Vortec Max rear end

[FSTDL]

Hello Gm tech,I am hopeing for a little advice.I got my new truck and put 750 easy miles on here.The first 500 I stayed around 50-55.So I needed to go down to Rocky point Mexico with my trailer.Its around 6,000 lbs.I stayed right around 50-55 and then my bud behind me said they smelt diff oil.I pulled over and checked the temp and it was around 270 deg.I have one of those Snap on laser temp gauges and we all ways check our diffs and trailer tires and what ever.But most trucks that I check when towing are 170-190 deg.

I am wondering I this is at all normal.There is no noise and when this happened to my 02 Avalanche It really stunk and they told me it was a fluid issue.I was just going to change it with Mobil 1 and put some miles on it.What do you think?

Thanks for the info

Phil

[GM-Tech]

I don't have any answer for you on that. I have never had anyone complain that their rear end was getting hot and I have never had a need or desire to actually measure the temperature of one.

[FSTDL]

Thanks for your reply.We are not anal about checking the diff temps its just that the 2 trucks behind me were smelling the odor.We actually check our trailer tire temps since trailer tires blow out like crazy here in Az.

I'll change the fluid and see how it goes I guess.

Thanks

[GM-Tech]

Now that I think about it, I do recall some sort of TSB or information on differential odor. I looked through 2004 and 2005 TSB's for this issue and came up empty handed, so I'm not sure where I saw it or what years it affected. And I seems to me, it was the front diff, but I could be thinking of something else.

 

Changing the fluid will no doubt fix it.