of depends on what is recommended by the manufacturer and personal preference. I will say gaskets with sealer can be a PITA to remove and clean, but almost never leaks. I have had mixed results with plain sealer. Probably incorrect amount or uneven surfaces?
I am not sure I would worry about changing the oil this early, but it won't hurt. Unless you do a lot of driving with the axles under water, I would say changing fluid every 50,000 is good. Doing the diff change is fairly easy. Just make sure you keep any gasket scrapings out of the diff and let the cover hang from the upper loosened bolts while you pry the bottom loose so it drains in a stream instead of a flood all over the place. Kitty litter helps if that happens. Silvery fuzz on the magnet is normal. Lots o metal chunks is not.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
I am not sure I would worry about changing the oil this early, but it won't hurt. Unless you do a lot of driving with the axles under water, I would say changing fluid every 50,000 is good. Doing the diff change is fairly easy. Just make sure you keep any gasket scrapings out of the diff and let the cover hang from the upper loosened bolts while you pry the bottom loose so it drains in a stream instead of a flood all over the place. Kitty litter helps if that happens. Silvery fuzz on the magnet is normal. Lots o metal chunks is not.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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