Just replaced the differential oil in my '99. Yes, I was smart enough to think about removing the filler plug before the drain plug. Been there/done that on a Nissan transmission once, and had to actually remove the trans. and weld on a socket to the rounded-over filler plug.
On my T4R, after first soaking the plug with Kroil (the best penetrant), then PB Blaster (2nd best), I couldn't get the filler plug to budge, with either a breaker bar or an impact wrench.
So, with a little butane torch, I heated the differential case around the plug, for a few minutes. Not the plug itself, but the case. I wanted it to heat up and expand before the plug did, and hopefully break loose whatever had the plug seized. That most certainly did the trick. It immediately broke loose with an impact wrench.
This tip may have been posted before, but I didn't see it in a search. Just wanted to offer this cool little trick to anyone who might run into trouble with theirs.
On my T4R, after first soaking the plug with Kroil (the best penetrant), then PB Blaster (2nd best), I couldn't get the filler plug to budge, with either a breaker bar or an impact wrench.
So, with a little butane torch, I heated the differential case around the plug, for a few minutes. Not the plug itself, but the case. I wanted it to heat up and expand before the plug did, and hopefully break loose whatever had the plug seized. That most certainly did the trick. It immediately broke loose with an impact wrench.
This tip may have been posted before, but I didn't see it in a search. Just wanted to offer this cool little trick to anyone who might run into trouble with theirs.
