Recommed all to do differential fluid change!!!

[chris0834]

Can I use mobil 1 75w-90 ls for the LS auto v6?

[esperman]

Originally Posted by chris0834

Can I use mobil 1 75w-90 ls for the LS auto v6?

for the rear diff, no problem. Not for your auto tranny though.

[metallia098]

Changed my differential fluid today and I would recommend it to anyone who takes their car out to the drag strip or drives it hard. When I wiped off the plugs a thick grey sludge came off. I wish I had done this sooner.

[SUV2008]

Did mine today. Royal Purple in the diff and in the manual transmission.

[alexpdbz]

Is the OEM drain plug for the differential magnetic?

[Dupontdon24]

I'am wondering why people are changing there manual tranny fluids when the manual says it never needs to be done! Is it for a performance fluid, better shifting?Going to change rearend fluid and just wondering.SS

[Bumblebee2012]

Have any of you not seen grey sludge on a magnetic drain plug of a differential? I've never seen one in any car or truck... 1,000 miles to 1,000,000 miles.... NOT have the grey metallic dust clumped to the drain plug. And yet.... all those cars running down the roads are still fine.

Sure, your fine doing your early changes, but your not buying yourself anything other than piece of mind.

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[KowalskiCamaro]

Just had my second oil change on my 2010 SS and they showed me the rear diff fluid. It looked like silver paint. I guess I have to take it to the dealership to get it checked and changed? Sorry but I have never had to do anything with rear diff fluid before in any vehicle I have ever owned. I'm currently at 8500 miles and I don't drive real hard at all.

[Bumblebee2012]

I asked the dealer today how much the charge would be to swap rear end grease.

Sit down before you read this....



I warned you....

$180 to drain some fluid into a catch pan and pour new grease in.

That is absurd. Changing oil is more involving. Wiping your ass is more involving. What are they thinking?

I'll do it at home. I don't need it recorded in the GM maintenance log that bad.

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[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by KowalskiCamaro

Just had my second oil change on my 2010 SS and they showed me the rear diff fluid. It looked like silver paint. I guess I have to take it to the dealership to get it checked and changed? Sorry but I have never had to do anything with rear diff fluid before in any vehicle I have ever owned. I'm currently at 8500 miles and I don't drive real hard at all.

Do it yourself. It's super easy in this car. The hardest part is getting the bottle up to the fill plug to put the fluid back in. When I changed mine, I think it took me maybe 15 mins if that long.

And yea you really need to change it if you went that long. The manual even states that it's recommended to change it after the first 1,500 miles.

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

I asked the dealer today how much the charge would be to swap rear end grease.

Sit down before you read this....

I warned you....

$180 to drain some fluid into a catch pan and pour new grease in.

That is absurd. Changing oil is more involving. Wiping your ass is more involving. What are they thinking?

I'll do it at home. I don't need it recorded in the GM maintenance log that bad.

Yea the cheapest I've ever seen it from a dealer is $150. And I agree, for how easy it is and low cost of the fluid they charge way too much. As for the log, as long as you keep the receipt from where you bought the fluid from and record down the mileage, GM or a dealer won't say a word to you.

I started my own log. I went to the store and bought a 1 subject notebook for $1 and anytime I do ANYTHING to the car I keep the receipt and record the mileage and date along with a brief description of what was done.

[cb4dude]

According to the manual, you need to add 2.5oz of friction modifier to the differential fluid. But no one has mentioned adding that. Is this required as well?

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by cb4dude

According to the manual, you need to add 2.5oz of friction modifier to the differential fluid. But no one has mentioned adding that. Is this required as well?

Depends on the brand you use. Some brands have it already, other don't.

[sef6]

I realize this discussion is 4 years old, but that's what makes this site such a good reference library. It's 4 years old, but news to me. After reading, I changed the diffy oil on my 2014 ZL1 (received 8/13), 2300 miles. Grey sludge, just under 2 quarts. I replaced with 2.5 quarts. With no leakage, I can only assume it arrived low-ish, but I don't know what's considered low. I do know, that doing it myself, I know it's topped off. It was very easy, especially with a hand pump that screws onto the diffy oil bottle. That's a very tight space to try and pour into. I'm not the fastest, and it took me almost a half hour, counting waiting for the draining of the old stuff. If I can do it, anyone can. Even if the sludge accumulation is normal and it's presence does no harm, and changing the fluid is a waste of time, I enjoyed doing it and I like the self-satisfaction of having done it myself.

[ron123]

Originally Posted by sef6

Even if the sludge accumulation is normal and it's presence does no harm, and changing the fluid is a waste of time, I enjoyed doing it and I like the self-satisfaction of having done it myself.

The grey sludge has a mix of iron metal particles,that is what causes it to stick to the factory magnetic drain and fill plugs. It is a good idea to get all that out after break-in, especially if keeping the vehicle very long term; should help the input and output shaft seals last longer (lower chance of leaks); posi traction mechanism, bearing, and gear wear reduction is also a benefit.
Ron