Topic: how often to change differential / transfer case oil?

[55inthe54]

i have a 2010 infiniti fx35 awd.

at 48,000 km, the manual recommends the differential oil and transfer case oil to be changed if the SUV has been doing towing or driven through rough conditions...both are not applicable to mine...

or is it?....does snowy roads count as "rough" conditions?

thank you!

[johngenx]

Seen what a new transfer case costs?  The GDP of many nations is smaller. I change the fluid on the Scoob every two years, and if I were you I'd swap the fluid on the severe service schedule.

[Gardiner Westbound]

My reading of our 2007 Infiniti FX35 Shop Manual leads me to believe changing the automatic transmission, transfer fluid and differential gear oil at 48,000 km is recommended only if the car has been driven in a manner that may have overheated those fluids. That would occur if the car became bogged down in deep mud or snow and an attempt was made to drive it out instead of calling a tow truck. Otherwise the manual calls for inspection only.

Excessive servicing is needlessly costly and increases the prospect of catastrophic error, like forgetting to refill the engine with oil or installing an incorrect fluid. If there is no evidence of a real problem and fixing the “problem” will not improve anything don't waste your time, energy and money on it. Tip: A good mechanic can often determine if a fluid change is due by looking, smelling and touching the fluid.

Service writers are not always stand-up guys. Most work on commission. The more they sell the more they earn. They cash in on customer trust and automotive naivete by up-selling services, many of questionable necessity and value. Find a good independent repair garage and have them do all your service work from oil changes to tire rotation so that you get to know them and they get to know you and your vehicle. A successful business has little incentive to cheat customers.

See attachment.

 

[tpl]

I did both diffs, the  transfer case and the (manual)gearbox on my BMW after 2+ years (45000kms)  and had I not sold it in 2008 it would have been done again that year at 90,000... much cheaper that ever having to replace any of those parts.  With the BMW there were better-than-BMW lubricants available for all but the transfer case, you'd have to see if there were such things for the Infiniti


So yes.

edit:   I have no opinion about the automatic transmission.

[ktm525]

Change it on the severe schedule. I have changed many transfer cases and differentials. I always find the transfer fluid looks quite clean but the differentials can range from newish looking to the horror of water contaiminated blackish milk.

With "active" differentials like the LR3 or the Ridgeline the schedule is much shorter. Very very important not to skimp here.

[ktm525]

duck, duck, GOOSE!

[gmc251960]

i work in a heavy duty truck shop. change your fluids whenever your manual states severe duty. oil is cheap compared to the replacement part and shop labour

[Fobroader]

In my truck, the t-case gets changed every 40,000 and the diffs every 20,000. Oil is cheap, parts are not. I follow the severy duty cycles because I tow and travel rough roads frequently with the truck. In the winter, if the manual allows you, swap over to synthetics, huge difference when its bloody cold, especially when you have to move as many parts as a awd/4x4 has to.

[No H2O]

I don't do any towing, in fact, my Honda CR-V leads an easy life and I've changed the manual transmission fluid and dual pump fluid in the differential 5 times in 212,000 kilometers.