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how to replace gear lube on '97 Expy?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: North Alabama
how to replace gear lube on '97 Expy?
I want to change the gear lube in the rear end of my '97 Expedition 4X2. For what it's worth, it has the 4.6L Windsor engine.
Can someone please explain to me EXACTLY how to properly do this?
What is the proper gear lube(Motorcraft 75w140 synthetic?) & equally important, does my Expy's rear end need friction modifier added to the new gear lube?
Thanks in advance.
Can someone please explain to me EXACTLY how to properly do this?
What is the proper gear lube(Motorcraft 75w140 synthetic?) & equally important, does my Expy's rear end need friction modifier added to the new gear lube?
Thanks in advance.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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You will need the friction additive if you have limited slip.
Remove the right side of the cross bar that partially covers the rear cover, loosen the left side so you can slide the bar out of the way. Remove all the rear cover bolts and drain fluid. clean rear cover and use a bead of RTV gasket sealer around the edge of the cover. Remove any metal fragments or clumps before reinstalling and tightening the cover back on. On the drivers side mid way up on the rear diff. there is a fill hole. Remove the plug, pour friction additive to first quart of Motorcraft synthetic and begin to fill rear diff., then add the 2 remaining quarts. Replace fill plug, check for leaks.... and done deal
Remove the right side of the cross bar that partially covers the rear cover, loosen the left side so you can slide the bar out of the way. Remove all the rear cover bolts and drain fluid. clean rear cover and use a bead of RTV gasket sealer around the edge of the cover. Remove any metal fragments or clumps before reinstalling and tightening the cover back on. On the drivers side mid way up on the rear diff. there is a fill hole. Remove the plug, pour friction additive to first quart of Motorcraft synthetic and begin to fill rear diff., then add the 2 remaining quarts. Replace fill plug, check for leaks.... and done deal
Posting Guru
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Go to the vehicle certification label on the driver's door, below the bar code look for the word "AXLE". Directly below that is the two-digit code for the rear differential on your Expedition. If the code starts with the numeral "1" (example, the code is 19) then your Expy has an open rear differential and the friction modifier is not required. If the code starts with the letter "H" (example, the code is H9) then your Expy is equipped with a limited-slip rear differential and the friction modifier is required. As discussed above, add the modifier early in the refill process, to ensure that you can add in all of it before you completely fill the differential.
Junior User
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Now I have a question... I replaced my rear diff lube last week. I have limited slip and was experiencing a drag issue that many say changing the fluid resolves it after 100 miles.... 700 miles later I still have the issue but it seems to not be as bad. Can I add another 4oz. bottle of friction additive? Wondering if it will help, but of course I dont want to damage anything further
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Senior User
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From: North Alabama
http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricant...f/axlelube.pdf
Can one of you gurus please help me interpret the above axle lube chart? Look at the fluid refill amounts listed. They are shown in PINTS. If I'm reading this right, my '97 Expedition only needs 3.5 PINTS of synthetic rear axle lubricant & .25 PINTS of friction modifier.
I have read several posts, on this forum & elsewhere, where people have stated that their Expeditions & F-150's needed close to 4 QUARTS (not PINTS) of rear axle lubricant.
Please help me; I'm determined to do this myself, but right now, I can't figure this out.
Can one of you gurus please help me interpret the above axle lube chart? Look at the fluid refill amounts listed. They are shown in PINTS. If I'm reading this right, my '97 Expedition only needs 3.5 PINTS of synthetic rear axle lubricant & .25 PINTS of friction modifier.
I have read several posts, on this forum & elsewhere, where people have stated that their Expeditions & F-150's needed close to 4 QUARTS (not PINTS) of rear axle lubricant.
Please help me; I'm determined to do this myself, but right now, I can't figure this out.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Ford told me 3 quarts along w/ the 4oz. friction modifier for my limited slip diff. It was exactly the correct amount for me. Just be prepared to pay about $17 a quart and about $5 for the additive if needed
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If you buy the FORD MOTORPSORT friction modifier, it's approx. half of what the FORD MOTORCRAFT friction modifier costs....i.e. with MOTORCRAFT parts, you also are paying for a warranty (?) and they are exactly the same stuff. One has a motorports part # and the other has a motorcraft part #.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: North Alabama
Originally Posted by PaulC
Go to the vehicle certification label on the driver's door, below the bar code look for the word "AXLE". Directly below that is the two-digit code for the rear differential on your Expedition. If the code starts with the numeral "1" (example, the code is 19) then your Expy has an open rear differential and the friction modifier is not required. If the code starts with the letter "H" (example, the code is H9) then your Expy is equipped with a limited-slip rear differential and the friction modifier is required. As discussed above, add the modifier early in the refill process, to ensure that you can add in all of it before you completely fill the differential.
My Expedition has code "17", so according to that, I should not need FM, right? Where did you get the axle code information?
Thanks in advance,
wavinwayne
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by wavinwayne
PaulC,
My Expedition has code "17", so according to that, I should not need FM, right? Where did you get the axle code information?
Thanks in advance,
wavinwayne
My Expedition has code "17", so according to that, I should not need FM, right? Where did you get the axle code information?
Thanks in advance,
wavinwayne
There are also several posts in various forums, as well as an FTE tech article, that identify various axle codes for different trucks and model years. If you do some searching around, you should find at least some of these threads. But rest assured, all of the axle codes have this rule in common. If the first character is a number, it's an open diff. If the first character is a letter, it's a limited-slip. Looks to me like 17 is an open diff with a 3.31 gear ratio.
Regarding your question about friction modifier, I will make a wild guess here. Certainly not having the additive in a limited-slip diff would be a problem. I would think that adding the modifier to an open diff wouldn't damage the diff the way not having the modifier could damage a LS diff. But IMHO you'd be better off draining the fluid out (again) and adding the gear oil again without the additive.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 261
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Hint - Do yourself a huge favor, and make darn sure that your axle seals are not leaking before doing this job. Luckily I did a full brake job before changing my fluid recently. One of the axle seals was leaking. Went ahead and did them both. Would have been ticked if had done it the other way around. 
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Chicago Area
The friction modifier is there to prevent chattering in a limited slip differential when going around a corner. It actually reduces the limited slip action somewhat, so (for those who have a LS axle) I would suggest going on the light side of the recommemded amount, at least until one can see if it tends to grab on turns. The recommended amount of differential oil is actually 1/4" to 9/16" below the bottom of the filler hole (per Ford Shop Manual), so you can fill it there initially to allow room for more additive.
I don't think the additive affects an open differential significantly, it's just unnecessary.
I don't think the additive affects an open differential significantly, it's just unnecessary.