What is differential fluid

The differential fluid plays a very important role in making sure that your car drives through turns and corners right. It is a thick, dense liquid, thicker than a motor oil made to keep your differential properly lubricated while it compensates for every turn and cornering made by your vehicle. When you plan for a differential fluid change and how often it should be performed, the answer will vary depending on a lot of factors. Most car manufacturers recommend that you perform a differential fluid change every 30, to 60, miles.

If it is left too long and neglected, the fluid may start to run low. Sometimes, a differential fluid change might be needed before you hit the recommended miles if your differential fluid has been contaminated with water or other substances. Vehicles with contaminated or low differential fluid can result in your differential running noisy and can cause it to fail. The gears can seize that locks your wheels which can potentially cause a lot of damage or accident. If your vehicle is being used in extreme operations, its differential fluid change should be more frequent.

Like when you often use your vehicle to tow at wide-open throttle or when you drive frequently at above 70 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. When you decide or consider performing a differential fluid change on your vehicle, you need to choose the right differential fluid.

You need to consider its proper weight, viscosity, and GL rating. You have to make sure that you are using the right fluid to ensure that you will be provided with the optimum lubrication your vehicle needs. Low or bad fluids can cause problems and damages that can be costly to fix.

One of which is the differential fluid or the gear oil that lubricates the differentials and the manual transmissions. Most of the time, drivers wait for the early signs and symptoms of a bad fluid or oil before they set a schedule to have it changed. It is always best practice to not wait for your differential fluid to go bad before you perform a differential fluid change.

But for some reason you forgot about it, here are some of the early signs or warnings that let you know that your vehicle is due for a differential fluid change. Keep your differential fluid clean and fresh by following the recommended fluid service interval. When the differential fluid runs too low or gets contaminated, it could lead your gears to howl or whine whenever your vehicle is turning or cornering.

This happens when there is no proper lubrication and the noise may increase when the vehicle speeds up. A whining differential or transmission should not be driven. A set of gears inside the axle direct this torque at a 90 degree angle to each wheel. These gears also provide a gear reduction , which means that the wheels turn slower than the propeller shafts, but the torque is multiplied.

Without this gear reduction, your engine would not have enough torque to move your vehicle effectively. Some axles also contain a limited slip or locking device that maximizes traction by making sure that both wheels are able to turn in slippery situations. There is a LOT of torque going through your axles, and the gears inside are under a lot of pressure!

In order to last, they need to be properly lubricated. Every front or rear axle is filled with a special oil also called differential fluid , or gear oil that takes care of this. The differential fluid lubricates the gears, bearings and other internal parts, and provides cooling to these components as well. Like most automotive fluids, differential gear oil eventually loses its ability to do its job properly. Gear oil contains several chemicals and additives that only last so long:.

With proper maintenance, most drivers can expect their front and rear axles to outlast their vehicle! Meet Our Graduates Find out what some of our graduates are doing today in pursuing their successful careers. Military Scholarships Learn more about how we assist our veterans from VA funding to exclusive scholarships. Find out more in our resources. A new career path starts here.

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I am currently in the U. Military, Guard, Reserves or I am a veteran. Military Release Date Required. Get Info Get Info. Previous Step. Table of Contents. What Does Differential Fluid Do?

Differential fluid: Lubricates clutch packs, gears and bearings Lubricates the ring and pinion gears that move power to the wheel axles from the driveshaft Cools and lubricates the differential Without differential fluid, the differential would overheat due to metal-on-metal contact. Differential fluid looks like engine oil but is thicker. What Is Rear Differential Fluid? Trucks use the same fluid in both the inter-axle differential and the rear differential.

Classes start soon. With classes starting every weeks, no need to wait to start your career. Hands-on training. Get hands on experience with the industry's leading brands. No Pressure to commit. Get answers to your questions without any obligations. Related Articles. What is Car Engine Coolant? Differential fluid is a lubricating fluid that reduces friction within manual transmissions. Differential fluid works like many other lubricating automotive fluids.

It flows over and around the individual gears, as well as the rings, to protect them from friction-related damage. Friction can cause damage in several ways. First, it can physically wear away the gears within your vehicle's manual transmission. Second, friction creates heat, which if left unchecked, can cause gear surfaces to warp. Differential fluid protects against friction-related damage such as this by reducing lubricating your vehicle's manual transmission.