Rear Axle Differential Fluid Replacement

Carrying out your own routine maintenance on your car, trcu, or SUV can be a rewarding experience. In order to do most routine maintenance procedures, you only need a little know how and a few simple tools. In my series of articles, I walk you step by step through most of the common types of routine maintenance required on most vehicles. Doing your own routine maintenance will save you money. This article will focus on how to change your rear differential fluid. This article only applies to vehicles that are either rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive.

Changing your rear differential fluid is as simple as changing your engine oil. Most manufacturers recommend that you change your rear differential fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. I would recommend that you change is every other year or every 30,000 miles.

In order to change your rear differential fluid, you will need to consult your owner's manual. Your owner's manual will list the type of fluid needed and the amount of fluid needed. After consulting the manual, go out and purchase the correct gear oil for your vehicle.

While you are out, you will also need to pick up a pump that attaches to the gear oil containers. This pump looks like a soap pump. It has a tube that goes into the bottle, a spring loaded pump, and a tube that is attached to the pump. This pump will allow you to conveniently pump fluid back into the rear differential.

In order to change the rear differential fluid you will need a drain pain, a ratchet, a socket or other type of attachment for opening the drain and fill plugs, your fluid, and your pump.

Begin by placing the drain pan under the rear axle. Using a suitable tool, open the fill plug on the rear differential. The fill plug will be the plug that is located further up or higher on the rear axle. Once the fill plug is open, then you can open the drain plug. This will be located on the bottom portion of the axle. Allow all of the old fluid to drain out. The fluid may take 10 minutes or more to completely drain.

In the meantime, you can attach the pump to the new fluid bottle, and wipe off the drain bolt. Most drain bolts are magnetic and will be covered with fine metal particles.

Once the fluid has completely drained, you can reinsert the drain plug and tighten it to spec. Then place the tube from the pump into the fill plug. Begin filling the rear differential. Fill the differential until fluid starts to trickle back out of the fill hole. Once fluid begins to trickle out you can replace the fill plug and tighten it to spec. You have completed the job of replacing your rear differential fluid.

Doing your own routine maintenance will save you a lot of money over taking your car to the dealership. Most types of routine maintenance are easy do it yourself jobs. Follow along with my other step by step routine maintenance articles and learn how to do it yourself and save money by doing so.