Does your diff cover look like this??

SmokeSE · 06-04-2004, 09:55 PM

This is mostly directed to TS & Cali Titan, but I'd like input from everyone.
Also how do you check the fluid level, with that square headed bolt on the right side? And to change the fluid, do you have to crack the cover and drain it that way?

SUBTITAN · 06-04-2004, 10:36 PM

Mine does not look like that. No rust. To check your level get a 3/8" ratchet this will fit in the square head your talking about. To check the level remove the upper screw, stick your pinky finger in the hole the level should be somewhere real close to the lower portion of the hole. Ie if you were to put anymore in it would leak out. When you put the screw back in Nissan recommends using their permatex sealant. To drain the lower screw is removed, then oil is drained, replace the screw, fill upper hole with 90w gear oil. Make sure your in a well ventilated area gear oil is pretty potent after breathed in for a while.

lizardking · 06-04-2004, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeSE

This is mostly directed to TS & Cali Titan, but I'd like input from everyone.
Also how do you check the fluid level, with that square headed bolt on the right side? And to change the fluid, do you have to crack the cover and drain it that way?

Mine still has all the paint on it... Bought back in first of December and I have 5500 miles on her.... Changed the diff oil and put in Amsoil, no problems here.

RED BRAWN SE CC · 06-04-2004, 10:42 PM

Mine looks like that. Do you have the "thump"?

**CaliforniaTitan** · 06-04-2004, 10:55 PM

Take that in for a check. Mine was quite a bit worse but yours seems to be headed that route. (Mine is currently at Nissan getting a new Differential). It doesn't look like yours is shedding paint yet.

Chris

bestatchess · 06-04-2004, 11:22 PM

No rust on mine (yet). How many miles on your truck? Any towing? Please post whether or not your diff fluid is low.

BigJoe_Titan · 06-05-2004, 05:04 AM

I posted a couple of pictures for you. Mine doesn't look like that. 3700 miles, no towing - yet. Sorry about the second picture, but you do not need to pull the cover to drain. There is a plug (shown in second picture) to remove to drain. I agree, you should take it in and have checked.

Deepwater · 06-05-2004, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJoe_Titan

I posted a couple of pictures for you. Mine doesn't look like that. 3700 miles, no towing - yet. Sorry about the second picture, but you do not need to pull the cover to drain. There is a plug (shown in second picture) to remove to drain. I agree, you should take it in and have checked.

Mine looks just like yours. I just change the diff oil, it was not that low on mine but did have some metal shaving on the drain plug.
I think it's normal to get some metal through the brake in time. The oil was very dark in color, at just over 6k on it so I'll keep checking it every 6 or 7k to make sure all is ok. The color of the oil dose seem to be fairly dark for only 6k miles on it! And I think it should come with a bigger cover! This Diff dose not hold alot of oil and I have not even towed anything yet! My boat is for sure going to make the oil temp alot hotter! I hope this is not going to be a problem! I did not buy a ford because of problems like this that I had with them!

SmokeSE · 06-05-2004, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED BRAWN SE CC

Mine looks like that. Do you have the "thump"?

Yea... I have the stop and take off thump.

SmokeSE · 06-05-2004, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

No rust on mine (yet). How many miles on your truck? Any towing? Please post whether or not your diff fluid is low.

I have 3896 on mine, No towing, but I haul a 600+ lb Knaack box filled with tools everywhere I go. We went on a 300+ mile camping trip. Fully loaded the bed with bikes on the back. The tools came out of the box for that trip.(used it for other storage) I will check the fluid and post later.

pagerdaddy · 06-05-2004, 08:58 AM

My diff looks like Big Joe's, and we have about the same mileage.
The level may have been slightly low, but within first pincky joint.
The fluid looked almost clear on my finger. I haven't towed anything
heavy, but I have pulled my 10' utility trailer with riding mower on it
at 80 mph down the interstate. I should have checked the air in my
tires months ago. They had over 41 lbs. in all four cold. Lowered them
all to 35. Seems to ride smoother.

SmokeSE, I'm no expert, but the picture of your diff. gives me the
impression that it has been hot. That spot on the cover looks like
something heated with a torch.

The fluid level is very easy to check. I don't like using a ratchet to
break things loose, so I used a 3/8 breaker bar and a short extension.

My question to the rest of you guys is what about the front diff.?
Does it need to be checked like the rear, or does it receive lubrication
from somewhere else (like a front drive car)?

Steve

bestatchess · 06-05-2004, 09:26 AM

I have been checking everything since JetForeman's post. The front diff uses the same gear oil as the back and needs to be checked also.

In addition, I check the transfer case (uses only a particular Nissan ATF) and the AT (also uses only a particular Nissan ATF).

The levels on all of these were o.k. for mine.

skyhammer · 06-05-2004, 09:36 AM

I changed front and rear diff. oil, transfer case oil, and transmission oil at 1200 miles. I changed engine oil at 900 miles. I have always done this with new vechicles. None of the oil in the diff. and transfer case was low. I have to use 4wd every day just to get to the county road, and that is why I also decided to change the transfer case oil. Approx. 15% of the miles i have driven so far are in 4wd. I have 1500 miles on the truck so far. No problems.

BigJoe_Titan · 06-05-2004, 10:15 AM

skyhammer- bestatchess, do you need a pump to refill the front diff? I haven't checked
mine. Looks like a pain to check and refill when I crawled up underneath it.

skyhammer · 06-05-2004, 10:36 AM

Big Joe: I would hate to try filling any of the drive train without a pump. I have a 5 gallon lever action pump. The reason I have this is because I have cats, dump truck, backhoes etc. that make it a necessity. I have used cheap plastic pumps that screw on gallon oil jugs which work great for small jobs such as pickups.Another thing that makes things much easier is to have a ramp or lift so that your can stand under the truck.I would hate to chage the front diff. or the transfer case oil while on my back.Especially if I was a big as your appear to be.