65k Differential Fluid Change
 

Bought my Z from the original owner at just over 59,000 miles. Today I changed the differential fluid at just over 65,000 miles. The fluid was very dark, but not black, and definitely smelled burned. I suspect the fluid was the production fill. Additionally, the magnetic drain plug had a heavy coating. The coating came of with paper towels and had the viscosity of a thick paste.

Given the heavy coating on the magnet, I will be changing this fluid during my next oil chage. I'm sure there's still a decent amount of metal coating internal surfaces, and will be washed away by the new fluid.

If you have not changed the differential fluid in your Z, I recommend you consider doing so.

Check out the photos.

http://www.the370z.com/members/diver...2-img-5943.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/diver...3-img-5944.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/diver...6-img-5949.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/diver...4-img-5947.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/diver...5-img-5948.jpg

Wow!!! Good looking out!!!

65k Differential Fluid Change
 

Good lawd!! Doing my diff and the tranny this weekend.


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im sure u didnt use factory fill, what brand/weight did u go with

even at 30k miles it's awful looking.

happy i did mine when i did. might just do it again when i do my motor oil change.

Nothing exotic. I've been a long time user of Blackstone Labs oil analysis services. Long story-short, unless you have a severe duty application like racing and a high-end engine build, even low cost conventional fluids are sufficient for regularly serviced vehicles. Even so, I do tend to buy synthetic blends and full syns. In this case I went with a full synthetic Mobil product at factory recommended weight of 75-90w. I may go with a 140w ceiling on next fill due to long service intervals of a differential.

i did mines @ 55k and the fluid was a dark honey color.

also, compared to the 350Z, changing the RD fluid is a tight squeeze for the 370Z, as I had trouble getting my torch wrench to fit with the exhaust piping in the way.

I just had to use a simple extension on my ratchet.

Did you mean "torque" wrench? I'm pretty sure you didn't use a torch during your fluid change.

I changed mine at around 6k miles and already it looked like crap. Also with the factory fill I used to get this light burning type smell coming from the diff when driving hard..I think the factory fluid is garbage

Now that is all gone, I used Motul 75w90 its very easy to DIY on this job.

It would be interesting, albeit expensive, to see what the Motul product looks and smells like at 6k of similar driving.

From what I've read, it is reported by those with differential fluid temperature sensors in their 370zs that the fluid temp continually rises when driven at constant high speeds. For those who regularly drive an above average number of highway miles, I reccomend more frequent differential fluid changes than the interval specified by Nissan.

I change mine ever 60k miles with redline, been good.

On a side note filling it can be a bitch, i'll post a pic later of the pump I made.

Used a new syrup pump from starbucks cut down it fit in a redline bottle.

^^ I agree, I do lots of hwy driving and I know for a fact that fluid heats up pretty good at those speeds over time. I'll probably change it again during my 18k oil change...just to see what it looks like after about 12k miles of use

^^ @ 90 ST.....dude, just get the cheapest pump from any auto store like auto zone, it worked perfectly for me

I did the first time..didn't like it. The one i made is way cleaner.

Sounds nice. Do u mind sharing the way you made yours? Perhaps I'd like your style better.

Sounds like it deserves it's own thread.

haha damn i must have been really tired when i typed that. yes, i meant torque and not torch, although now that i think about it, i could have used the heat method to loosen the bolts lol. but yeah, with the exhaust piping in the way, it was kinda a pain to torque down to specs.

Extentions are your answer. Simple solution.

Hey guys I'll post up pics in a minute. Basically I used a syrup pump from Starbucks. Drilled a hole in the cap from a Redline bottle and cut the pump down to fit. Then you just stick the tip in the hole, lol, and pump the bottle up and down.
I think I posted a mini diy in the tranny change thread too.

Yah this will make for a cleaner service. :tup:

I will try this approach on my next service.

^^ Thanks for posting your method. I can see how that can make it less messy and you can better control the overflow in the end.

Now I'm not sure which Starbucks to steal a syrup pump from haha

Just ask them for a pump. my wife buys bottles of their syrup from them and they just give her the pumps. lol I have a couple. just in case.

I used this. Absolutely no issues and my arm did not become tired during the fill.

Performance Tool W1139 Quart/Gallon Fluid Pump

I picked mine up at Autozone, but you can also get it at Amazon

Performance Tool W1139 Quart/Gallon Fluid Pump - Hand Tool Sets - Amazon.com

Fits both quart and gallon jugs.