Effects of not changing differential fluid...
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Lafayette, LA
Hello,
I recently bought a 2001 SS/Black with 23k miles on it and found out that the differential fluid hasn't been changed yet.
I've already ordered some LE-607 and plan on doing the fluid change as soon as it comes in. My question is, how do you think this has affected my differential? Do you think any damage has been caused by this? Should I not push the car hard at all until it's changed? This is my first RWD vehicle and I just want to be cautious since I don't know much about differentials. Thanks in advance. 
I recently bought a 2001 SS/Black with 23k miles on it and found out that the differential fluid hasn't been changed yet.
I've already ordered some LE-607 and plan on doing the fluid change as soon as it comes in. My question is, how do you think this has affected my differential? Do you think any damage has been caused by this? Should I not push the car hard at all until it's changed? This is my first RWD vehicle and I just want to be cautious since I don't know much about differentials. Thanks in advance.
Joined: Mar 2001
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Yes, 30K miles is the first "recommended" change, however, I'm one of those who think this is one aspect of the maintenance schedule that Honda has missed the mark on. "IF", the average owner drives this car like he would an Accord (ie, as simple transportation), then perhaps 30K might be alright. But then, how many people who buy an S2000 drive it like that?
If all 240 horses and all the king's torque were put back to that diff on a regular basis, those teeth are going to get a really good workout. Add to this the fact that the rear diff in this car is quite small for what it has to do and you just know the fluid has a lot of work asked of it.
I'd be really interested to see the magnet and the fluid on a vehicle with your kind of mileage and having never had a change. Maybe it was used to carry eggs and fine china?
If all 240 horses and all the king's torque were put back to that diff on a regular basis, those teeth are going to get a really good workout. Add to this the fact that the rear diff in this car is quite small for what it has to do and you just know the fluid has a lot of work asked of it.
I'd be really interested to see the magnet and the fluid on a vehicle with your kind of mileage and having never had a change. Maybe it was used to carry eggs and fine china?
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From: Midlothian
It depends - it depends on the quality of the factory fill, the temperatures in which the car has been used (Minnesota or Houston), and the current miles on the car. Gears are of course hardened metals, so they can tolerate more than an engine with completely neglected engine oil, by comparison.
Several things can happen over time to gear oil:
1) It can pick up water vapor or water from a vent, and then becomes a congealed mess (unlikely) - it can elad to corroded gears
2) It becomes thicker and thicker, which does not really affect the gears as much as mileage. However, if it gets so thick that the oil does not flow readily in the cold, and is not as tenacious a metal clinger as LE-607, then the possibility of oil starvation arises. I would not consider this too likely, either.
I have seen cars that have never had a change easily last way past 100K on the gear oil; on many cars thiese days, it is not even a maintenance item, but they are often factory filled with synoils. - but as xviper points out, they are usually bigger cars with bigger gearsets, often automatics (which put less stress on the diff), and driven lazy miles.
I would not fret about it - let's see what comes out. Make sure you make note of any variances in color (brown to white, or anything that looks like butterscotch), and of course take a swipe at a clean paper towel with the magnetized drain plug so you can describe what you find. If it is just a fine, black powder in oil suspension, you are OK - if there are large chunks, you may blow chunks when you have to consider replacing the gear sets. But you can always "upgrade to lower gears", since the gear set is the smallest part of a gear replacement.
Several things can happen over time to gear oil:
1) It can pick up water vapor or water from a vent, and then becomes a congealed mess (unlikely) - it can elad to corroded gears
2) It becomes thicker and thicker, which does not really affect the gears as much as mileage. However, if it gets so thick that the oil does not flow readily in the cold, and is not as tenacious a metal clinger as LE-607, then the possibility of oil starvation arises. I would not consider this too likely, either.
I have seen cars that have never had a change easily last way past 100K on the gear oil; on many cars thiese days, it is not even a maintenance item, but they are often factory filled with synoils. - but as xviper points out, they are usually bigger cars with bigger gearsets, often automatics (which put less stress on the diff), and driven lazy miles.
I would not fret about it - let's see what comes out. Make sure you make note of any variances in color (brown to white, or anything that looks like butterscotch), and of course take a swipe at a clean paper towel with the magnetized drain plug so you can describe what you find. If it is just a fine, black powder in oil suspension, you are OK - if there are large chunks, you may blow chunks when you have to consider replacing the gear sets. But you can always "upgrade to lower gears", since the gear set is the smallest part of a gear replacement.
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From: Lafayette, LA
OK, I drained the fluid last night and put some LE-607 in (man this stuff it thick, my hands are still hurting from squeezing out the last 100ml!). The fluid was really dark, almost all black when it was pouring out. Looked like suspended black powder in oil and was really thin and runny. There were a good bit of small black shavings on the drain plug, but nothing large.
When I poured the fluid in my oil drain pan, I spead it out a little and I could see a silverish 'shiny' tint to it. It seemed like a bunch of fine metal shavings in the fluid. Is this anything to be concerned about? Thanks again for the help guys.
When I poured the fluid in my oil drain pan, I spead it out a little and I could see a silverish 'shiny' tint to it. It seemed like a bunch of fine metal shavings in the fluid. Is this anything to be concerned about? Thanks again for the help guys.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Based on your description of what you saw, I'd say you're OK. Those fine metallic specs are not uncommon even after the fluid has been in there for a few thousand miles. (Hard to put in words what one sees, but "specs" are OK, "flakes" are not so good a thing.) The old stuff generally is pretty black. What you would be concerned about are big metal pieces that may have been stuck to the magnet. The would have been an indication of more severe wear and tear.
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Golden, CO
holy crap! mine has just turned 30k and i need to change my diff fluid also. what is the recommended brand/viscosity? i know everybody loves redline tranny fluid, dunno if it's available for differentials though.