The first diff went at 10,000 miles due to metal fragments in the diff oil. Not sure of the symptoms, as that was with the previous owner. I just had the diff replaced again (under warranty) at 26,000 miles after getting some juddering when pulling away from a stanstill with the wheels turned. Again, they found metal fragments in the diff oil, along with worn crown wheel pinion bearings and noisy LSD gears.

Anybody have any ideas why this should happen twice at such regular intervals? I'm worried that in another 10 K I'll need a 4th diff, and that the people at the warranty claims office might get a bit funny!

I read a couple of threads here about dealers putting in wrong diff oil - could that be it? I don't know what's gone in previously - I've only had the car a few months, but this time they put in Castrol Magnatec - is that correct?

Any ideas on this grately appreciated!

 

sounds like the wrong oil.

they probably put in the oil for the CR-V diff. It seems many dealers don't stock the gear oil for the S2000 as it is so uncommon. Many of the techs there think it is the right oil and will actually ARGUE with you about it ("I'm ASE certified, you're not...lladie dah dah").

That Castrol sounds like the right stuff. Make sure it is GL-5 certified. Most 90W synthetics are. If the dealer originally filled it with their oil, you tell them that they'd better fix it if it breaks. The correct HONDA oil is actually a lubricant from their motorcycle division.

Funny thing...I had a service rep tell me that you would void the warranty if you used anything but Honda oils. He told me synthetics were bad for engine oil. I asked why and he said it was due to the temperatures of the engine...made NO sense.

 

its called abuse, son....these are circuit cars not drag race ricer mobiles...stop the high rpm launches

 

get a 2way kaaz next time

 

I have a feeling that the first diff and the second diff failed for different reasons. Can venture a guess as to why the first one failed, but I'll bet the person that installed the second one didn't know what they were doing.

 

Thanks for the responses - kind of reaffirms what I suspected - wrong oil! Ah well, their mistake = their expense.

 

Ric,

I hope they didn't put Magnatec in the diff, I'm assuming you do mean the 10-40w stuff. If not then apologies, just not sure Magnatec comes in a 90w.

 

Metal shavings in the fluid is an indication of extreme load. In our case, this could mean a lot of early, poorly done, clutch drops and/or trying to redline the car in the higher gears. With only 10K miles on it at the time, I doubt this was due to the wrong fluid being used. I can only imagine that it was abuse.

The second time, seems like it was an improper installation without replacement of some of the critical components (ie. bearings and such). However, since I don't know you or your situation, I cannot rule out extreme load either (not trying to be accusatory). Also, if done at the dealer, one cannot rule out the wrong fluid having been put in.

As far as I can tell, Castrol Magnetec is an engine oil and has no business being in an S2000 diff.

 

Hmmm .... I'll be speaking with the dealer tomorrow then to discuss the oil they've put in this time - it says 'Castrol Magnatec diff fluid' on the invoice - but after a quick search on google, there doesn't seem to be such a product, so it's left me wondering what the hell they've put in it.

Since I've owned the car, I've been pretty considerate - no redlining or clutch dropping - but I can't rule out abuse for the first two diffs going, as I wasn't the owner for most of the cars life. (I've only had the car six months and the juddering symptoms were beginning to show pretty much straight away after buying the car.)

 

Get them to show you the container it comes in. If it doesn't say GL-5 on it and if the weight is more like engine oil, then you may be in line for another new free diff. Gear oil is rated like: 75W90, 90, 75W140, etc. Any numbers lower than this would indicate they put motor oil in there. Hopefully, we are all mistaken and Castrol Magnatec does indeed make a GL-5 gear lube.