Front Diff Scared me

[ym0bc1]

So.. I was changing diff cover today.
The JLUR has 18K miles on it, and never changed diff fluid in the front.

When I open the drain plug, it has lots of coil like shavings, just like reported in this post..
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/front-diff-metal-“coil”-shavings.43994/

I changed rear diff fluid last year, which was fine.

People said it's machining swarf.. i'm still not 100% sure.
But the diff oil seems really dark.. wondering if this is normal?

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[chevymitchell]

So.. I was changing diff cover today.
The JLUR has 18K miles on it, and never changed diff fluid in the front.

When I open the drain plug, it has lots of coil like shavings, just like reported in this post..
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/front-diff-metal-“coil”-shavings.43994/

I changed rear diff fluid last year, which was fine.

People said it's machining swarf.. i'm still not 100% sure.
But the diff oil seems really dark.. wondering if this is normal?

Those are likely just machining tailings. Nothing to worry about.

 

[ym0bc1]

Those are likely just machining tailings. Nothing to worry about.

Thank you! Is the color normal? I feel it’s too dark to be 2year/16k old

 

[NewRiver77]

Gear oil is going to be thick, dark, and smelly. It’s the nature of the beast. The color is fine.

 

[chevymitchell]

Thank you! Is the color normal? I feel it’s too dark to be 2year/16k old

Color is good, no worries there.

 

[Canjeeper]

I would keep an eye on it , def not normal .

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Gear oil will last a lot longer than Jeep says to change it. A LOT longer. This is the oil out of the rear differential in my Audi at 204,000 miles of service. Smells like new oil, just a bit dark.

 

[LKG]

Gear oil is going to be thick, dark, and smelly. It’s the nature of the beast. The color is fine.

Dumped about a quart of gear oil right square on my sternum years ago working on my old truck. I swear I could still smell it for 6 months.

 

[LKG]

Gear oil will last a lot longer than Jeep says to change it. A LOT longer. This is the oil out of the rear differential in my Audi at 204,000 miles of service. Smells like new oil, just a bit dark.

A lot longer... I'm ashamed to say how many miles on my Dodge diesel with the origional diff fluid. It is on my to do list though.

 

[Beachcomber72]

Dumped about a quart of gear oil right square on my sternum years ago working on my old truck. I swear I could still smell it for 6 months.

You sure you weren’t getting a Cleveland Steamer?

 

[LKG]

You sure you weren’t getting a Cleveland Steamer?

No judgement here but not my thing

 

[Upnarms]

My front diff was really filthy when I changed it at 20k. The rear wasn't as bad. Seemed odd to me but I read many others had same experience. Seems normal and I have had no issues in 48k miles. Second change of diff fluid wasnt as bad, but still pretty dirty.

 

[chevymitchell]

Seeing tailings in a diff is completely normal. Some get washed out better than others after machining. The tailings don't cause any damage. They get washed into the sump area of the diff and the magnet catches them or them end up too heavy to be picked up by the ring gear. Even if they do, they get chewed up rather easily. I see this all the time when doing gears. The pieces have ranged from tiny to large and nearly every diff I have opened has had some form of tailings. Could the housings be washed out better?...of course they can. It's a quality improvement point for the MFG, but again...nothing abnormal at all.

After you've cleaned it out, you might get more tailings the next time, especially in the front diff with the FAD housing, bearing, and tube space holding some tailings.

Nothing to be concerned with. Clean the housing out the best you can, change the fluid, and you'll be good to go.

 

[ym0bc1]

My front diff was really filthy when I changed it at 20k. The rear wasn't as bad. Seemed odd to me but I read many others had same experience. Seems normal and I have had no issues in 48k miles. Second change of diff fluid wasnt as bad, but still pretty dirty.

Curious why it was still dirty on second change?

 

[ym0bc1]

Seeing tailings in a diff is completely normal. Some get washed out better than others after machining. The tailings don't cause any damage. They get washed into the sump area of the diff and the magnet catches them or them end up too heavy to be picked up by the ring gear. Even if they do, they get chewed up rather easily. I see this all the time when doing gears. The pieces have ranged from tiny to large and nearly every diff I have opened has had some form of tailings. Could the housings be washed out better?...of course they can. It's a quality improvement point for the MFG, but again...nothing abnormal at all.

After you've cleaned it out, you might get more tailings the next time, especially in the front diff with the FAD housing, bearing, and tube space holding some tailings.

Nothing to be concerned with. Clean the housing out the best you can, change the fluid, and you'll be good to go.

Thanks for the detailed explanation! Any idea why the fluid is so dark?

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