Diff oil change

[daniemj]

Hallo everyone

I am about to change my front and back diff oil (GL5). My front diff is making a noice when I go down a steep slope (engine braking), so I suppose there might be some damage, most likeley due to moisture.

I want to drain both diffs and replace it with new oil. Any DIY pointers on this subject? For starters, anyway of getting the oil in from that side hole out of a 5L container? Do I need to drive a bit so that the diffs are at temparature so that the oil drain out better? Do I need to buy new gaskets or seals for the diffs?
I also bought an additive to add into my front diff. The bakkie has got 267 000km on the clock. (86 SFA with import axles)

Previously when my bakkie was with the mechanic for the brake problem I asked him to lift the breather pipes, but afterwards he mentioned that the diff oils was clean and that it is not needed.

Thanks again for all the good info

[Asterix]

Hallo Danie,

I changed my gearbox and diff oil a month ago. The procedure I followed was to decant the 5L into a 500ml gear oil bottle with the long nozzle. It's a relatively small job that turned into a HUGE job with this procedure. I had to get in and out from under the Lux about 20 times to decant! A Hilux is a truck - it takes a lot of oil! :|

Last week I changed the pinion seal of my front diff - so I had to refill the diff with oil again, but this time I made a plan.
I took a piece of pipe that fits into the filling hole, route it through the engine bay to the top. Modified a 2L coke bottle's top into a funnel and fit it to the pipe with some tape.
What a pleasure to fill with this method. Just watch out that the pipe does not get out of the filling hole while filling and also not to overfill! This method can get very messy if not maneged properly

You need to replace the washers at the filling and drain plugs. Get it at Midas - it's made out of copper, aluminium or fibre and cheap. If you don't replace them - you may risk of having an oil leak.

Hope it helps!

[daniemj]

Hallo Asterix

Thank you, your advise surely helps a lot. I will do proper planning and get all the sytems in place before I start.

Al die raad kom altyd handig te pas.

[dax021]

Hi Asterix, what you failed to mention is that it takes ages to fill the diffs this way. Maybe it's just me, but the oil is so thick it just dribbled down the tube. Took 90 minutes per diff to fill. Could be the cold weather we're having. I used a 10 mm diam tube, next time will try a slightly fatter one

[Asterix]

Hi Asterix, what you failed to mention is that it takes ages to fill the diffs this way. Maybe it's just me, but the oil is so thick it just dribbled down the tube. Took 90 minutes per diff to fill. Could be the cold weather we're having. I used a 10 mm diam tube, next time will try a slightly fatter one

Hallo Peter,
Yes, I did not mention the pipe size. The pipe I used was about the size of the thinner type hosehold hosepipes that just fit snuggly into the the filling hole of the diff. Mine took between 5 to 10 minutes to fill.

Did you check if your diff breather isn't blocked? 90 minutes to fill a diff is like watching paint dry!!!

[dax021]

Good point about the breather, and no, I didn't check it. I figured the tube diam was smaller than the filler hole so air could escape through this same hole. I fugure it must be the cold weather as that 85W140 had the viscosity of honey kept in fridge, it trickled in. Your method is good though, it was a lot easier than filling with 500ml bottles. Luckily I had other stuff to do while I waited. Today will change the transmission oils. Should go a lot quicker as it is a much thinner oil.

[daniemj]

Hi Aterix, thanks for the advise. I have changes my diff oil and your plan worked like a dream!
Don't know what my mechanic did the last 30000km, but the front diff oil was black and dirty. Looks like only the rear diff oil was checked and replaced.

Now I am thinking of checking the transfer case oil condition and level..

[Asterix]

Mooi!

Ek is bly ek kon help, Danie