Change the oil in the differential?

If your like me and don't like climbing that far under rig - any quick change oil outfit can change the diff fluid - doesn't cost much.

I did my 06 F53 this past winter at 50,000 miles. Easy driveway job. Some rear axle bearings are lubricated via the differential plus it is not a sealed system so changing the oil is a good preventative measure.

The "life" of the vehicles criteria is changing almost at the speed of phone androids changes.
Back in 1995 Mercedes manufactured car transmissions "sealed for life".
I guess at the time they did not expect those cars to run for 400,000 miles or million miles with diesel engines.
I had couple of those and changed ATF at 200,000 miles.
Now differentials don't have clutches to wear, they catch steel dust with magnets and unless you drive in deep water - they have no condensation in them.
When on most of the vehicles it is relatively cheap service, I had couple of vehicles with 260,000 miles and did not worry about differential service.
Did change the oil on my 2000 F250 at 305,000 miles, but that truck was used for heavy hauling. YMMV
Pull the control plug, check oil level, clean the magnet, stick white towel in oil to check the color and if nothing looks bad, plug it back and enjoy the drive.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
From the 2001 Ford F53 chassis manual:

"Your vehicle's rear axle is filled with a synthetic rear axle lubricant and is considered lubricated for life. These lubricants do not need to be checked or changed unless a leak is suspected, service is required or the axle assembly has been submerged in water. The axle lubricant should be changed any time the rear axle has been submerged in water."

I think I'd leave it alone.

One of the first things I do with a a vehicle is switch all the oil to synthetic, good for a couple of MPG in cold weather, and replace trans and differential at 100,000 miles.