This weekend I drained / filled my rear differential fluid without driving the car around to warm it up first. It drained fine, probably took a little bit longer though since the fluid was just ambient temp (which was around 85-90 so not exactly cold).

 

Was this a bad idea? I searched for writeups about changing the fluid and found some but none specifically addressed this. I had been working outside most of the day and didn't feel like subjecting myself to any extra heat or potential burns from the muffler or exhaust so that's why I decided to just do it "cold".

 

Steve

Nope..no problems at all. I've done it many times, both ways. Like you said, just takes longer if it's 'room temp'.

Nothing to lose sleep over!

 

I don't bother trying to warm it up, but I do flush a bit of new oil through before screwing in the lower plug.

 

Of course I am a man for details - and sometimes I wonder if it makes a difference

 

 

You're way ahead of all the people out there who drive until things break down, rear diff oil is often overlooked.

Thanks, still need to do front diff (it's also pretty easy) and then my 120K mile fluid changes are done

 

Steve

I did the front last night, yay, no more stinky gear oil for another 30K miles!

 

You know what else stinks? When you get all set up to drain and fill the front differential, then you realize that you need a 21mm socket and the largest you have is 19 . So don't assume like I did that the front plug is 19, it is in fact 21mm. I understand the newer models use a large "torx" bit.

 

Sears didn't have any 6 point 21mm sockets (they appeared to be running themselves out of a *lot* of sockets) so a 13/16", which is about 20.5mm, will fit with a little persuasion... and it was only $.97.

 

Thanks to places like the USMB I've saved hundreds of dollars by doing this work myself instead of at the shop. A big thank you to you guys!

 

Steve

This weekend I drained / filled my rear differential fluid without driving the car around to warm it up first. It drained fine, probably took a little bit longer though since the fluid was just ambient temp (which was around 85-90 so not exactly cold).

 

Was this a bad idea? I searched for writeups about changing the fluid and found some but none specifically addressed this. I had been working outside most of the day and didn't feel like subjecting myself to any extra heat or potential burns from the muffler or exhaust so that's why I decided to just do it "cold".

 

Steve

 

Basically its nice to get the oils warmed up bfore you change them. One reason is to help it flow better, the other is to get it all out. In all honesty, ive been doing it both way for these many years, and unless its in the 40's outside (30's or less i pay someone as i dont have a garage) it doesnt really matter.

 

nipper

I did a gear oil change in December. I used a hair drier to heat mine up. It helped blow the oil out as well.

 

 

Heating the oil in boiling water helps in flow much better when you go to refill it.

 

 

Rob

sweet use of heat! i like it!