Differential Man Products

List of fluids I check.     Engine - Transmission - Rear Diff - Front Diff - Transfer Case - Power Steering - Brake Fluid

                                     and most important - "Muffler Bearing Fluid" along with "Blinker Fluid".

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  The following article is about common sense and how I see it. For the past 50 years, I not only saw the fluid, but the damage it did when not changed or the wrong fluid used. Often I hear customers say, "I didn't know it needed to be changed. In a way, I don't blame them because the items that need to be checked are hard to get to. 

  The vehicle's owners Manuel tells you when to change the fluid, BUT I DISSAGREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me explain. Let's just talk "Common Sense" O.K. If all vehicles were the same, and driven on the same road conditions, in the same weather, pulling the same amount of weight and driven by the same person, they would be right. On the Average ! But we live in a different world. Lets look at some different driving conditions and how I approach it.

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Engine Maintenance: 

The Engine is the only part that has to be changed according to mileage. The engine oil is contaminated 3 ways, Silicon continuation ( Air Filter ), Fuel Delusion ( Carb. or injectors ) and Metallic Contamination ( Parts or Engine wear ). The Filter takes out the Silicon and the metal particles. But the Fuel Delusion ( fuel in the oil ) can only be removed with an oil change. So keep track of your mileage. 

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Transmission Maintenance:

Once a month, You need to dip that dipstick and look at the level and color of the fluid. The fluid starts out cherry red in color, then changes to orange, then brown and finally dark brown or black. If it's dark red to dark orange, there is time to save it. The one part of your transmission that generate most of your heat is the converter. We call that fluid friction and hydraulic pressure. Changing your filter, gasket and 4 quarts won't get. You need all 12 to 15 quarts changed. Why would you mix 4 clean with 8 dirty. So get it flushed.

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Differential Maintenance: 

1st Example: Lets say I went camping, I'm always camping because my last name is Camping. Anyway, I drove through deep water. Water wipes out gears quickly because its not a good lubricant and breaks down the oil. I'll check the differential fluid, front and back ASAP. The book says to change at so many miles or months. So until then, I just wear out all those parts. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Use Common Sense. You know where you went and what you did, So just check. Before I give the customer back their vehicle I remove the factory vent fitting and install a fitting, longer hose and a plastic fuel filter at the end, I make sure the the filter is in a place were water isn't constantly hitting it.

 

2nd Example: I had to use my trailer and of course I overloaded it because I'm a guy. I drove on some steep upgrades. It was hot that day. I pushed it a little harder because I had things to do at home for my wife ( my Honey Do List ). Well the manual says to change gear oil after so many miles. They want you to drive your vehicle with damaged oil.  Because the differential ran hot for a good length of time going up the mountain, the oil now becomes oxidize. It looses half of it's lubricating qualities. Now the gears wear faster and that metal goes through all the bearings and wedges in the seals. 

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3rd Example: Under normal driving conditions, parts wear. The Ring & Pinion, Carrier internals, Posi Clutches wear particulates enter the oil and increases wear, which increases wear, which increases wear and so on. If you would check your oil periodically, you would find two things, first, if the oil is dirty, great time to change. 2nd, If the oil is metallic, something is wrong. You can plan to have it looked at. ​

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Transfer Case Maintenance:

You have Part-Time and Full-Time transfer cases. In either case ( no pun ), the fastest wearing part is your chain. 99% of all vehicles that I work on have dark to black oil. There are three things that ruin the chain. Burnt oil, water in oil and mismatched tires in all wheel drive vehicles. Again, You need to the oil every engine oil change. You need to stay on top of it. 

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Power Steering: 

​Your power steering fluid get hot because of fluid friction and engine heat. Also the parts inside wear and metallic particles contaminate the oil. That's why the seals start leaking or you hear cavitation. You can't just suck it out. You need to disconnect to return line. plug the tank and let the hose drain in a bucket while it's running, keep filling the reservoir while turn the steering wheel back and forth. 

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Brake Fluid:

If the Brake Fluid look dark, you need to suck out the fluid from the reservoir. Fill it up, them bleed the system.

DON'T LET IT RUN DRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​​