My truck has ~60,700 miles on it and this is the second time the differential fluid has been changed since I bought it with ~16,000 miles. However, today was the first time I had changed the fluid myself. I don't know if the cover was removed and the insides cleaned out last time, but after looking back at my service records, it appears that CarMax put 75W-90 in both the front AND rear axle when they changed it at ~45,000 miles. I didn't catch that until today. Great.

So, I drained the fluid and checked everything out, and there seemed to be a fair amount of sludge at the bottom of the housing. This is the first time I've changed diff fluid on a LSD unit, so I don't know how much metallic particulate is normal, but this seemed much dirtier than the open diff on my '01 Ram. Is this something to be concerned about, and did I likely do damage to the gears by driving with the wrong viscosity fluid for ~15,000 miles?

Secondly, my "W" shaped clutch pack clips were still in their seats, but look precariously placed there. Do these look like they are about to pop out? Or is this how they all look, hence the reason that so many fail? Is there a "fix" to prevent these clips from ultimately coming out, other than installing an aftermarket gear set?

Thanks in advance for the input, and sorry for the rookie questions.

 

The clips are notorious for breaking off and then getting ground up by the gears.

Oil sludge? Use better (synthetic oil). You will need to put you LSD or friction modifier fluid in first and then fill the diff until the oil comes out of the hole.

Use carb cleaner to spray in the housing to clean it all out and the old oil.

 

Just so you know that's 2 and a half quarts exactly at the point where oil drips out of the differential hole ;-) or 80oz if you prefer.


It sucks because you're forced to buy another quart just for 16oz, its like what are you going to do with the other 16oz? I put the Lucas 80/90w in mine.

 

It's always good for when your axle seals, diff cover seal or pinion seal decides to leak.

75/80-90 for non towing trucks or 140 for towing applications

 

There is a magnetic drain plug in my diff that help collect the metal particles.

 

the extra oil I had left I used in my roto tiller gear box from my last diff lube change