C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Rear Differential Drain

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Old 03-19-2012, 03:38 PM
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hawkshil
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Default Rear Differential Drain

Am i missing something or is there no drain plug for the rear diff on a 95 C4? I found the fill, And i don't want to take the axle out to change the fluid. Granted it does only have 34,000 for a 95 but i'm sure putting in fresh fluid can't hurt anything.
Old 03-19-2012, 03:42 PM
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Nathan Plemons
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There is no drain. Some people have very carefully drilled and tapped it to add one. If you don't want to do that you can crack open the seal to drain it then hope you can put it back and it not leak. Finally the cheapest and least likely to cause trouble option is to suck the fluid out through the fill hole.
Old 03-19-2012, 03:57 PM
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WW7
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Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
There is no drain. Some people have very carefully drilled and tapped it to add one. If you don't want to do that you can crack open the seal to drain it then hope you can put it back and it not leak. Finally the cheapest and least likely to cause trouble option is to suck the fluid out through the fill hole.
Just remember to spit it out , don't swallow it..........WW
Old 03-19-2012, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by WW7
Just remember to spit it out , don't swallow it..........WW


Just buy or borrow a hand operated vacuum pump to get the fluid out. You'll need it to re-fill the diff anyway. You can use the same pump for other stuff like PS fluid and trans fluid.
Old 03-19-2012, 04:47 PM
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krackenvette
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That oil doesnt need to be changed. My opinion. I recommend if you do change it get a Oil Analysis from Blackstone Labrotories and see what they say. i bet they say its almost new and is in perfect condition.
Old 03-19-2012, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by WW7
Just remember to spit it out , don't swallow it..........WW
Old 03-19-2012, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
That oil doesnt need to be changed. My opinion. I recommend if you do change it get a Oil Analysis from Blackstone Labrotories and see what they say. i bet they say its almost new and is in perfect condition.
I bet the analysis would cost you more than fresh gear oil and posi additive.
Old 03-19-2012, 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
That oil doesnt need to be changed. My opinion.
Mine did, at about 60K miles. The clutch plates started moaning during tight turns. Replacing the diff lube cured it and it should be good to go for the duration.

Open diffs can go seemingly forever without a lube change. Limited-slip units, not so much.....



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Old 03-19-2012, 06:39 PM
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93Rubie
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
That oil doesnt need to be changed. My opinion. I recommend if you do change it get a Oil Analysis from Blackstone Labrotories and see what they say. i bet they say its almost new and is in perfect condition.
HQ gear oil is cheap in comparison to testing/a new rear end.
Especially, if you do any kind of aggressive driving auto-x, track, 1/4 mile, etc...
Old 03-19-2012, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by rocco16
Mine did, at about 60K miles. The clutch plates started moaning during tight turns. Replacing the diff lube cured it and it should be good to go for the duration.

Open diffs can go seemingly forever without a lube change. Limited-slip units, not so much.....



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Did you have an oil analysis done? There is the oil and the gm additive. I bet the additive wore out.
Regardless, changing oil just because you feel it is bad is wasteful. Have a sample tested, for 25 bucks. They will tell you the condition of the oil and contaminants within the oil.
But if people just want to change oil to change oil, its your money. If you dont know if something is worn with the oil, or within the parts, you are just wasting money in the long run. Its my opinion, nothing more.
I would be more concerned of 17 year old antifreeze and brake fluid, than my differential fluid.

Last edited by krackenvette; 03-19-2012 at 09:13 PM.
Old 03-20-2012, 12:23 AM
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I did replace the antifreeze and the trans fluid this weekend and the brake fluid was about 3 years ago. Once i new it wasn't a simple drain and fill i decided not to mess with the diff. Thanks for all the help guys and gals!!!
Old 03-20-2012, 03:32 AM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
Did you have an oil analysis done?
Have you done analysis on 20-yr-old diff fluid to show it should be good as new?

Oh WTF, why not change it every 20 just for the heck of it. Live on the wild side!
Old 03-20-2012, 03:43 AM
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Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
Have you done analysis on 20-yr-old diff fluid to show it should be good as new?

Oh WTF, why not change it every 20 just for the heck of it. Live on the wild side!
Arent you the funny one.
And its only 17 years old, with only 34k miles on it. LOL
Old 03-20-2012, 05:13 AM
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For what it is worth I will point out that Chrysler specified a 12,000 mile change interval for differential lube on Viper which used a nearly identical D44. Yes, that might be overkill, but as others point out changing lubricant is cheap insurance.
See my post #4 in this link for the procedure to install what GM forgot on the C4.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...questions.html
Old 03-20-2012, 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by toptechx6
For what it is worth I will point out that Chrysler specified a 12,000 mile change interval for differential lube on Viper which used a nearly identical D44. Yes, that might be overkill, but as others point out changing lubricant is cheap insurance.
See my post #4 in this link for the procedure to install what GM forgot on the C4.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...questions.html

Awesome thank you this helps a lot.
Old 03-20-2012, 08:59 AM
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http://petrisenterprises.com/index.p...product=373075
Old 03-20-2012, 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
Arent you the funny one.
And its only 17 years old, with only 34k miles on it. LOL
It's just called cheap insurance. I just changed the oil in my dad's 1946 Chevy pickup, it only had 900 miles on it, but it was 5 years old. Call me crazy but I'll spend the $20 to change it just in case there were contaminants in the old oil that might cost an engine. Back on the subject of the differential, consider worst case $100. If you're not willing to spend $100 every 17 years, maybe you shouldn't own a Corvette, or any car for that matter.

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Old 03-20-2012, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
Arent you the funny one.
And its only 17 years old, with only 34k miles on it. LOL
IDK...I thought it was pretty funny to suggest an oil analysis rather than changing 17-yr-old fluid. I'm just following suit.
Old 03-20-2012, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by krackenvette
Did you have an oil analysis done? There is the oil and the gm additive. I bet the additive wore out.
Regardless, changing oil just because you feel it is bad is wasteful. Have a sample tested, for 25 bucks. They will tell you the condition of the oil and contaminants within the oil.
But if people just want to change oil to change oil, its your money. If you dont know if something is worn with the oil, or within the parts, you are just wasting money in the long run. Its my opinion, nothing more.
I would be more concerned of 17 year old antifreeze and brake fluid, than my differential fluid.
I'm just glad we have such smart techs in here. And here I have been changing my oil all this time.. I'm an Idiot

To the OP please change your oil you will feel better about it and so will I.
Old 03-20-2012, 02:38 PM
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krackenvette
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Originally Posted by ch@0s
I'm just glad we have such smart techs in here. And here I have been changing my oil all this time.. I'm an Idiot

To the OP please change your oil you will feel better about it and so will I.
I guess we aren't as smart *** you. But the point should be taken that after 17 years someone decides to change diff oil. And 34,000 miles. Time vs actual use. Regardless, we all have our advice, and opinions. Its a forum, not an ASE certified mechanics thread. Its just that, nothing more.


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