How often do you change your Front/Rear Differential Fluid?

ParkCountry wrote:
I have a 2012 F-350 6.7 Power Stroke SRW pickup. It has been on multiple outings this past year and I was wondering about changing out the Differential Fluids. It currently has 74,000 miles and has seen a significant number of Offroad miles. What is your regimen? Thanks!

I roll 50k on all other fluids other than engine oil.

What does you manual say for extreme use?

I follow the manufacturers maintenance schedule which says every 12 months or 15,000 miles.

You are supposed to change it??

Every 100,000 and the second change might be next year.

BobKrogstie wrote:
I follow the manufacturers maintenance schedule which says every 12 months or 15,000 miles.

For the differentials?...i think not

The manual states that the rear differentials don't require the fluid to be changed, but since I had my truck in the shop earlier this year for a CEL, I went ahead and had them change the rear differential, transfer case, transmission, and radiater fluids changed at ~100k miles. I believe the transfer case requires fluid change at 60k miles for extreme use. Normal use the front diff. transfer case, and transmission require fluid change at 150k miles.

It's very rare that these diffs leak fluid but you do at least want to inspect them once in a while because a leak could cause damage.

I currently have 125k miles on my truck and I probably will have the serpentine belt changed this year and will probably have the front diff fluid changed at the same time.

My 05 Super Duty I never changed the front or rear diff. fluid in the 180k miles I owned that truck and both diffs. were bone dry when I sold it.

I've flushed mine as soon as possible after forging anykind of water where suspect the diff (both front and/or rear) got water up to about the middle of pumpkin

Normally flush all my diff's every couple years or when remember/decide to. Cheap insurance

Here are some links to give an idea of what these OEM's and/or sites recommend


Popular mechanics How to Care for Your Car's Differential

Agree, but think another fluid is the most over looked on any vehicle...power steering fluid




GM 2017 Silverado schedule, but doesn't include the diff...my shop manual does


GM 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500...again no mention of the diff


6.6L DURAMAX MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, SERVICE INTERVALS


Toyota Tacoma schedule

BobKrogstie wrote:
I follow the manufacturers maintenance schedule which says every 12 months or 15,000 miles.

I don't know what manual you are looking at but the 6.7L Manual calls for changing differential and transmission fluid at 150,000 miles.

The fluid is pretty cheap and I change it myself. My Tundra had a drain plug, so I did it every 30K miles. My Ram doesn't have a drain plug (annoying...) so I changed it at 30K to get the stock fluid out and I will probably do it every 50K miles now.

Every time I change my engine oil. Every 2,000 miles to be safe and you should too.