Did I damage my diff?

[NuMex00]

Could running half a quart low on diff fluid for ~ 1000 miles have sent my rear axle to an early grave?

So I was changing my rear differential fluid, and I stupidly installed the drain plug without the seal. So Im sure you can guess what happened next. I drained it into a clean pan, installed the seal and refilled the diff. Only when I refilled it, it didn't quite spill out the fill hole, but I figured, how much could I have lost in the transfer?

Since I didn't have extra fluid, I just said screw it and figured I would top it off later that day. Well, about a 1,000 miles later I finally got around to topping it off and it ate about 1/2 a quart! (how did I lose that much in the transfer?!... ever spill a half a quart on the concrete? It makes a HUGE mess. I feel like I should have noticed this....)

I rotated the tires at the same time I topped off the fluid (and yes I was on a flat surface when I topped it off) and now I have a minor vibration at high speeds I feel in the seat.

Could just be a tire out of balance, as I don't remember feeling it in the seat before I rotated the tires, but I don't typically get up to speeds above 60 just driving around town so I don't know if it has been there previously/ getting worse etc.

Anyway, that rear diff takes > 2 quarts, so could running a 1/2 a quart low for a while cause any serious wear? Would like to know what y'all think.

 

[D Farms]

i dont know exactly, but it would make sense that if there were damage to the diff it would be more catastrophic. i would drain it again and check the fluid for metal shavings.

you could also put it on jack stands and rotate the wheel manually and see if it sticks in any spots when you rotate it.

also if someone can chime in here, do we have an inspection hole on our diffs?

 

[eatmorechickenx]

Your diff is probably fine. You are probably just extra sensitive to the vibration right now. If something is damaged there's not much you can do at this point. You could change the fluid to check for metal which would be one indicator that it caused wear, but I don't think your going to find any. About all you can do if there is damage is rebuild, so either way you might as well just run it. That's just my opinion, but someone else may feel different.

 

[jeremyc74]

The diff is fine. The fluid level is determined more by cooling requirements than lubrication, and there's a substantial buffer for loss over time. You could run less than half the required level in there and everything would still be completely lubricated.

I'd guess the vibration is from the tires, not the diff.

 

[Cow_doc.308]

You'll be fine. When I bought my runner, the rear pinion seal and bearing was shot. I don't know how long it had been that way. I eased it home and it took over a quart. I refilled it weekly until I could get the time to tear it down.
My gears were still in great shape. Had new bearings put in and haven't looked back.

I'd check your tires....that much easier and cheaper than dropping your 3rd member out.

 

[Buckaroo]

When the diff begins to go, it will be noisy rather than vibrating.

Buckaroo

 

[slides]

when was the last time you had an alignment? Diff's make sound usually a howl, tires make vibration

 

[nevada]

Could running half a quart low on diff fluid for ~ 1000 miles have sent my rear axle to an early grave?

So I was changing my rear differential fluid, and I stupidly installed the drain plug without the seal. So Im sure you can guess what happened next. I drained it into a clean pan, installed the seal and refilled the diff. Only when I refilled it, it didn't quite spill out the fill hole, but I figured, how much could I have lost in the transfer?

Since I didn't have extra fluid, I just said screw it and figured I would top it off later that day. Well, about a 1,000 miles later I finally got around to topping it off and it ate about 1/2 a quart! (how did I lose that much in the transfer?!... ever spill a half a quart on the concrete? It makes a HUGE mess. I feel like I should have noticed this....)

I rotated the tires at the same time I topped off the fluid (and yes I was on a flat surface when I topped it off) and now I have a minor vibration at high speeds I feel in the seat.

Could just be a tire out of balance, as I don't remember feeling it in the seat before I rotated the tires, but I don't typically get up to speeds above 60 just driving around town so I don't know if it has been there previously/ getting worse etc.

Anyway, that rear diff takes > 2 quarts, so could running a 1/2 a quart low for a while cause any serious wear? Would like to know what y'all think.

nope, you're fine. get the tires checked for balance/separation.

it likely took a bit more, because some of the oil was out in the axle tube.

The diff is fine. The fluid level is determined more by cooling requirements than lubrication, and there's a substantial buffer for loss over time. You could run less than half the required level in there and everything would still be completely lubricated.

I'd guess the vibration is from the tires, not the diff.

agreed, its fine. 1/2 quart isn't much.

 

[NuMex00]

Thanks guys, my fears have been quenched.

I think I was mostly just paranoid... after driving it for several hundred miles this weekend it feels fine. I should get an alignment tho... Its probably been 90k or so since it was done, but tire wear has never been an issue.

Also, just hit 238,900 mi on the odo! Since my Toy has made it to the moon, I think Ill head back now