topcat7111

If you drive like an mad man. Or do some stupid shit like towing your boat with your S2k, no lubricant in the world is going to save your inferior design differential unit.

cyber_x

Same here. I use Mobil 1 75W90 in my '02 differential with 15k-30k intervals. So far, so good at 72k miles.

RACER

RazorV3

straight 90 isn't good for people who do *not* live in ideal climates. 75w90 protects better when the diff. is cold. some the straight 90w fluids i've seen pour like molasses. imagine what happens when you're driving in sub-freezing temperatures.

Gernby

I haven't noticed any negative effects on anything from towing my 3000 lbs boat.

Road Rage

1) The only report of failure with LE607 that has come to my attention was on a car with many miles on it, and likely hard driven. So it is impossible to infer anything from that. Worn parts or regular hard laucnhes are not going to be offset by ANY lubricant.

2) LE-607 has a pour point of -11 degF, much lower than any other 90w known to me. I considered cold weather issues when I did my analysis and recommendation, lo these many months ago. I would not recommend it for use in severely cold climates, but unless we are talking Arctic here, I would not agree that Mobil1 provides more protection at lower temps - LE-607 adheres to metal tenaciously, and creates a coating which protects even in boundary lubrication situations. The benefit of a multi-vis is more around fuel economy in a differential. This is quite different than in an engine, where oil flow to the top of the engine and the rapid establishment of oil pressure, are critical.

3) Honda has stuck by its 90w advice, and has no secondary recommendation as do other mfrs for cold climates. Yes, there have been some TSB's saying this or that multi-vis is OK, but that may be more for dealer convenience or Canadian use. Until they change the recommendation in the owner's manual, I would be wary of dismissing the need for a 90w unless ambient conditions demand it. The load carrying capacity of LE-607 is way beyond what M1 or any other multi-vis can do.

4) My car is in a garage which never goes below 55 degF, so the whole issue of cold weather is moot for me.

5) I am not saying that 75 or 80w90's are BAD - in fact, I have 5 gallons of LE 9921 in my garage right now. But for the S2000 and MY use, I am not skimping on the vis.

6) Yes, the S2000 has the Miata gear set. But are standard Miata gear sets shot-peened? Miata's ads for its turbo'd car make a deal now about shot peening, so this may again be an apples and oranges thing in saying the gear sets are identical. I don't know for sure wither way.

7) My understanding of the principle of operation of the Torsen diff is that it exerts tremendous force on the carrier, and that the strengthening of the 2004's was done to reduce diff failures unrelated to ring and pinion failure. That of course, is not a lubricant issue at all.

Hope this helps.

RR.

Bigsalgt

Even though Honda recommends 30,000 mile differential oil change intervals doesn't mean your going to follow that recommendation. They also state every 7,500 mile engine oil change intervals for normal conditions maintenance. I would never elapse that many miles on any engine oil recommended or not! Point being, although some of us change the oil sooner rather then later is due to more reasons then us feeling that we have a lubrication issue with our diffs. Fact is, its a small diff. that takes on much responsibility, with a small amount of lubrication in it. I change it so often because I know that Im benefitting its life span by always having fresh top grade oil in it. LE607 is a great product, I to agree that a pure 90w diff. fluid should be used. For those who are using the M1, such as myself, I can tell you as well that its a great product and I have not found any problems with its use. Last thought, when I called my local dealer with the question of which diff. fluid they use when they service the diffs, they stated M1.