Rear Differential Fluid Change

fxlr8

fxlr8

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Administrator
PROCEDURE WAS DONE ON MY 2008 M45, PROCEDURE SHOULD BE SIMILAR ON MOST INFINITI VEHICLES. MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR OWNERS MANUAL FOR PROPER FLUID SPECS AND CAPACITIES.

TOOLS:
JACKSTANDS
JACK
10MM HEX SOCKET
SOCKET WRENCH
TORQUE WRENCH (FT/LBS)
BREAKER BAR (IF NEEDED)

SUPPLIES:
2 (QUART) BOTTLES DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL (75W-90 SYNTHETIC IS WHAT I USED)
FLUID PUMP
DRAIN PAN
RAGS

SAFETY:
NEVER GET UNDER A CAR WITHOUT OUT QUALITY JACKSTANDS OR RAMPS IN PLACE. NEVER EVER GET UNDER A CAR ONLY RAISED AND SUPPORTED WITH A JACK.

PROCEDURE:
LIFT AND SUPPORT ALL 4 CORNERS OF YOUR VEHICLE WITH JACKSTANDS. YOU WANT TO KEEP THE THE CAR AS LEVEL AS POSSIBLE SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUMP IN THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FLUID INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL.

LOOSEN AND REMOVE THE TOP FILLER PLUG FIRST (YOU'LL WANT TO REMOVE THE FILLER PLUG FIRST SO YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FILL UP THE DIFFERENTIAL AFTER THE FLUID IS DRAINED).
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LOOSEN THE DRAIN PLUG. ALIGN YOUR PAN UNDER THE DIFFERENTIAL AND REMOVE THE PLUG.
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LET THE FLUID DRAIN COMPLETELY.
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AFTER THE FLUID DRAINS, CLEAN THE DRAIN PLUG AND REINSTALL THE DRAIN PLUG. TIGHTEN THE DRAIN PLUG TO 25FT/LBS.
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GRAB YOUR FLUID AND PUMP AND FILL YOUR DIFFERENTIAL UNTIL THE FLUID STARTS COMING OUT OF THE FILLER HOLE. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME FLUID COMING OUT SLOWLY THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE PUMPING, BUT IT WILL NOT BE FULL UNTIL IT IS COMING OUT PRETTY GOOD (AROUND 1.7 QUARTS).
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AFTER THE FLUID IS LEVEL WITH AND COMING OUT OF THE FILLER HOLE PUT BACK THE FILLER PLUG AND TIGHTEN TO 25FT/LBS.
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CLEAN UP ANY FLUID THAT YOU SPILLED, ESPECIALLY OFF THE EXHAUST PIPES.

DONE..

MY CAR HAD AROUND 39,000 ON IT, NOT SURE IF THE FLUID WAS EVER CHANGED BEFORE I DID IT.
OLD FLUID ON LEFT / NEW FLUID ON RIGHT.
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http://www. /forum/threads/262-Infiniti-M45-Rear-Differential-Fluid-Change
 

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Wow I just saw this was needed for 60k and wanted to do it before the tune. Great timing!

I'm a little confused by the socket to loosen the plugs and the pump though, if you could explain those further?
 
StuLax18 said:
I'm a little confused by the socket to loosen the plugs and the pump though, if you could explain those further?
Click to expand...

Not quite sure what you mean, 10mm hex to loosen and remove the filler and drain plugs. Fluid transfer pump to pump in the fresh gear oil.
 
Oh I see now, I was looking at the pics in the small size. That nut almost looked rounded and not hexagonal.

Is this the kind of pump?

image_2654.jpg
 

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Is this just regular maintenance? how often should this be done? what kind of benefit do you get from doing this? pardon my ignorance, im no mechanic.
I just did a tune up with new plugs, also did a transmission fluid flush. Car's running smooth now... but would consider doing this as well.
 
StuLax18 said:
Oh I see now, I was looking at the pics in the small size. That nut almost looked rounded and not hexagonal.

Is this the kind of pump?

image_2654.jpg
Click to expand...
image_7450.jpg

I have one like this (click). It works well. I think the one you posted might be a bit too much/large for the job. You might want to shorten the tubing if you going to use the one you posted because there not much fluid to begin with.
 

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Nice DIY. Question, is there a way to check the rear diff fluid to see if it is dirty. I was supposed to have this changed when I had my 60k service done. I am now at 76k and the dealer said it needed to be changed. I want to check myself.
 
You can open the FILL plug. Using a drinking straw (one that has the goose neck bendable ) with a finger cover one end of the straw, stick it into the opened fill plug, release your the finger covered end of the straw to create a suction to draw a little fluid out to examine.
 
On a stock height FX you don't really have to lift the vehicle to get to the rear differential. It is is far enough back and up high enough to get pretty decent access to it. I'm not exactly a skinny guy but was easily able to do this procedure in my garage without raising it up.

The front differential is another story but I was able to get at it just by driving up onto 2" thick boards.
 
Thought I'd give a couple of tips now that I did this on the FX.

So I wasn't quite able to get the bolts loose with it on the ground, but I am pretty low and the dual exhaust kinda blocked the fill plug. I put it up on jack stands just to get them loose, starting with the fill plug of course. I then lowered it back down to drain and then refill so it would be at the proper amount.

That fluid smells horrible though. As soon as it started draining I had to get out from under the FX.
 
Most use Mobil 1 LS 75W-90 with no problems. I used Lucas 75W-90 because that is all my local auto shop had in stock, no issues with the Lucas.
 
The M1 is what I used, but I've always like Mobil products. I even like their gasoline after I had a pleasant experience using it. There's one right off of I-5 just north of Santa Clarita that I've stopped at twice.
 
Thanks for the pics and all the information...I really appreciate it...I am kinda of new here and wondered on to this page and found exactly what I was looking for...


Again Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
fxlr8 said:
The maintenance schedule calls for a differential fluid change at 30K, if you are following the premium schedule -> http://www.infinitiusa.com/ownership/maintenance-schedules.html

Procedure isn't that hard at all, I would personally do this every 30k regardless, along with a transmission drain and fill.
Click to expand...

So I changed my diff and transfer case fluids around 30K miles. At that time, the Transfer fluid looked a little bit dark, but overall in pretty good shape, the front diff, was pretty dirty and the rear diff was practically black. I just did it again at about 81k miles (all 3). The Transfer fluid looked like the day I put it in and the diffs both appeared to be in really good shape too. I'm sure that this is primarily due to the standard wear during the first X (10k?) miles on a new car, but I was pretty surprised at both 1) how dirty it was the first time and 2) how clean it was the second time.

I am not in any way an Amsoil fanboy, but I used Amsoil 80w-90 (the exact spec called for in the manual) gear oil for the diffs and Amsoil Universal ATF (with the Matic D/J spec) for the Transfer case at both the 30k and now the 81k service.

Just thought I'd post my results.
 
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