Any warranty issues after non GM spec. Diff Fluid? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Ron66Vette&10SS · 06-14-2010, 09:35 PM

I've got about 2,600 miles on my SS and am wanting to change the rear differential fluid.

I'm happy with and have been using Mobil 1 gear oil for almost 15 years, so this isn't one of those lame "Which _____ should I use?" threads. I have no doubt that Mobil1, Royal Purple, etc. will do an outstanding job in the rear end.

My concern is that the Mobil 1 (or any of the other common synthetics) DON'T meet the spec called for by GM. In the unlikely event that I were have an issue with my rear, I'd hate for the dealer to tell me "Sorry buddy, your gear fluid wasn't GM approved, you're paying for repairs out of pocket".

Am I being overly paranoid, or should I just suck it up and pay through the nose for the GM fluid & additive at the dealer?

thiggin2 · 06-14-2010, 09:58 PM

I've been working for GM for 18 years and I have never seen GM decline a repair because of the type of diff fluid you used(not saying it can't happen). As long as you don't put in water you should be fine

. Also make sure you use an additive if it needs it.

Mr_Draco · 06-15-2010, 08:44 AM

As long as the gear oil is rear differential fluid 75W-90 limited slip and meets GM specification 9986226 you won't have any issues.

With that said, Mobil 1 75w-90 LS gear oil DOES meet their specs. Actually if you buy the gear oil at any of my local dealers that's what they hand you.

Ron66Vette&10SS · 06-15-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

..... Mobil 1 75w-90 LS gear oil DOES meet their specs.

Where did you find that? I checked on the bottle and on the Mobil 1 site but had no luck.

Mr_Draco · 06-15-2010, 04:27 PM

It's listed on the GM spec sheet. All of their specs have a list of products that are approved for that spec.

1fine79 · 06-15-2010, 09:35 PM

Does Royal Purple 75-90w meet their specs as well?

Mr_Draco · 06-16-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1fine79

Does Royal Purple 75-90w meet their specs as well?

All of Royal Purples products are not approved for use in GM vehicles. Most of their products meets or exceeds GM's specs however since they are not "GM Approved" you can have issues later with the dealer or GM if they wish to press the issue.

I've never seen a dealer or GM just up and void a warranty because of it but this leaves them the option to if they so desire.

Russell James · 06-18-2010, 12:05 PM

There is no way a dealer can look at gear lube and tell that it doesn't meet some spec. Are they going to send it to some lab for testing? No.

If you like Royal Purple gear lube, throw it in there. I'm using it in mine, and have used it for years in Vettes, it works great.

Ron66Vette&10SS · 06-18-2010, 01:32 PM

Well I finally decided to replace it with Mobil 1 75/90........that is until I drained the original gear oil.

It had the normal nasty gear oil smell to it, but it had a noticeable hint of grape also. This matched with the "Grape Scent" statement that I saw on bottles of the called for GM fluid.

This got me to thinking:
-Why the he!! would GM care what their differential fluid smells like? Did GM add the scent to make it more pleasant for the mechanic changeing the fluid? Yeah, right! Besides, the fluid STILL smells terrible, even if you can faintly detect the grape. What purpose does the smell accomplish?
-After spending more time than I should have on the internet, it seemed odd that I couldn't find anything other than the GM fluid that would meet the spec. called for. (With respect to Mr_Draco, I found a few GM spec sheets, but none listed the gear fluid spec called for in the owner's manual....maybe your search skills are better than mine.)
-With the way GM seems to be really looking into warranty work, I would hate to be unlucky enough to grenade my rear end and then be the first that GM decided to deny warranty repair due to incorrect spec fluid.

Is it paranoid to think that GM would ask the dealership to send a sample of the fluid in because it didn't smell like grape before giving the O.K. to cover the diff under warranty? Maybe......or maybe not

. To me, it was worth paying almost $50 for the specified fluids (as opposed to $15 for what "should" be good enough) just to be sure the rear would be covered under warranty in the unlikely event I were to destroy it.

