Lack of Fill Port on Differential Cover after Servicing at Garage

[21trumpets]

Hi Group,
I wondered if anyone else has found this headache in servicing their
own wheels.
I took my 1985 rear wheel drive in to a garage on a trip a few years
back. The purpose was to change the oil and fitre and grease the front
end of the car. The garage service person suggested I also change
the oil in the rear differential, which I thought was a good idea. A
few years later, I began to do all the neccessary servicing of the car
which got around to checking the level of the fluid in the
differential. Only, to my surprise, the old cover had been replaced
with one that doesn't seem to have a fill port.
Leaving me to ask myself, (and you) how did they get the new fluid
into the differential?

[Ed Pawlowski]

On Mon, 21 May 2012 10:04:44 -0700 (PDT), 21trumpets

Post by 21trumpets
Hi Group,
I wondered if anyone else has found this headache in servicing their
own wheels.
I took my 1985 rear wheel drive in to a garage on a trip a few years
back. The purpose was to change the oil and fitre and grease the front
end of the car. The garage service person suggested I also change
the oil in the rear differential, which I thought was a good idea. A
few years later, I began to do all the neccessary servicing of the car
which got around to checking the level of the fluid in the
differential. Only, to my surprise, the old cover had been replaced
with one that doesn't seem to have a fill port.
Leaving me to ask myself, (and you) how did they get the new fluid
into the differential?

Honestly? I don't care. The last time I checked fluid in the rear
was my '53 Mercury. I've never had a differential problem with any
care I've ever owned and I've never changed the fluid in any of them.

Only time we pulled a differential was swapping my brother's 4.56 Posi
Traction for a 4.11 and fifty bucks. That was in 1962 or so.

If the fluid was changed a few years ago, it will probably last
another 25 or so.

[Tote Rack]

Post by Ed Pawlowski
On Mon, 21 May 2012 10:04:44 -0700 (PDT), 21trumpets

Post by 21trumpets
Hi Group,
I wondered if anyone else has found this headache in servicing their
own wheels.
I took my 1985 rear wheel drive in to a garage on a trip a few years
back. The purpose was to change the oil and fitre and grease the front
end of the car. The garage service person suggested I also change
the oil in the rear differential, which I thought was a good idea. A
few years later, I began to do all the neccessary servicing of the car
which got around to checking the level of the fluid in the
differential. Only, to my surprise, the old cover had been replaced
with one that doesn't seem to have a fill port.
Leaving me to ask myself, (and you) how did they get the new fluid
into the differential?

Honestly?  I don't care.  The last time I checked fluid in the rear
was my '53 Mercury.  I've never had a differential problem with any
care I've ever owned and I've never changed the fluid in any of them.
Only time we pulled a differential was swapping my brother's 4.56 Posi
Traction for a 4.11 and fifty bucks. That was in 1962 or so.
If the fluid was changed a few years ago, it will probably last
another 25 or so.

What if it's a limited slip diff. i'd change fluid often.

[Ed Pawlowski]

On Tue, 22 May 2012 10:32:14 -0700 (PDT), Tote Rack

Post by Tote Rack

Post by Ed Pawlowski
Honestly?  I don't care.  The last time I checked fluid in the rear
was my '53 Mercury.  I've never had a differential problem with any
care I've ever owned and I've never changed the fluid in any of them.
Only time we pulled a differential was swapping my brother's 4.56 Posi
Traction for a 4.11 and fifty bucks. That was in 1962 or so.
If the fluid was changed a few years ago, it will probably last
another 25 or so.

What if it's a limited slip diff. i'd change fluid often.

Yes, we did that in 1962.

Every 25 years or so seems to be good.

My brother was a car collector and restorer and owned about 20 to 25
cars at any given time. Unless it had to come part for some other
reason, differential fluid was usually never changed. Even on his '69
Impala with 350,000+ miles. That was his daily driver until he sold
it in 2002.

[repairman54]

Post by Ed Pawlowski
Honestly? I don't care. The last time I checked fluid in the rear
was my '53 Mercury. I've never had a differential problem with any
care I've ever owned and I've never changed the fluid in any of them.
Only time we pulled a differential was swapping my brother's 4.56 Posi
Traction for a 4.11 and fifty bucks. That was in 1962 or so.
If the fluid was changed a few years ago, it will probably last
another 25 or so.

GM shop manual for my '99 Yukon says change rear end lube at 30k miles.
When I did at 35k it looked like it needed a change, like it badly needed a
change, refilled with syth. and when the dif. cover rusted
through at 90k lube looked way better that the factory fill.
Oils wear out, no matter what component they are in, I've had my share of
diffs break / wear out.

[e***@gmail.com]

Post by repairman54

Post by Ed Pawlowski
Honestly? I don't care. The last time I checked fluid in the rear
was my '53 Mercury. I've never had a differential problem with any
care I've ever owned and I've never changed the fluid in any of them.
Only time we pulled a differential was swapping my brother's 4.56 Posi
Traction for a 4.11 and fifty bucks. That was in 1962 or so.
If the fluid was changed a few years ago, it will probably last
another 25 or so.

GM shop manual for my '99 Yukon says change rear end lube at 30k miles.
When I did at 35k it looked like it needed a change, like it badly needed a
change, refilled with syth. and when the dif. cover rusted
through at 90k lube looked way better that the factory fill.
Oils wear out, no matter what component they are in, I've had my share of
diffs break / wear out.

Ya, I agree. The oils do need changing regular. I just replaced the u-joint and got a good look at the front bearings on the differential. Now there's a work of art. Fortunately the gear oil was good. That rear end has over 400,000k on it (don't know what that is in miles) and so far only had to replace the two axel wheel seals. Guess it depends on what type of oil is in the rear axel to begin with. But oil is still cheaper than parts, well it used to be.

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by 21trumpets
Hi Group,
I wondered if anyone else has found this headache in servicing their
own wheels.
I took my 1985 rear wheel drive in to a garage on a trip a few years
back. The purpose was to change the oil and fitre and grease the front
end of the car. The garage service person suggested I also change
the oil in the rear differential, which I thought was a good idea. A
few years later, I began to do all the neccessary servicing of the car
which got around to checking the level of the fluid in the
differential. Only, to my surprise, the old cover had been replaced
with one that doesn't seem to have a fill port.
Leaving me to ask myself, (and you) how did they get the new fluid
into the differential?

Your vehicle is a Ford. The fill hole is in the front.