How do I drain the diff fluid?

[VXIIS]

Hello,

Does anyone know how to drain the fluid from the diff (not LSD) on a VX, without having to undo all of the bolts that hold the back plate (of the diff) in place, and then also having to replace the seal?

I was told that the bottom (centre) bolt, on the back plate, also acts as a drain plug. I have tried to look this up in service books and also on this forum, but can't find any information.

Appreciate anyone's help!

Thank you.

[Tigger96]

Hi, i know on an lsd its the centre bottom bolt, dont see how there would be that much difference between them, take it out and see whay happens.

[GHZ28]

My VX service sheet shows the bottom bolt on all variants
of the differential to be a drain plug.

Pretty sure it is common throughout.





Hi, i know on an lsd its the centre bottom bolt, dont see how there would be that much difference between them, take it out and see whay happens.

[bobg]

LSD is only the centre. I am pretty sure the housing is the same for all.

But as someone said, slip out the bottom bolt and see what happens. Cannot do any harm.


Regards

Bob G

[mmciau]

Don't forget to take out the fill plug so the old oil will run out easier.

Mike :)

[vyssls1]

you guys are right 100% the drain plug is the lowest 13mm bolt head at the bottom of the diff, when u unbolt it and remove its the only bolt with the very large diameter thread, which looks odd.

[JezzaB]

sorry to hijack this thread a bit but:

Is it easy to change the diff fluid (sounds like it) and how?
Is there any benifits from doing it before holden does?
Will it make/help my LSD last longer?

Gosh it sounds like 20 questions..

Thanks guys..

[vyssls1]

hey we all change our engine oil, coolant etc
but who changes their diff oil, i dont even think holdens do it in part of the service schedule.

[Tez82]

hey we all change our engine oil, coolant etc
but who changes their diff oil, i dont even think holdens do it in part of the service schedule.

You are right, but I still recon it should be done every 50,000kms or so. They say normal use, cars don't require there diff oil to be changed... Its personal choice, but I would recomend doing it as often as you change auto tranny... Its cheap as well to do (2L), but you must use fully syn oil. :)

[VooDoo]

I changed mine and put in some high quality Motul oil. Stopped a lot of the whine i was getting and the LSD works a lot better.

[sandgroper]

Im not to sure if anyone else has had this problem or knows of it,
Be sure when you change your diff oil you use the extra additive that alot Holden reccoment and that alot of service people forget. If its an LSD i think the oil is LS90 then you need to add the extra additive on top of that.

I found out when I purchased my Senator and whilst i was reversing i heard a few sounds in the diff that didnt sound nice. AFter speaking with a mechanic in the family it was noted that who ever serviced the car didnt put the additive in. Once this was done......No noise !

If you already know this......Im sorry!

[Fnomna]

Interesting. After an ADL-MEL-ADL trip recently noticed a slight whine at 40-70 km/h. So I want to checnge the diff oil if it will make a difference.


Im not to sure if anyone else has had this problem or knows of it,
Be sure when you change your diff oil you use the extra additive that alot Holden reccoment and that alot of service people forget. If its an LSD i think the oil is LS90 then you need to add the extra additive on top of that.

If it is a NON-LSD diff, do I still need the additive, or just full synthetic oil. Which diff oil brand etc is ok?

[VXIIS]

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their advice.

I have had a look at he Castrol web site, and have looked up the technical data sheet for Castrol's SAF-XA (which is Castrol's fully synthetic diff fluid), and they claim that the new formulation contains the "preferred limited slip additive, Sturaco 7098, for Ford and Holden LSDs".

The data sheet also states that no other additive is required.

You can find this info on the castrol web site by looking at the products listing for "cars etc", and then "manual transmission fluid".

[theVman]

interesting i was thinking of doing this this weekend actually . . just the right time to look!!

thanks guys!!