What kind of gear oil goes in the rear end?
The type of gear oil that should be used in the rear differential (or "rear end") of a vehicle depends on the specific make, model, and year of the vehicle, as well as the recommendations from the manufacturer. Generally, a hypoid gear oil designed for use in automotive differentials is the recommended lubricant.
Understanding Gear Oil for Differentials
The rear differential is a critical component in a vehicle's drivetrain, responsible for transmitting power from the transmission to the rear wheels and allowing them to rotate at different speeds when turning. To function properly, the differential requires a specialized gear oil that can withstand the high loads, speeds, and temperatures it experiences.
Gear oils for differentials are typically classified by their viscosity, which is a measure of the oil's thickness or resistance to flow. The viscosity is denoted by a number, such as 75W-90 or 80W-90, which indicates the oil's performance characteristics. Lower numbers indicate a thinner, more free-flowing oil, while higher numbers indicate a thicker, more viscous oil.
Recommended Gear Oil for the Rear Differential
The specific gear oil recommended for a vehicle's rear differential can be found in the owner's manual or by consulting the vehicle manufacturer. Common recommendations include:
- 75W-90 or 80W-90 hypoid gear oil for most passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks
- 85W-140 hypoid gear oil for heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles
- Synthetic gear oils, such as 75W-90 or 75W-140, for improved performance and longer service life
It's important to use the correct gear oil type and viscosity to ensure proper lubrication and prevent premature wear or damage to the differential components.
Changing the Gear Oil
In addition to using the recommended gear oil, it's also important to change the oil at the intervals specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Typical gear oil change intervals range from 30,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and operating conditions.
Proper maintenance of the rear differential, including regular gear oil changes, is crucial for ensuring the long-term reliability and performance of a vehicle's drivetrain.
Can you put transmission fluid in the rear differential?
You Can Benefit From Both Fluids
However, if you're looking for the best possible value, then you should use transmission fluid in both your differential and transmission. Whichever type of fluid you choose, make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the best results.
Does it matter what gear oil I use?
So the golden rule when choosing an automotive gear lubricant is, “Read the Manufacturer's specifications!” The transmission or final drive manufacturer will specify the gear lubricant performance and the viscosity required for their equipment. Follow their advice.
What gear oil should I use in my rear differential?
Normally it will be an Extreme Pressure (EP) Gear Oil, typically EP80. However, some rear diffs such as limited slip diffs (LSD's) require a special LSD oil which will be specified by the diff manufacturer if fitted as an 'add on' for special use or by the vehicle manufacturer if fitted as OE.
What fluid would most likely go in a rear differential?
The fluid used in a differential is typically referred to as gear oil, which has thicker properties than regular engine oils. Viscosity Grades: The '75' in '75w' stands for the oil's viscosity rating.
Is transmission fluid the same as rear differential fluid?
The differential fluid, also known as gear oil, is specifically formulated to lubricate and protect the gears and bearings within the differential housing. On the other hand, transmission fluid is responsible for lubricating and cooling the intricate components of your vehicle's transmission system.
Is gear oil and diff oil the same?
The diff and gearbox are all in the same place sharing the same oil. It's called a transaxle in the manual so transmission / axle. Only one oil level to check.
What are the symptoms of low rear diff fluid?
Weird Noises
Another symptom of a bad differential oil is whirring, whining, or howling strange noises, indicating that the metal part, clutches, gears, and differentials have not been lubricated due to a dirty lack of clean oil.
What is the difference between 75W90 and 75W140 gear oil?
Thus 75W140 has a better viscosity-temperature behaviour. The transmission oil can withstand higher loads. Just because 75W140 is at first sight the more powerful oil, you can't always prefer 75W90. Always refer to the OEM instructions for your vehicle to determine which oil can be used.
What is the difference between 80w90 and 75w90 gear oil?
When run under real-world line-haul conditions, the use of 75W-90 can improve the efficiency of a Class 8 axle by an average of 0.5% over an axle using 80W-90. Considering that axles themselves are 95% efficient, a gain of 0.5% is significant.
What happens if you put the wrong gear oil in your differential?
They found that whoever replaced the oil in the differential with the wrong viscosity was directly responsible for the damage caused to the front differential assembly and the four-wheel-drive (clutch) assembly.
