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Old 03-10-2010, 09:20 AM   #1
jrcase
 
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Differential fluid change questions

I want to change the oil in my differential. I am still torn between RP and regular GM fluid. I would like to use RP to get away from using the friction addative but am weary of warranty issues down the road....

If I go the GM fluid route, it says to use 2.5 oz. of friction addative. The bottle I have seen only comes in 4 oz. Is the EXACT amount (2.5 oz.) needed? It will be hard to measure exactly 2.5 oz. from a 4 oz. bottle... Will it hurt to put the whole 4 oz bottle in there and fill the rest with the gear oil?

Secondly, there is NO WAY I can fit under the car to do this. I do have ramps that I could back the car on but then it would not be level. Is that a major issue if it is not level? Or would it actually help in getting the last bit of oil out if it is higher in the rear than the front? Can I get it all the way full if it is not level?

I really want to do this myself as I do not trust the local dealers. Thanks for any help!
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Old 03-10-2010, 09:24 AM   #2
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You want level and as far as RP, I asked abotu having that in mine when i got the 4.10s and Richmond said they didnt reccomend it... not sure why??
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Old 03-10-2010, 10:08 AM   #3
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Why worrying about risking your warranty just to avoid measuring the reccomended additive? You can measure out the amount you do not need with a cheapie measuring cup. How bad would it be if you got close but not exact?

Just trying to help.

-Mark.
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Old 03-10-2010, 10:13 AM   #4
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I keep a couple different sizes of cheap syringes in the garage for projects like this. Makes it extremely easy to measure (30ml = 1oz). Also keep several sizes of small tubing around to make things easier to get to.
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Old 03-10-2010, 01:48 PM   #5
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OK, those are good ideas. Thanks.

By the way, I went to Walmart and bought a floor jack and two jack stands to lift it level with the front while on the ramps. Is it ok to lift the rear up by the differential just long enough to place the jack stands? I have seen car shops do it but was not sure if it is ok or not.
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Old 03-10-2010, 02:26 PM   #6
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The diff on this car is not a jacking point. Although so many have done it without problem should be fine. I tried once, and didn't like how much the diff mounts squished. So I don't jack it by the diff anymore. I use two floor jacks, one on each side under the rear cradle/frame mounts, with a block of wood under the mounts. They are the big circular mounts with a big bolt going up through the center, seem pretty sturdy. I just jack each side a couple pumps at a time to take it up relatively level, or if a second person is handy even easier.

I used the Royal Purple stuff with the additive already in it. If you use the GM stuff, I would just add the whole bottle of additive right to the bottle of gear lube.
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Old 03-10-2010, 04:37 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrcase View Post
OK, those are good ideas. Thanks.

By the way, I went to Walmart and bought a floor jack and two jack stands to lift it level with the front while on the ramps. Is it ok to lift the rear up by the differential just long enough to place the jack stands? I have seen car shops do it but was not sure if it is ok or not.
NOT SAFE! - Jack stands on 4 corners is best. Some ramps will be more dangerous than others but if you can do the 4 jack stands you will be safer.

Think about the ramps and stands - the car wants to roll down the ramp and the stands could slip or tip. I would not chance it.

-Mark.
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Old 03-11-2010, 08:31 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stingr69 View Post
NOT SAFE! - Jack stands on 4 corners is best. Some ramps will be more dangerous than others but if you can do the 4 jack stands you will be safer.

Think about the ramps and stands - the car wants to roll down the ramp and the stands could slip or tip. I would not chance it.

-Mark.
You are correct. I will buy two more stands and put one on each corner. Thanks for the advise.
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Old 03-11-2010, 09:23 PM   #9
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What are the warrenty issues with using RP for diff fluid versus the OEM? Does RP not meet whats recommended for the camaro?
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Old 03-12-2010, 08:18 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by harmonicator View Post
What are the warrenty issues with using RP for diff fluid versus the OEM? Does RP not meet whats recommended for the camaro?
I emailed RP about this and here is their answer:

Good Afternoon Mr. ,

There is nothing inherently special about the GM additive; it is a limited-slip friction modifier. They require the additive because most of the gear oils that they sell does not contain it. Royal Purple Max Gear 75W-90 does contain the friction modifier. Our fluid should work great without it. I cannot speak to the warranty issue in this instance, as warranty compliance has become a huge issue with GM due to their financial situation. However, though it should not actually void the warranty, you will likely get huge amounts of grief should a problem arise. Right now, the way to get the least amount of push back on warranty claims is to use the GM labeled fluids, and preferably have your vehicle serviced at a dealer.

Thanks for using Royal Purple and have a great day!


Best Regards,


Tech Services
Royal Purple, Inc.
1 Royal Purple Ln.
Porter, TX 77365
281-354-8600
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Old 03-13-2010, 08:43 AM   #11
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Those who have used Royle Purple diff fluid. Where you able to fill the diff with their bottle, or did you have to pump it in?
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Old 03-13-2010, 10:28 AM   #12
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I just changed mine and used Red Line's 75w-90. It has the friction modifier in it already. They also sell the 75w90NS which does not have the friction modifier and is recommended for the Aisin manual trans. As far as friction modifier goes, when I was researching which brand I wanted to use, I learned that the friction modifier is used to prevent chatter when turning. Too much friction modifier causes the limited slip lock up to slip too much and you loose the "posi traction." Too little modifier causes the chatter when turning. Red Line recommended no additional friction modifier upon the initial change and if there was chatter when turning, add only 1/2 ounce at a time until the chatter went away. I did not need to add any as it worked great right out of the bottle. I changed mine at 6200 miles and I'm glad I did. It was black with tons of metal shavings stuck to the magnetic plugs.

For refilling the rear end housing once drained, I went to Napa and purchased a $9.00 Oil Suction Gun (Part number 715-1245) which sucks the new oil out of whatever bottle and then pumps it into the rear end housing. It comes with the perfect size tubing and it worked great!
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Old 03-13-2010, 09:42 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrGazinya View Post
Those who have used Royle Purple diff fluid. Where you able to fill the diff with their bottle, or did you have to pump it in?
I used Mobil 1 and it has basically the same bottle as RP and I was able to squirt it in from the bottle - easy as pie.
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Old 03-16-2010, 09:18 AM   #14
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I just changed mine diff last night using redline. To get access I rolled my car back to the lip where my garage floor and driveway meet, usually at this point there is a height difference. In my case it is about an inch. Gave me just enough room to slid under there and do what I needed to without jacking the car up.

Pretty easy and straight forward although as mentioned that fluid STINKS.

Cheers
K
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