[Jai]

Hi guys,

Question, just had my car at the 'specialist' for its annual check. He just phoned me all was okay but he said they noticed the differential is making noise and thought he'd let me know. First thing I thought was should we put new oil on it which I asked. He said no nothing you can do about it it's just the wear and that eventually I will need a new diff but that it's okay for now.

So what do you guys think, new oil or just wait for it to... break/preventive maintenance? I saw it was like 1500 euro on Realoem?
What happens when diff breaks, car will just stop moving forward? Will it just go out BAM or will I have a few days before warning?

[tlow98]

Buy a used diff if it fails. Will cost a few hundred quid. No one can say for sure how it will fail. Could blow up, could just stop transmitting power or it could lock one wheel up or both or none.

Are you due for an oil swap from the mileage indicated? Not sure about the oil change - could help or hurt. Hard to say.

[Jai]

Hmm okay maybe that will be a good idea, are these differentials of the 6 cylinder engines the same as the 4 cylinder and/or diesels?

I'm due for a normal oil swap... I don't there is a mileage for diff oil swap as this is "lifelong" ?

[John 070]

man on my other car which is RWD, I heard a howling noise and feared it was the rear diff, but decided in my mind it was the carrier bearing. I slapped my summer tires on last weekend, and discovered the howl is actually from the snow tires...