I have 7000 miles on my 1 yr old car. Have been following "severe conditions" maint. schedule as my commute is only about 4 miles so I got oil and filter change etc. Diff fluid is due by time on that schedule, but not distance (for many miles). Service guy at SF Honda talked me out of it, said I didn't need it yet.
Going by "time", normal maintenance schedule doesn't call for differential oil change until 2 years.



[Edited by SFDukie on 05-24-2001 at 05:38 PM]

 

Don't take the chance! I changed mine at 3000 and IMO it needed it. The drain plug magnet was covered with a metallic sludge and the oil was very dirty.

 

Mine at about 5000 mi. was dark and nasty looking. I would suggest changing it to anyone who hasn't done it yet (I used Mobil 1 BTW).

 

The Honda mechanic I go to who also has one recommended it also.

 

I changed mine at 4k and again at 15k. They found metal shavings on both changes. The first change showed more metal than the second.

 

I'll get it done. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Incase you need one more push, I did mine early as well, and it was disgusting. DO IT!!!!

 

In Japan, it's recommended for hard tuning drivers to change their differential fluid every 2500KM. I'm skeptical about that but, I'm going to change it every 5000KM instead. I don't think it's necessary to do it too early and definitely not too late.

 

I did mine at 13k. my trusted dealer said it would have been ok to wait until 15k on mine, but since the car was there anyways...diff fluid always looks disgusting when getting changed out, so I am uncertain how bad it really was, but for $50-60 why not just do it.

 

I waited untill 30,000

it was fine they said, not too dirty or too much metal . . . maybe I got the heavy duty rear end