Rear diff fluid?

[Ranger3]

Hi just a quick question...when a d if this truck has differential fluid when would it need to be changed? My old Ridgeline needed to be changed at like 13,000 miles ..it was a awd though..I'm pretty sure diff fluid can go till 90000....

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[ctechbob]

How long are you planning on keeping the truck? If you get rid of vehicles every 3-5 years and don't plan on driving more than 100k in that time, don't worry about it.

If you keep things long-term or 'want the best' for your truck, change it once early to get break-in metals out, and then maybe every 30-50k past that.

Not sure what the factory calls for, likely some very extended change if I had to guess.

Plenty of trucks go to the junkyard on their factory fill.

 

[ctechbob]

Hi just a quick question...when a d if this truck has differential fluid when would it need to be changed? My old Ridgeline needed to be changed at like 13,000 miles ..it was a awd though..I'm pretty sure diff fluid can go till 90000....

The reason the Ridgeline needed more frequent changes is, there are clutches in that particular diff that shed clutch material as part of their operation a bit like an automatic transmission (Although AT clutches really aren't designed to slip much), plus there are some other things going on inside that unit that do better with clean fluid.

 

[JohnnyO]

Curiously the new Ranger specs conventional 80w-90 gear lube for the axles. Older previous Ford trucks I’ve had spec’d synthetic and it was factory fill. The only synthetic gear lube I’ve found that meets the Ford spec in the owner’s manual is Redline 75w-90. When I changed the rear and transfer case lube in my old Sport Trac at 30,000 miles they both drained out like tar. Again at 60,000, by 90,000 they drained out clean.

 

[ctechbob]

FORD WSP-M2C197-A

Organization:	FORD
Publication Date:	13 May 2010
Status:	Active
Page Count:	5

Scope:
The material defined by this specification is a solvent refined petroleum base lubricant blended with thermally stable sulfur/ phosphorus/nitrogen/boron extreme pressure additives. The oil has improved thermal and oxidation stability and functions at SAE J2360 / MIL -PRF-2105E performance level.


In english, the spec Ford calls for isn't terribly advanced, it was published back in 2010 according to what I've found. I would imagine that any current GL5 rated lube would be just fine. Personally I'm using Valvoline 75W90, but I wouldn't have any problem picking up just about any GL5 off the shelf and throwing it in there and sleeping well at night.

This is one of the cases where cleaner is probably more important than what kind.

 

[kieefer]

I was surprised how much sludge was on the drain plug with only 30k miles.

 

[JesseS]

I was surprised how much sludge was on the drain plug with only 30k miles.

That's just nasty! think I will be changing ALL of the fluids 1000 miles (next week) and then more often than called for.

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