Front differential, rear differential, and transfer case fluid levels

[Dokatd]

Btw I realised I spelt anesthesiologist wrongly in my previous post. At least I didn't spell it anaesthesiologist. That would be 1.06 out. I think.

Try living in Albuquerque. God I hated having to spell that for people.

 

[Tazzieman]

Try living in Albuquerque. God I hated having to spell that for people.

In the days before you could cut and paste a retort eh

 

[Glen]

I would think they could easily switch out the axle differential cover plates and change the fill port height based on specific applications if the fill port is intended to be the true fill level indicator.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a new diff cover in the future after Ineos uses up all their current stock, the contract for that specific part expires, or whatever other economic and time-based impediment to changing a production part is removed. But they won't be able to "easily switch out" the part until those impediments are removed. Specifying 2.1 L of lube is extraordinarily cheap in comparison.

 

[Glen]

. . . qty is an insanely inaccurate way of filling anything that gets its fluids changed . . .
. . . and if you put 2, 2.1 or 2.3 liters in your diff you won't cause any damage whatsoever. . .
. . . Sometime engineering specs are just there to check a box . . .
. . . Fill to spill and be done with it.

That first statement is wee bit of hyperbole, eh? In acute normovolemic hemodilution, a precise volume of a patient's blood is removed, replaced by the same precise amount of an IV fluid, and then the original blood is eventually returned to the patient. Dosen't sound too insane to me. And it might be a little bit more critical a situation than a diff.

Your arguments are all over the place. A quantity is an insanely inaccurate spec, we need to calibrate all the dealer's fluid pumps, it doesn't matter how much fluid you put in, engineering specs are for sissies, just do it the way you've always done it and ignore the manufacturer's specs. Give it up man. We all get to do it our own way, but you're not convincing anyone that your approach based on some scattershot logic is the right one.

 

[Dokatd]

That first statement is wee bit of hyperbole, eh? In acute normovolemic hemodilution, a precise volume of a patient's blood is removed, replaced by the same precise amount of an IV fluid, and then the original blood is eventually returned to the patient. Dosen't sound too insane to me. And it might be a little bit more critical a situation than a diff.

Your arguments are all over the place. A quantity is an insanely inaccurate spec, we need to calibrate all the dealer's fluid pumps, it doesn't matter how much fluid you put in, engineering specs are for sissies, just do it the way you've always done it and ignore the manufacturer's specs. Give it up man. We all get to do it our own way, but you're not convincing anyone that your approach based on some scattershot logic is the right one.

You are not reading my post correctly buddy. I am and have been extremely consistent.

And your comparison of IVs is just not even on the same planet as a diff. You're grasping at straws with that one.

 

[landmannnn]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a new diff cover in the future after Ineos uses up all their current stock, the contract for that specific part expires, or whatever other economic and time-based impediment to changing a production part is removed. But they won't be able to "easily switch out" the part until those impediments are removed. Specifying 2.1 L of lube is extraordinarily cheap in comparison.

There are quite a lot of vehicles out there with fill to within Xmm/inches of the fill tube, so not really an issue. Definitely the case with the front diff on my last Nissan.

 

[Glen]

And your comparison of IVs is just not even on the same planet as a diff. You're grasping at straws with that one.

No, it's definitely on the same planet . . . absolutely about using precise quantities to fill something, and no more ridiculous as an analogy than the tortured logic you've been dishing up.

 

[Dokatd]

No, it's definetely on the same planet . . . absolutely about using precise quantities to fill something, and no more ridiculous as an analogy than the tortured logic you've been dishing up.

So you're really going to stand by the comparison of the haphazard dumping and refilling of gear oil from a differential to the precise metering of fluids from a human body?

Have you ever actually worked with gear oil?

You sir are a special kind of person to be sure.

 

[skinny_tom]

This is how I like to check mine.

I hear the car likes it too.

 

[Tazzieman]

The rule of thumb(index finger)

 

[Dokatd]

Just gotta be ok with your finger smelling a bit after sticking it in the bung hole.

