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When Did You Change Factory Diff Oil?

Ryan00TJ

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Ryan00TJ Enthusiast

Ryan00TJ

Posted
Posted

Just wondering as I am approaching 2K miles on the Sierra and have thought about changing the differential oil in the axles around the 5K range to clean out any break in particles and I also like to install a magnet inside the cover.

 

I've always been amazed how much break in wear occurs with new gears. I regeared my Jeep TJ to 4.88s back in 02 and after 500 miles was amazed at the break in wear particles. I also rebuild Mercruiser boat lower units and notice it with them. I changed out the factory oil in my 7.5" 10 bolt in the SS at around 3K miles and noticed a good bit of metallic break in particles.

 

I know it might be anal, I just think it's good to get the initial amount of wear particles out and clean fluid inside.

 

Thoughts?

merlin5577 Senior Enthusiast

merlin5577

Posted
Posted

On a brand new vehicle, I change it out after 1K miles. After that every 50K. Never had any problems. A funny thing is though, in both my trucks owners manuals it goes through all the maintenance require for 150K and not once does it say to change the gear oil. :fume: It just says to check and top off as needed every 25K. Weird. :crackup:

gnet158 Senior Enthusiast

gnet158

Posted
Posted

That's a good question.

 

In fact I asked a similar question (but I added the tranny and T-case) on another GM/Chevy site and was told to just wait until the manual says, which is 50K. My last truck I didn't change the tranny and diff until 60k and I added another 75k trouble free miles after.

 

And GM uses syn oil in the tranny from the factory so maybe I'll wait. But who knows, I'm dying to change each to syn, like Royal Purple.

PhilB Enthusiast

PhilB

Posted
Posted
On a brand new vehicle, I change it out after 1K miles. After that every 50K. Never had any problems.

+1 :fume:

I have changed the rear diff in all of my new trucks at the 1k mark. In addition to removing all of the break-in particles, I noticed that my fuel economy seems to be higher than other trucks of the same year/model :crackup:

Draenor Senior Enthusiast

Draenor

Posted
Posted

50K on severe duty

never on normal duty.

 

Never had a problem on both. If you have the time and money to do it...go for it, I would.

LAGA Enthusiast

LAGA

Posted
Posted

I change mine at 5k miles. It is very surprising how much crap comes out. I have done this on four different vehicles with good success. Changed to Amsoil syn gear lube, greet stuff!

c4cruiser Enthusiast

c4cruiser

Posted
Posted

I remember back when I bought my 99, the service manager said to change the rear diff oil at 5K miles, and after that no need to change again unless it was on the severe duty schedule.

 

When I bought my 08, the service manager didn't say anything about a early rear diff change. The truck only has 2K miles on it now and I will probably have the fluid changed soon at the shop where I work and can get it done for half the cost of a dealership charge.

DamageInc Enthusiast

DamageInc

Posted
Posted

I usually change it around 5k. There is a LOT of metal floating around in there after the gears break-in. And for those who think it's not needed, remember that your axle bearings are sharing that oil with the gears.....

CapitalTruck Senior Enthusiast

CapitalTruck

Posted
Posted

I changed mine (2004 Silverado) at 85,000 miles (before I towed a 6600 boat from DE to Corpus Cristi TX). There was a magnet built into the cover (had some gum/junk on it, I cleaned it off). I used Valvoline SynPower 75w90 fluid, it meets the neccssary GM standards. (I can't remember the numeric code, but at the time I called and emailed Valvoline with the standard and they named their product that fit).

Ryan00TJ Enthusiast

Ryan00TJ

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I didn't expect many people to have changed their fluids so early on. I thought I was the only anal maintenance person here. I plan on changing mine here soon and using Mobil 1 75W90 Syn.

 

What fluid does the 8.625" 10bolt G80 locker like the best? Synthetic ok?

 

I always have had great success with M1 Syn 75W-90 from boat outdrives to heavily offroaded Jeeps diffs.

jrrod2004 Senior Enthusiast

jrrod2004

Posted
Posted
I didn't expect many people to have changed their fluids so early on. I thought I was the only anal maintenance person here. I plan on changing mine here soon and using Mobil 1 75W90 Syn.

 

What fluid does the 8.625" 10bolt G80 locker like the best? Synthetic ok?

 

I always have had great success with M1 Syn 75W-90 from boat outdrives to heavily offroaded Jeeps diffs.

 

 

Um, you are on a forum in which guys actually take care of their rides vs beating the hell out of em..

dlstewart01 Senior Enthusiast

dlstewart01

Posted
Posted
I didn't expect many people to have changed their fluids so early on. I thought I was the only anal maintenance person here. I plan on changing mine here soon and using Mobil 1 75W90 Syn.

 

What fluid does the 8.625" 10bolt G80 locker like the best? Synthetic ok?

 

I always have had great success with M1 Syn 75W-90 from boat outdrives to heavily offroaded Jeeps diffs.

 

 

Your truck came with synthetic gear oil in it. M1 is fine and the Eaton G-80 locker does NOT require an additive.

 

Have a good one, :fume:

 

Don

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