GSEREP1
Member
- Joined
- April 18, 2005
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- VALLEJO CALIF
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 97 XLT 2WD 4 DOOR 5.0
Hello again,
I have a question for the wise readers of this forum. My 97 XLT 2WD V8 has the synthetic 75W140 gear oil that came from the factory. After 8 years of driving, I am begining to wonder if I should change it.
I have serviced everything else this week, and it is starting to bother me. 4 years ago, I looked at it, and decided to leave it in awhile longer. There is still no noise, no leakage or vibration.
On one hand I believe in the old theory that if it is not broken, don't fix it. The book says that since the V8's get this special fluid from the factory, it should not be CHECKED or CHANGED unless the axle has been submerged in water (I don't 4 wheel in a 2WD), or if leakage or noise warrants looking at it. The manual says in BOLD letters not to even CHECK it. I am suspicious.
On the other hand..(being the MOTORHEAD I am), I can't help feeling that the excellent differential performance will be maintained or enhanced further if I change this fluid. The dealership wants $75.00 for 3 quarts of this stuff at the counter, but I am planning to use AMSOIL EXTREME DUTY 75W140 SYNTHETIC FLUID for this application if I do it. Labor to replace it would be $100.00 dollars
So how about it....should I change it, or should I leave it alone. I won't feel as bad getting rid of good fluid as much as I would feel bad IF the differential gave me trouble down the road because I didn't check it and change it.
There is no warranty anymore, and the dealerships would LAUGH at me, if I tried to get them to fix it then using that logic from the book. I have about 235,000 miles on the vehicle so far.
My daughters' 2000 VW BEETLE with automatic transmission said the same thing...TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR LIFE. It doesn't even have a dipstick, and the fill port is hidden from the average driver. I actually let it go for 100,000 miles before changing it myself after a lot of research. It needed it badly, but no damage was done. So much for "don't worry about it". I know that transmissions are different than differentials in a sense, but there are clutches in the traction lock differential as well, and something should have degraded somewhat by now.
The cost of a VW transmission, or a FORD diffferential far outweighs the cost of transmission fluid, or synthetic gear oil. Plus I do the work myself to save money laborwise, and because I like to tinker with my cars.
I had a 96 Explorer XLT 2WD V8 (first year it came out), and I had differential troubles because of the gear/clutch chatter when going around corners. The unit was rebuilt, and fresh fluid and friction modifier was added. They were still learning about differential on the Explorers with the V8 engine.
A few months later, the problem resurfaced. Finally, after a service bulletin was generated directing them to use 75W140 synthetic oil and friction modifier, instead of the dino 80W90, my problems were solved.
So what does everyone think? Should I, or shouldn't I?
GSEREP1
I have a question for the wise readers of this forum. My 97 XLT 2WD V8 has the synthetic 75W140 gear oil that came from the factory. After 8 years of driving, I am begining to wonder if I should change it.
I have serviced everything else this week, and it is starting to bother me. 4 years ago, I looked at it, and decided to leave it in awhile longer. There is still no noise, no leakage or vibration.
On one hand I believe in the old theory that if it is not broken, don't fix it. The book says that since the V8's get this special fluid from the factory, it should not be CHECKED or CHANGED unless the axle has been submerged in water (I don't 4 wheel in a 2WD), or if leakage or noise warrants looking at it. The manual says in BOLD letters not to even CHECK it. I am suspicious.
On the other hand..(being the MOTORHEAD I am), I can't help feeling that the excellent differential performance will be maintained or enhanced further if I change this fluid. The dealership wants $75.00 for 3 quarts of this stuff at the counter, but I am planning to use AMSOIL EXTREME DUTY 75W140 SYNTHETIC FLUID for this application if I do it. Labor to replace it would be $100.00 dollars
So how about it....should I change it, or should I leave it alone. I won't feel as bad getting rid of good fluid as much as I would feel bad IF the differential gave me trouble down the road because I didn't check it and change it.
There is no warranty anymore, and the dealerships would LAUGH at me, if I tried to get them to fix it then using that logic from the book. I have about 235,000 miles on the vehicle so far.
My daughters' 2000 VW BEETLE with automatic transmission said the same thing...TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR LIFE. It doesn't even have a dipstick, and the fill port is hidden from the average driver. I actually let it go for 100,000 miles before changing it myself after a lot of research. It needed it badly, but no damage was done. So much for "don't worry about it". I know that transmissions are different than differentials in a sense, but there are clutches in the traction lock differential as well, and something should have degraded somewhat by now.
The cost of a VW transmission, or a FORD diffferential far outweighs the cost of transmission fluid, or synthetic gear oil. Plus I do the work myself to save money laborwise, and because I like to tinker with my cars.
I had a 96 Explorer XLT 2WD V8 (first year it came out), and I had differential troubles because of the gear/clutch chatter when going around corners. The unit was rebuilt, and fresh fluid and friction modifier was added. They were still learning about differential on the Explorers with the V8 engine.
A few months later, the problem resurfaced. Finally, after a service bulletin was generated directing them to use 75W140 synthetic oil and friction modifier, instead of the dino 80W90, my problems were solved.
So what does everyone think? Should I, or shouldn't I?
GSEREP1
dont pay for more than what you need.. ask if you can buy JUSt half a quart. AHAH KIDDING!!!
