Gear Oil Change?
10-18-2008, 11:07 AM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisburg PA
Posts: 1,778
Do you NEED to? No. But it can't hurt, the fill plug is magnetic and you will find bits of metal on it and in the bottom of the pumpkin. This happens during break in, so getting them out of there is not a bad idea.
10-18-2008, 05:59 PM
#5
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 960
To me, this is a no brainer. There is no filter back there, just a magnet. It wont hold everything. The gears break in, and metal particles circulate. Yes, its a good idea to change out the fluid. I realize so many people have went through cars and never changed the rear diff. The bearings will go bad long before the gears do (providing they were correctly installed). So changing the fluid at least ONCE early on, is just plain good preventative maintenance. Its a whole lot cheaper than going in and doing bearings later on down the road.
3000-5000mi is a good time frame for changing the rear axle oil.
3000-5000mi is a good time frame for changing the rear axle oil.
10-20-2008, 03:11 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IL
Posts: 413
Or you can look at it that Ford doesn't say you need to go change the rear fluid after 5k miles and they deliver the car with new gears also....
If there are enough metal particles collecting in your oil you've got bigger problems than just changing the oil....
If there are enough metal particles collecting in your oil you've got bigger problems than just changing the oil....
To me, this is a no brainer. There is no filter back there, just a magnet. It wont hold everything. The gears break in, and metal particles circulate. Yes, its a good idea to change out the fluid. I realize so many people have went through cars and never changed the rear diff. The bearings will go bad long before the gears do (providing they were correctly installed). So changing the fluid at least ONCE early on, is just plain good preventative maintenance. Its a whole lot cheaper than going in and doing bearings later on down the road.
3000-5000mi is a good time frame for changing the rear axle oil.
3000-5000mi is a good time frame for changing the rear axle oil.
10-20-2008, 04:46 PM
#8
Cut & Paste Expert
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 13,322
If you have metal particals big enough to cause
bearing damage, you have bigger problems that a
fluid change wont help or wouldnt have helped prevent.
Last edited by 157dB; 10-20-2008 at 04:49 PM.
10-20-2008, 06:06 PM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 960
My intention of bringing up bearings, was meant for the long term effects of not changing the gear oil. I see it frequently at my shop. Over time, bearings get pitted and start to rumble. Its nothing more than a good preventative maintenance practice.
Having metal chunks, however, is definetly a sign of larger problems.
Having metal chunks, however, is definetly a sign of larger problems.
