Diff oil and top up advice?

[Nosh]

I have a small leak (coming from the drive shaft seals, I believe) so I want to top up my diff oil before I head out tomorrow in the glorious sunshine of Surrey.

What diff oil do I need for a 93 4.0 Chim?

I am presuming it is a relatively easy job to just top up??

Help and advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Nosh

[haircutmike]

You don't know what oil is in there?

Just top up with an LSD oil, maybe drain and refill then you know it has the best.

Filling can be a right pain depending on what diff you have.

[Graham]

93 should be a gkn diff, I've just bought some diff oil for the later btr cone diff
Morris Lodexol 80 - 140 full synthetic oil
As advised by john Reid not sure if the gkn is the same stuff but it was about 20 quid a litre!

Give ready a bell

[brett84]

hi Nosh

Is it a GKN diff? fins on it?

If so then
Red Line Heavy 7w-140
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1023-red-line-heavy-sh...

[Timward]

If you have an early GKN diff then you will be lucky and have the filler plug on the side of the diff. The later ones had the filler at the rear of the diff which is a PITA to get to.

I changed my diff oil a few weeks ago when I first got my Chim. I used Millers CRX LS 75w140 as recommended by many here on the forum. It is expensive though. I think I paid £17.99 a litre.

I'd say if the oil's been in there a while and you're going to the trouble of jacking it up etc to check the level, you may aswell replace the oil completely.

[Nosh]

Where is the best place to jack the car up to get to the diff easily?

I have a trolley jack and two axle stands......

Cheers

Nosh

[BIGMIKE1]

Ive recenty changed my GKN diff oil and my best piece of advice is invest in a large oil syringe, makes the job pretty easy as long as the filler isn't to tight!

[haircutmike]

Nosh said:

Where is the best place to jack the car up to get to the diff easily?

I have a trolley jack and two axle stands......

Cheers

Nosh

Some grief advice....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Simon says]

Hi Phil, always make sure you can undo the filler before draining the old unit because if its graunched/butchered or seized your diff is now empty and your in trouble the oil Brett84 as recommended will work great in the GKN. If the filler is at the rear as mine is its not a problem the trick is to come into the square female drive from the side rather than from the bottom if you purchase 2 litres your more than covered for the job, I use Castrol Syntrax Limited Slip 75W 140 from Opie Oils in mine and it works great both oils suggested are over spec for the GKN anyway.

[haircutmike]

Simon says said:

Hi Phil, always make sure you can undo the filler before draining the old unit because if its graunched/butchered or seized your diff is now empty and your in trouble the oil Brett84 as recommended will work great in the GKN. If the filler is at the rear as mine is its not a problem the trick is to come into the square female drive from the side rather than from the bottom if you purchase 2 litres your more than covered for the job, I use Castrol Syntrax Limited Slip 75W 140 from Opie Oils in mine and it works great both oils suggested are over spec for the GKN anyway.

Agree with all of that.

When filling get yourself an oil syringe like this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRAPER-500CC-CAR-SUMP-GE...

Then Bob's a goodun!

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Im useing Lucas 75/140 Fully synthetic on my GKN diff ..This stuff is big in the USA.

Is there any difference between the early and later GKN diff apart from the side fill ?



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lucas-75-140-Fully-Synth...

[Nosh]

Thanks for all the advice guys!!

However, Halfrauds don't stock it (they just do the SMX-S stuff 75W/85), so I don't know whether to chance the drive of not....

And the other thing was I just wanted to 'top up', as the seals need replacing, so I do not want to waste expensive liquid by doing a change and then doing it again later...

Bu66er....

Nosh

Edited by Nosh on Friday 25th May 18:27

[Timward]

Nosh,

Are you going to replace your diff seals yourself?

My diff is the same. Both sides weep a little. I don't know how easy it is to change them though. I may just keep it topped up for now and then have a go at them over the winter.

Tim

[carsy]

Dont put castrol smx in it, thats for gearboxes.

I use the Castrol same as Simon says. Good stuff and keeps it nice and quiet.

[Simon says]

Phil you have a http://www.eurocarparts.com/milton-keynes.html BMW specialist and open long hours/days if distance or quick availability is your problem they should list an oil that is the same or equivalent to the oil i suggested earlier BMW list 75/140 syn LSD oil for their LSD axles too must be worth a phone call you don't want to damage the final drive components using the wrong oil while your waiting to change those output shaft seals just keep it topped up till your ready safe in the knowledge your doing no harm.

Edited by Simon says on Saturday 26th May 22:53

[brett84]

I did mine today with that redline, bright red stuff looks like blood. Didn't need to buy a syringe i just did the same thing as when changing the gearbox oil. Run a pipe into the diff and get someone to pour oil in the other end and let gravity work it's magic

[Timward]

Nosh,

Did you ever get your diff seals fixed?

I have the same problem and am trying to find out how easy it will be to replace them myself

Thanks,

Tim

[Simon says]

Try this http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...