dangarza

As suggested by several members of this board, I changed the differential fluid yesterday on my 2003 car with only 2020 fairly sedate-driven highway miles on the odo.
The drainplug was covered with this slimy, gunky, black tar, the fluid was black and looked as though it had fine, particulate matter in it (Kind of like metallic paint flakes).
Needless to say, I am glad I did it (I'm sure my diff agrees on this
Many thanks to Xviper for his superb write up on how to do this. For those of you in whom anality is reaching new heights, the only thing I could add to the instructions is that you can wait more than the 1 hour Xviper suggests (More like 2 hr. as mine was still dripping and leaving a silver dollar-sized spot on floor every 10 minutes even after 2 hr.) diff. was warmed up prior to change.
As many others have noted, the fill bolt was tough to break loose.
When would you guys suggest I do the next change?
Cheers



Daniel

honda606

I did my first change around 4,000 miles.

I'm going to do mine every two oil changes or 7,500 miles.

RazorV3

what fluid did you guys use? i know honda recommends a gl-5 or gl-6 90w gear oil...but is it ok if i use castrol hypoy c gear oil 80w90(on the label it says it exceeds gl-5 specs and has limited slip performance).



btw im going to change mine during my first oil change, probably around 2500-3000 miles.

Asura

Same here.
Except, I change oil every 2500 so diff and tranny every 5000.

dangarza

I would think that the Castrol is OK given that it exceeds GL 5 API requirements.
I used Mobil 1 75W90.
Definitely worth doing, I think. And given how it looked.....the sooner, the better.
Cheers,
Daniel

cdelena

Do keep in mind that the color and odor of the initial diff lube can be attributed to it probably being formulated for break-in. It likely has more EP and moly additives than others. I would guess than leaving the factory fill until about 5000 miles is suggested; your change at 2000 won't hurt anything but is very early.

RazorV3

just the fact that there can be lots of metal shavings and particles in the fluid at only 2k miles makes me want to change it early too. i doubt honda uses special breaking fluid for the differential. the only "special breakin fliud" documented by honda is the fluid found in the motor, which contains moly additives. thats why they tell you to keep it for 3750 miles(severe driving) or 7000 miles(normal driving).

cdelena

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RazorV3
[B]

just the fact that there can be lots of metal shavings and particles in the fluid at only 2k miles makes me want to change it early too.

RazorV3

im just saying that if honda really did have "breakin" fluid in the diff, then they would mention it in the manual, like they did with the engine oil(contains moly). can you please give me some real proof?

ChrisD

Don't worry particularly about metal gunk or "tar" on the drain bolt itself. It's designed to magnetically pick up most of that stuff, and as others suggested, the fluid itself may be designed from the factory to aid the break in process.

I changed my fluid 10,000 miles after the 30,000 mile servicing, and the fluid came out clean and clear.