diff fluid change

SHIPREC13 · 08-03-2006, 04:52 PM

Ok so I'm finally going to change my diff fluid @ 28,000 miles. I ordered the Amsoil 75-140 and got 3 Quarts. I thought these would be the thinner sqeeze type bottles like all the other diff oil bottles I saw but I got regular Quart bottles. Just curious as I haven't had a chance to check it out yet will I have any problems pouring these in, ie: getting the bottle tilted up enough? thanks for any info.
Mark

thclimer · 08-04-2006, 05:46 AM

Mark,

I’m going to be doing mine in the next few weeks. Like you, I bought the Amsoil 75-140 also. I looked under the truck just the other day and think if you had a small funnel its doable. I was thinking if you dropped the spare tire there would be even more room up there. I’ve wanted to drop the spare anyways just to see how it all works, so I’m not surprised the day I need to and its dark and pouring rain. Sorry I can’t answer your question for sure, maybe someone else with let us know.

Flight Test · 08-04-2006, 06:44 AM

Find yourself a short length of tubing, about a foot long or so and with an ID of about 1/2 inch. Something which will fit into the fill hole on the pumpkin. Tygon tubing for example. I found some high temp tubing at work which works well. Insert tube into hole, then place tube over the bottle opening. Hold snugly and pour away.

SHIPREC13 · 08-04-2006, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I was gonna do it today but I'm in the same boat, it just poured here in Boston and looks like rain for the rest of the day. I have yet to take down the spare so I'll try that route.

Later
Mark

Flight Test · 08-04-2006, 09:21 AM

You don't have to touch the spare. There is plenty of room down there.

I reread your post. The above mentioned procedure works well with the thin quart sqeeze bottles.

ttugrad95 · 08-04-2006, 09:38 AM

Amsoil sells a hand pump for about $10 that is for this purpose. You may be able to pick one up and the auto part store as well. I'd recommend going with one of those. The thing is, even if you can get a small funnel up there, and I don't know whether you can or can't the rear end oil is so thick that it will take forever to flow through that small funnel. So your basically going to be laying under there in an uncomfortable position holding that funnel up above you, pouring a little waiting, pouring a little more, waiting. Overflowing it and getting it all over you (its stinky stuff). Cussing...you get the picture. Its worth $10 to me.

SHIPREC13 · 08-05-2006, 10:22 AM

I just finished the fluid change. I went to Auto Zone they had a funnel that holds a quart and has a rotating collar to lock the top from the hose. Pour the oil in, fit the hose into the fill port and twist to let the oil flow, worked perfectly. $4.00 I did drop the spare and oiled the chain and mechanism, there was already some corrosion going on there.

Other than that everything looks good. There was about an 1/8 thick layer of shavings/gunk on the drain plug. I scraped that all off. My diff cover is fine though, no rust. I have an 04 XE with a tow hitch from the dealer. I have towed our boat(approx. 3,500 lbs.) plenty of times both short (5 miles) and long trips (300 miles) I figure its gotten as hot as it would especially on the longer trips doing 70 mph. Also there was about 2 quarts drained out of old oil. maybe a little more so no under fill from the factory here.
Thanks again for the advice.
Later
Mark

**konigfritz** · 08-05-2006, 11:48 AM

The local car stores sell those hand pumps for about 6 or 7 bucks.

They are easy to use.

at_the_lake · 09-04-2006, 05:24 PM

Just change the Diff fluid in my 06 Titan (SE) - little over 5000 miles - I tow a 3500lb boat every weekend. Didn't look too bad - about 1/4 inch of crud on the lower magnetic screw. Did not feel any thing in the oil and it looked like it was a normal color.

Was not too bad except for the $15 per quart Mobil 1 (75 W140 Synthetic). Was a little messy. I tryed the approach of attaching some tubing to the end of the bottle first. Worked good for the first bottle, then it slipped off and I dumped oil everywhere on the 2nd bottle. After that I used a funnel that I bought for $3 with a flexable tip - this work good.
Spare tire was not in the way at all.

I was a little surprised that it only took about 2 1/2 quarts. Looked in the owners manual and could not find the rated amount, so I bought 5 quarts. I used about 1/2 quart to flush it out a little, then about another 2 1/2 quarts to fill it.

Think I will check it again after a few days and make sure the level is still good, based on other comments about taking 4 quarts.

Thanks