The only thing that would begin to make sense for me is if an XD front differential (which would take 3.25 pints) was installed in my non-XD truck and it was woefully underfilled like it was a standard Titan differential? Is this even plausible and would a XD front differential even fit in a non-XD truck? I forgot to mention that the fluid that came out was very clean and there was just a minor amount of "metal sludge" on both magnets.

 

Actually the diff may have not been filled to full as i have found in the past titans ive owned its part of the dealer prep you pay for? Of coarse when i brought it to the dealerships attention they said who the hell does what you do by me checking all fluid levels on a brand new truck

 

About a week ago, I posted that I drained/refilled the transmission fluid on my 2017 Pro4x for the first time (at 50K miles) and that I would be performing the service on the transmission every 25K miles in the future due to the color of the fluid. I drained 5.4 quarts from the transmission. I also drained/refilled the rear differential. The fluid in the rear differential looked used, but not excessively so......I will continue servicing it in the future every 50K miles.

Now for the front differential. In the manual, it states the front differential (for non-xd version) should take 2-5/8 pints to fill. After letting it drain for 2 hours (when all dripping stopped), I measured approximately 1.9 pints. That's with the truck level on my concrete garage floor and my truck has no noticeable leaks. I then refilled the front differential, however it took 3.8 pints (??). Every differential I serviced in the past, you fill the differential until the fluid level rests just below the bottom of the fill port. Then, you check the fluid level every 10,000 miles, as Nissan recommends.

What do you make out of draining only 1.9 pints but refilling with 3.8 pints?

Depending on what differential you have… you won’t believe this… but as per the service manual one model you fill till it drips from the fill hole. The other… well not so… you actually have to fill up to about 1 inch lower the fill hole… how does one measure this well the service manual explain how to make a tool, out of an old coat hanger… no jokes.

 

Really..

 

Ok found the info
For a 2017(probably applies to other years also) they are 2 models of front differential...

MA235 - Fill until it coming out of the fill hole.
The Service manual mentions "Do Not reuse gasket", could be a copper o-ring...

MA210 - Fill 1.3 in(33mm) to 1.5 in(38mm) below the fill hole.
It just mentions to install drain-plug with O-ring, mine had a rubber o-ring I re-used it never leaked.
My 2017 S has the MA210.

There also are "pictures" of the said differential to identify them the drain plug is what tells you the model really.

 

The easiest way is to drain fluid and refill with specified amount..

If the diff is leaking then you might want to invest in the coat hanger dipstick…

 

those "coat hanger" dipsticks are used on a lot of things. we have ones a supporting shop here at the army depot made for checking fluid on apache attack helicopter intermediate gearboxes. ours are flat pieces of aluminum that are shaped close to an "L" shape that fit into the filler port. these are filled by measuring the grease out by weight and pouring into the gearbox. than after testing it on a powered stand, you open the port and use the "L" shaped gauge to measure how far below the opening the grease level is.

which after running on the stand has become more of a liquid than a vasoline consistency, as it is when you take it out of the cans

 

Interesting, learn something new, everyday thanks.

 

Just as a follow-up, I carefully drained fluid out of the front differential to get to the recommended quantity.

On another note, the last item I had to change at my 50K mile service was the transfer case. The transfer case was under-filled from the factory by 8 ounces. 8 ounces isn't much if you are talking engine oil with 7.0 quarts, but 8 ounces when the maximum recommended fill is 1-5/8 quarts, it makes it a bit more significant. The fluid was reddish-brown (definitely not new red fluid) so I will keep the change interval at 50K.

 

If I may ask what fluid did you put in the transfer case, my nissan dealer was not able ro supply me the fluid mentionned i the owners manual.

 

 

Mine took almost 2 quarts. Hope this helps. I had to order through my dealer. Took 2 days though.

 

I ordered my D3M fluid through Z1 Offroad. Was delivered quick.