Rear Diff Fluid Level

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:39 am

I changed my rear diff fluid out today. However, after I finished and dumped my drain pan into a gallon jug, there was less than 2 quarts of fluid. (and that includes a whole can of carb cleaner that I sprayed and cleaned everything off with) I refilled it with a little over 2-1/2 quarts - just enough to overflow the fill hole. I didn't have any leaks before the fluid change. Did they maybe underfill the diff from the factory? Has anyone else ever noticed this?

Jug full-o-fluid:

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:43 pm

long_tall_texan wrote:

(and that includes a whole can of carb cleaner that I sprayed and cleaned everything off with)

Noooooooo!!!! Say it ain't so! I cleaned out a GM 10 bolt diff using brake cleaner once...3 months and $1000 later I had a new rear end. That was before I was edumacated on this malarchy.

Brake cleaner/carb cleaner ruins bearings/seals, etc. and I have vowed to never use it again when cleaning out a diff.

NO brake cleaner, NO carb cleaner, NO gasoline, NO mineral spirits, NO paint thinner, NO laquer thinner... Just use kerosene or diesel. Neither of these will harm bearings or seals, and any minute traces of either will harmlessly dissolve in the gear oil. Mineral spirits have no use whatsoever around an automobile.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:48 am

Prospect62 wrote:

long_tall_texan wrote:

(and that includes a whole can of carb cleaner that I sprayed and cleaned everything off with)

Noooooooo!!!! Say it ain't so! I cleaned out a GM 10 bolt diff using brake cleaner once...3 months and $1000 later I had a new rear end. That was before I was edumacated on this malarchy.

Brake cleaner/carb cleaner ruins bearings/seals, etc. and I have vowed to never use it again when cleaning out a diff.

NO brake cleaner, NO carb cleaner, NO gasoline, NO mineral spirits, NO paint thinner, NO laquer thinner... Just use kerosene or diesel. Neither of these will harm bearings or seals, and any minute traces of either will harmlessly dissolve in the gear oil. Mineral spirits have no use whatsoever around an automobile.

Can't see how brake cleaner would have any effect on steel gears or steel bearings. :shock:

I've used it numerous times in the past 5 yrs. front and rear to clean parts and reassemble with no ill effects.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:56 am

KJ04 wrote:

Prospect62 wrote:

long_tall_texan wrote:

(and that includes a whole can of carb cleaner that I sprayed and cleaned everything off with)

Noooooooo!!!! Say it ain't so! I cleaned out a GM 10 bolt diff using brake cleaner once...3 months and $1000 later I had a new rear end. That was before I was edumacated on this malarchy.

Brake cleaner/carb cleaner ruins bearings/seals, etc. and I have vowed to never use it again when cleaning out a diff.

NO brake cleaner, NO carb cleaner, NO gasoline, NO mineral spirits, NO paint thinner, NO laquer thinner... Just use kerosene or diesel. Neither of these will harm bearings or seals, and any minute traces of either will harmlessly dissolve in the gear oil. Mineral spirits have no use whatsoever around an automobile.

Can't see how brake cleaner would have any effect on steel gears or steel bearings. :shock:

I've used it numerous times in the past 5 yrs. front and rear to clean parts and reassemble with no ill effects.

Same here have used it and no problems at all, of course I clean it all out good after spraying, I mean if you do drum brakes and use brake cleaner there are seals right there and it does not hurt them. Been using Brake cleaner for maybe 35 years now and no problems.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:56 am

KJ04 wrote:

Can't see how brake cleaner would have any effect on steel gears or steel bearings. :shock:

I've used it numerous times in the past 5 yrs. front and rear to clean parts and reassemble with no ill effects.

It doesn't physically hurt the metal, it degrades the gear oil. Even when you think it's all dried up, the residue is still there. Hey you guys do whatever you want. I'm speaking from experience and years of having this discussion with mechanics and Jeep enthusiasts alike.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:13 am

Prospect62 wrote:

KJ04 wrote:

Can't see how brake cleaner would have any effect on steel gears or steel bearings. :shock:

I've used it numerous times in the past 5 yrs. front and rear to clean parts and reassemble with no ill effects.

It doesn't physically hurt the metal, it degrades the gear oil. Even when you think it's all dried up, the residue is still there. Hey you guys do whatever you want. I'm speaking from experience and years of having this discussion with mechanics and Jeep enthusiasts alike.

I think it comes into play what you do after you spray that all in there, mine comes from years of experience as well and not having problems but then I do not just spray it in there and let it dry , there in lies the difference :wink:

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:22 am

tommudd wrote:

but then I do not just spray it in there and let it dry , there in lies the difference :wink:

Nor did I. I sprayed it all out. then wiped everything off with clean rags to make sure I got all of the excess out of there. Including the little pond in the bottom of the pumpkin. It holds a lot of fluid and sludge if you don't clean it out.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:47 pm

You guys are right...but I'd still like to avoid the risk. Rear ends are expensive. Just changing the fluid out without hosing ANYTHING down with ANYTHING is benefit enough for the layperson.

Agree to disagree. Been doing that alot lately.

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:22 pm

So Back to my original question... Has anyone else notice a smaller than "normal" amount of fluid from the factory. I never even thought about topping it off from the as-shipped fluid level.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:39 pm

long_tall_texan wrote:

I changed my rear diff fluid out today. However, after I finished and dumped my drain pan into a gallon jug, there was less than 2 quarts of fluid. (and that includes a whole can of carb cleaner that I sprayed and cleaned everything off with) I refilled it with a little over 2-1/2 quarts - just enough to overflow the fill hole. I didn't have any leaks before the fluid change. Did they maybe underfill the diff from the factory? Has anyone else ever noticed this?

Jug full-o-fluid:

Im confused, that looks like its 2.5 quarts to me so whats the question?

Youve got to remember, that milk jug tappers as it gets to the top.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:44 pm

You never really get all of it out, some drips out, some is on the cover etc, no matter what it will not be exactly what you put in, also will lose some just driving it, nothing to worry about, now if you only got an inch or so in the milk jug then :shock:

Kind of like when you change oil in the engine some still hangs around on various parts

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:53 pm

4 quarts in a gallon...that doesn't look too bad.

Go get another empty gallon jug and put 2 1/2 quarts of water in to see how high it goes...then you'll feel better about what you got out.

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

..I almost always have even less than that in the milk jug.. Then again, the missing fluid is usually accounted for as a large puddle on the floor, and the rest is running down my arms or soaking in to my shirt..

..I do everything the hard way.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:32 pm

I use brake cleaner for the first time during my last diff service, and noticed my rear pinion seal is leaking. Don't know if that is related or not, just putting it out there.

Also, did a diff service on my brothers WJ(with carb cleaner and syn 75w90 fluid), probably hasn't been change in its life. (100,000 miles). The inner seal on the front d30 went bad. I didn't do the fluid change, but I know the guy used carb cleaner. But $400 later it was fixed. Again don't know if that is related or not. The rear diff is fine though, as far as I know....

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:43 am

Blue KJ in PA wrote:

Go get another empty gallon jug and put 2 1/2 quarts of water in to see how high it goes...then you'll feel better about what you got out.

Yeah. Now everyone got me thinking. I will put 2.5 qts of colored water in a jug to compare.

Rear Diff Fluid Level

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