 

[MurphyMurph]

Does the manual call for different fill amounts for locking vs non-locking diffs? I’d imagine an e-locking diff takes up more volume than an open differential. So if it’s 2.1L regardless of locking or not, then the distance below the fill hole isn’t critical.

 

[TCMColorado]

Just adjusting your caster will change all of this I'm going to try to hold my tongue on this thread as best I can.

Fill to spill and be done with it. Stop nuking everything. I would put money on it your dealer fills to spill regardless of anything Ineos publishes.

I was a Land Rover tech and I guarantee had they come out with some BS like this we would have all ignored it. Mechanics move fast and we wouldn't waste time on something so inconsequential.

And don't get me started on torquing every bolt to spec. I've seen some crazy stuff in the mechanic world.

You are spot on regarding diff oil fills. Drain the diff and either dump in 2.1 liters or to the hole edge which ever is lesser. No reason to over complicate it.

But it does bother me that many techs ignore torque ratings. It is the main reason I am reluctant to have anyone work on any of my vehicles. Torque specs matter. Otherwise you end up with bolts coming loose or bolts failing from too much tension.

 

[Tom109]

The document came from Cpmpass Automotive and the tech at Ineos HQ in Cape Town used the same method.
Has it been considered that the oil amount of 2.1L is correct for the application but the filler plug is too high for the application, because the axle was designed for other applications originally with a higher fill level.

I get it, but if that is how IA works it’s really complete nonsense. And sticking a piece of metal in the fill hole to dip for fluid level? Also idiotic.

 

[landmannnn]

I get it, but if that is how IA works it’s really complete nonsense. And sticking a piece of metal in the fill hole to dip for fluid level? Also idiotic.

What on earth are you talking about?

Many vehicles have a quantity spec which results in a distance below the fill plug.

Some examples

Chevy Silverado and derivatives
Sprinter vans,
Nissan frontier (and derivatives)
Some Fords, ranging from the F150 or going back as far as the Model T.
Loads more.

 

[Glen]

The amount of hyperbole in this thread is drowning out rational discourse. And I haven’t seen one single argument (logical or otherwise) for why we should ignore the guidance from Ineos shown here and substitute someone else’s untested, unproven “I’ve always done it this way” procedure.

I accord manufacturers a presumption of publishing good faith, well-researched and economically advantageous service specifications (for both the manufacturer and consumer). So the bar for ignoring them is pretty high.

 

[Logsplitter]

I just posted this in the other thread about metal in the diff after @Greasemonkey measured how much oil it takes on the fill to spill method. Just over 3L
“
If that’s the case, then fill-to-spill is roughly a 50% overfill compared to the recommended volume.
That actually reinforces the point in my mind: INEOS are using that axle in a different application to what it was originally designed for, effectively a generic axle adapted for a specific use.
The Grenadier’s axle oil level has to allow for sustained motorway speeds as well as extreme off-road angles, which the original application may not have been designed around.‘

 

[Logsplitter]

I get it, but if that is how IA works it’s really complete nonsense. And sticking a piece of metal in the fill hole to dip for fluid level? Also idiotic.

The Allen key measure is a bit of a red herring really. You could measure with any number of methods and come up with a useful method of measuring the correct amount once you know you have 2.1l in the diff housing.

 

[Tom109]

The Allen key measure is a bit of a red herring really. You could measure with any number of methods and come up with a useful method of measuring the correct amount once you know you have 2.1l in the diff housing.

I’m not against the proper fluid level, I just won’t stick tools or my finger in to be an inconsistent dipstick. Fill to 2.1L or to spill.

 

[C-Mack]

Interesting video… about halfway through they show what effects overfilling does to the amount of aeration in the oil and can contribute to heat build due to loss of viscosity. Yeah it’s a Banks video and they are trying to sell you their products but still interesting to see the flow patterns in the diff.

View: https://youtu.be/7AmLbGSvESg?si=X-EA4NLYpgR1Eh52