06-14-2010, 09:35 PM	#1
Ron66Vette&10SS Plays with Hot Wheels Drives: '17 Jet Black ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Derby, Kansas Posts: 849	Any warranty issues after non GM spec. Diff Fluid? I've got about 2,600 miles on my SS and am wanting to change the rear differential fluid. I'm happy with and have been using Mobil 1 gear oil for almost 15 years, so this isn't one of those lame "Which _____ should I use?" threads. I have no doubt that Mobil1, Royal Purple, etc. will do an outstanding job in the rear end. My concern is that the Mobil 1 (or any of the other common synthetics) DON'T meet the spec called for by GM. In the unlikely event that I were have an issue with my rear, I'd hate for the dealer to tell me "Sorry buddy, your gear fluid wasn't GM approved, you're paying for repairs out of pocket". Am I being overly paranoid, or should I just suck it up and pay through the nose for the GM fluid & additive at the dealer? __________________ Previous Cars: '78 Z28, '92 Z28, '95 Z28, '85 Corvette, '01 SS, '96 Z28, '04 Z06 Corvette, '10 SS, '13 SS Hot Wheels Current Cars: '17 ZL1(daily driver), '04 Trailblazer (rain & snow), '66 Corvette (restoring)

06-14-2010, 09:58 PM	#2
thiggin2 Drives: 05/07 Chevy's Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 392	I've been working for GM for 18 years and I have never seen GM decline a repair because of the type of diff fluid you used(not saying it can't happen). As long as you don't put in water you should be fine. Also make sure you use an additive if it needs it.

06-18-2010, 01:32 PM	#9
Ron66Vette&10SS Plays with Hot Wheels Drives: '17 Jet Black ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Derby, Kansas Posts: 849	Well I finally decided to replace it with Mobil 1 75/90........that is until I drained the original gear oil. It had the normal nasty gear oil smell to it, but it had a noticeable hint of grape also. This matched with the "Grape Scent" statement that I saw on bottles of the called for GM fluid. This got me to thinking: -Why the he!! would GM care what their differential fluid smells like? Did GM add the scent to make it more pleasant for the mechanic changeing the fluid? Yeah, right! Besides, the fluid STILL smells terrible, even if you can faintly detect the grape. What purpose does the smell accomplish? -After spending more time than I should have on the internet, it seemed odd that I couldn't find anything other than the GM fluid that would meet the spec. called for. (With respect to Mr_Draco, I found a few GM spec sheets, but none listed the gear fluid spec called for in the owner's manual....maybe your search skills are better than mine.) -With the way GM seems to be really looking into warranty work, I would hate to be unlucky enough to grenade my rear end and then be the first that GM decided to deny warranty repair due to incorrect spec fluid. Is it paranoid to think that GM would ask the dealership to send a sample of the fluid in because it didn't smell like grape before giving the O.K. to cover the diff under warranty? Maybe......or maybe not . To me, it was worth paying almost $50 for the specified fluids (as opposed to $15 for what "should" be good enough) just to be sure the rear would be covered under warranty in the unlikely event I were to destroy it. __________________ Previous Cars: '78 Z28, '92 Z28, '95 Z28, '85 Corvette, '01 SS, '96 Z28, '04 Z06 Corvette, '10 SS, '13 SS Hot Wheels Current Cars: '17 ZL1(daily driver), '04 Trailblazer (rain & snow), '66 Corvette (restoring) Last edited by Ron66Vette&10SS; 06-18-2010 at 04:19 PM.

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06-15-2010, 08:44 AM	#3
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,182	As long as the gear oil is rear differential fluid 75W-90 limited slip and meets GM specification 9986226 you won't have any issues. With that said, Mobil 1 75w-90 LS gear oil DOES meet their specs. Actually if you buy the gear oil at any of my local dealers that's what they hand you.

06-15-2010, 04:27 PM	#5
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,182	It's listed on the GM spec sheet. All of their specs have a list of products that are approved for that spec.

06-15-2010, 09:35 PM	#6
1fine79 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Victory Red Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Altus, OK Posts: 98 View My Garage	Does Royal Purple 75-90w meet their specs as well?

06-18-2010, 12:05 PM	#8
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	There is no way a dealer can look at gear lube and tell that it doesn't meet some spec. Are they going to send it to some lab for testing? No. If you like Royal Purple gear lube, throw it in there. I'm using it in mine, and have used it for years in Vettes, it works great.