Why you should change your diff oil on age, no mileage!

[tofts]

For all those that don't change their diff oil at the change intervals (or any oil), this is what happens to the oil.

Before myself, this car was serviced by a known garage but won't tell you where they are from.

Its a 2004 Tuscan with only 16k and judging by the oil, its probably only ever been changed once? Maybe never. Regardless, the fluid is over 2 years old and you can see the build up of water in the oil.

If the diff got hot all the time, then this water would be burnt off, but as its a low use car, it will just sit in the oil. My argument is that the car needs to be serviced at the correct intervals EVERY time REGARDLESS of its mileage, as any water ingress in oil is a dangerous thing to have.

Jody

Edited by tofts on Wednesday 7th September 14:32

[Cerberus90]

That does look pretty gunky!

What's the fuel filter like? that's another item that can be skipped by the less reputable places as they can be a right pain in the backside sometimes. Just ends up making it even more difficult when someone does come to change it as the banjo bolts get stuck in the filter.

[anonymous-user]

That's a mess. Better advice, change as per service recommendation, x or y, which ever happens first?

[RikJonAtk]

Please re-title thread - "why cars last longer if you actually use them"

[GazzaM100]

Worrying as I use that garage

[Sardonicus]

Thats not water and lack of use will not create or cause gearboxes or differentials to absorb any moisture never seen this happen unless the car as been submerged within that period, however that oil is knackered

[Searider]

Where does the water come from. Is the diff vented or sealed?

[Sardonicus]

Searider said:

Where does the water come from. Is the diff vented or sealed?

The diff is top vented hence why I said the only was to get water ingress is if the unit is/has been submerged

[Bluebottle]

Condensation...it's a killer, affects atf and synthetic engine oil just as much as brake fluid if a circus left standing for a period in a non controlled temp environment...like a typical single skin garage. I always replace my fluids in the spring as they will always be saturated with water to an unacceptable percentage.

[Graham]

I had the diff oil in the Tuscan racer turn that colour after 1 race.. definitely didn't get submerged !!!

put diff in, put new oil in. ran it for one race. a month later drained oil and it was like that !!!!