Differential Fluid

Drivetrain discussion including Transmission, Differential, Driveshaft, and related items.
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bsparks72
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:29 pm
Location: Katy, Tx

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by bsparks72 »

I just changed my fluid on my 103k mile car, and I'm glad I did. I've seen worse, but it was definitely time. I used the GM fluid, purchased on Amazon. The capacity is supposed to be 1.3x quarts, but I was only able to get in just over a quart.
-Brandon
2012 9C1 L77 - 228/234, .604/.609 112 cam, JBA shorty headers, Solo high-flow cats, X-pipe, Cherry Bomb single-chamber mufflers (Frankenstein exhaust), Roto-Fab CAI, CTS-V torque converter, 3.45 Camaro diff, G8 red/black seats/steering wheel
9C1fanatic
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 8:58 pm
Location: Texas Hill Country

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by 9C1fanatic »

Just curious, are you guys using a pump to fill the diff? On mine it looks like the exhaust pipe prohibits you from filling the diff directly with the gear lube bottle.
Garner Ames



1975 Pontiac Grand Am L77 - 14.82 @ 92.89
1991 Chevrolet C1500 L31 Vortec/5 Speed
2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LM7
2014 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 L77 - 13.60 @ 105.87
2019 Chevrolet Express 3500 L96
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storm9c1
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by storm9c1 »

9C1fanatic wrote:Just curious, are you guys using a pump to fill the diff? On mine it looks like the exhaust pipe prohibits you from filling the diff directly with the gear lube bottle.
Could you shove a piece of hose on the bottle nipple? I've had to do that before on some cars. Then I eventually bought a pump for the lower unit on my boat. After I bought the pump, I just use it for all gear oil changes on vehicles and boats.
Tom (AKA: Storm)
2011 Caprice 9C3: L77, 8K miles, first-owner, purchased July 2011.
1995 Caprice 9C1: LT1, 178K miles, summer car.
1995 Impala SS: LT1, 21K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 62K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 128K miles. Rust In Pieces
1994 Caprice 9C1: LT1, beater winter car.
1969 Chevy C30: 383ci stroker, 4L80E, rollback car hauler.
1972 Chrysler Newport: 400ci big block, survivor 27K miles, 2-door hardtop.
1969 Dodge Charger: 383ci big block.
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bsparks72
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:29 pm
Location: Katy, Tx

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by bsparks72 »

I used a pump. Good thing it's only a little over a quart. I used the same pump to do 5 quarts of trans fluid. That was not fun!

Same one was about $10 at a local parts store.

http://www.amazon.com/Plews-55001-Lubri ... 553&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
-Brandon
2012 9C1 L77 - 228/234, .604/.609 112 cam, JBA shorty headers, Solo high-flow cats, X-pipe, Cherry Bomb single-chamber mufflers (Frankenstein exhaust), Roto-Fab CAI, CTS-V torque converter, 3.45 Camaro diff, G8 red/black seats/steering wheel
CrashTestDummy
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Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by CrashTestDummy »

storm9c1 wrote:
9C1fanatic wrote:Just curious, are you guys using a pump to fill the diff? On mine it looks like the exhaust pipe prohibits you from filling the diff directly with the gear lube bottle.
Could you shove a piece of hose on the bottle nipple? I've had to do that before on some cars. Then I eventually bought a pump for the lower unit on my boat. After I bought the pump, I just use it for all gear oil changes on vehicles and boats.
I've always done that. Use one bottle to fill the diff from, and fill it as full as you can get it to start. Then, after a couple of long squirts, refill it.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
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9C1fanatic
Posts: 430
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 8:58 pm
Location: Texas Hill Country

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by 9C1fanatic »

That's a good idea using the hose. I don't know why I did not think of that.

On the subject of the trans, your pretty dedicated to pump all that fluid into the trans using a pump. I wish these cars had a dipstick. I hate to do it, but I will probably be taking my car to the dealer for transmission services. Shouldn't have to do it as often with Dexron VI compared to the old Dexron III but still its the principal as I only trust myself to work on my cars.

Wonder what it costs for a flush and filter change at the dealer. A pan service I could do but I don't see how to safely change all the fluid in this trans without a machine.
Garner Ames



1975 Pontiac Grand Am L77 - 14.82 @ 92.89
1991 Chevrolet C1500 L31 Vortec/5 Speed
2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LM7
2014 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 L77 - 13.60 @ 105.87
2019 Chevrolet Express 3500 L96
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bsparks72
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:29 pm
Location: Katy, Tx

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by bsparks72 »

I did the extracting with this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7201-Flui ... 403&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best $88 you'll spend. I use this thing all the time! It is marked (in liters), so I just sucked out almost 5 liters, and then used my small pump to put in 5 quarts. If I took the time to dump it and then clean it, I could have reversed the flow and used it to pump new fluid right back in. I figure if I do that again soon, I will effectively have around half or 2/3 new fluid, give or take. Beats taking it to a dealer! I don't know that I trust them to get the fluid level correct anyway. After I do it again next time, I'm going to check the fluid the correct (pain in the rear) way. For now, I settled with putting back in what I got out.

Oh, and as far as using the pump, it was approximately 80 pumps per quart of fluid. I didn't have anything else to do, so I was counting them out.
-Brandon
2012 9C1 L77 - 228/234, .604/.609 112 cam, JBA shorty headers, Solo high-flow cats, X-pipe, Cherry Bomb single-chamber mufflers (Frankenstein exhaust), Roto-Fab CAI, CTS-V torque converter, 3.45 Camaro diff, G8 red/black seats/steering wheel
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sardillim
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:45 pm
Location: Easton Ct

Re: Differential Fluid

Post by sardillim »

Just Curious has anybody tried Amsoil severe gear ? Looking for a synthetic I prefer amsoil products but they don't list a diff oil
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