What kind of oil goes in the rear differential?
The type of oil that should be used in the rear differential of a vehicle depends on the specific make, model, and year of the vehicle, as well as the recommendations from the manufacturer. Generally, the rear differential requires a specialized gear oil that is designed to withstand the high loads and temperatures experienced in this part of the drivetrain.
Rear Differential Oil Types
The most common types of oil used in rear differentials include:
- Hypoid Gear Oil: This is the most common type of oil used in rear differentials. Hypoid gear oil is designed to withstand the high loads and speeds experienced in the differential, and it helps to prevent wear and tear on the gears.
- Limited-Slip Differential Oil: Vehicles with limited-slip differentials require a specialized oil that helps to maintain the proper friction characteristics for the clutch plates in the differential.
- Synthetic Gear Oil: Some manufacturers recommend the use of synthetic gear oil in the rear differential, as it can provide better performance and longer service life compared to conventional gear oil.
It's important to always refer to the owner's manual for your specific vehicle to determine the recommended type and viscosity of oil for the rear differential.
Changing the Rear Differential Oil
In addition to using the correct type of oil, it's also important to change the rear differential oil at the recommended intervals specified by the manufacturer. Failure to change the oil can lead to increased wear and tear on the differential components, which can ultimately result in costly repairs.
When changing the rear differential oil, it's important to use the correct amount and type of oil, and to properly dispose of the old oil in an environmentally responsible manner.
What fluid would most likely go in a rear differential?
Gear oil (e.g., SAE 75W-90, 75W-140, 80W-90, 80W-140, 85W-140) is the most common differential fluid. Some differentials use limited slip additives.
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.
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 are the symptoms of low differential fluid?
Hearing a whirring, whining or howling sound, which may indicate the parts, clutches, gears and diff are not properly lubricated through insufficient clean oil. Feeling unusual vibrations, like a chatter, which is caused by a number of mechanical issues, including needing diff oil.
What fluid should never be used in a rear differential?
Never, under any circumstances, put engine oil in your differential. This will result in devastating damages to your engine. Engine oil is much different than gear oil, mostly it cannot withstand high pressure.
What fluid do you put in rear differential?
Think engine oil but thicker; it's similar to fluid that's used to lubricate manual transmission gears. There are two basic types of differential fluid: Mineral oil, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid. Synthetic differential fluid, which is created with chemicals and can be fine-tuned for optimal performance.
What happens when rear differential fluid is low?
Without differential fluid, the differential would overheat due to metal-on-metal contact. That means it would burn itself out and possibly cause safety issues and require expensive repairs.
What oil is best for rear differential?
75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil
The go-to gear oil for most differentials.
What kind of fluid goes in a rear differential?
Think engine oil but thicker; it's similar to fluid that's used to lubricate manual transmission gears. There are two basic types of differential fluid: Mineral oil, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid. Synthetic differential fluid, which is created with chemicals and can be fine-tuned for optimal performance.
What happens if you put the wrong oil in a 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.
