Differential Oil Change
Differential Oil Change
Step 1: Drive car a few miles, or enough for it to get to normal operating temperature.
Step 2: Park car on a flat surface, put automatic transmissions in park, and manual transmissions in neutral. ALWAYS put your emergency brake on.
Step 3: Place an oil containment pan underneath differential.
Step 4: Using a ratchet wrench unbolt the fill plug, or using pliers pull out the rubber fill plug (if equipped).
(Differential Oil Cover on Most Domestics) (Differential Oil Cover on Most Japanese Imports)
Step 5: Unbolt the drain plug with a ratchet wrench (if equipped) or unbolt all cover bolts except for the two on top, just slightly loosen them. Using a pry tool, pry the differential cover and gasket off from the bottom and drain fluid. Take the differential cover and scrape all gasket material off with a gasket scraper, same on the differential case.
(Differential Oil Cover on Most Domestics) (Differential Oil Cover on Most Japanese Imports)
Step 6: If the differential has a drain plug, most likely there is a magnet on the tip of it to collect metal particles, clean using a paper towel or rag. Insert a new drain plug gasket, and reinstall the plug, torque it to factory specifications. If the cover has been removed, look for any magnet inside (most likely on bottom or the back of the cover) clean using paper towel or rag. Install a new differential cover gasket that has been coated with new fluid. With the new gasket on the cover, reinstall the cover. Using clean bolts reinstall each bolt and torque them to factory specifications.
Step 7: Using a gear oil pump, install new fluid through the fill plug hole, until fluid is high enough to leak out of the hole. If your differential is limited slip, make sure you add the proper amount of limited slip additive. Reinstall fill plug with new gasket (if applicable). Check for leaks.
(Gear Oil Pump) (New Differential Oil)
Step 8: Take your car for a test drive. Park again on a flat surface and put the emergency brake on. Take the fill plug out again and add more fluid if needed. Reinstall the fill plug. Clean up and you are done with your differential oil change!