How to Check Front Differential Fluid

How to Check Front Differential Fluid

Gear oil or differential fluid is often used by rear-wheel and some front-wheel-drive cars to lubricate the bearings as well as gears of the differential. Even if you go for the best differential fluid on the market, you must check the front differential fluid levels from time to time to avoid any kind of gear and bearing failure. Many manufacturers also keep fluid levels low to avoid leakages during the shipping of the cars.

Let’s discuss in detail how to check the front differential fluid level.

How Do You Know If Your Car Has Low Differential Fluid?

At higher speeds, the differential tends to make humming sounds when driven at high speeds. Therefore, it is best to check the front differential fluid levels to prevent the differential gears from breaking or locking up. In worse-case scenarios, the automobile may stop functioning immediately as well.

Steps to Check Front Differential Fluid

  1. Jack up the vehicle. First and foremost, your vehicle must be leveled in order to check its fluid levels. Begin by parking your car on an even flat surface. Then, move on to placing the jack of your choice on one rear wheel, and after that, place it on the opposite end. Now, you can jack up the front wheels so that the entire vehicle is at the same level.
  2. Locate the oil fill plug. The oil plug is typically located near the front part of the differential near the pinion gear flange. You can also check the buyer’s manual to identify where it is located.
  3. Remove the plug to check the oil level. Once you remove the oil fill plug, you can easily access the insides of the differential housing. To check the front differential fluid level, insert your finger or wire and see if the oil level is just below the level of the hole. If your wire or finger is covered with gear oil once you take it out, the level is okay. If there is no gear oil on your finger, the oil level is low and may cause damage in the future.
  4. Fill oil in the vehicle. If you’ve detected that the fluid levels are low, it is recommended to instantly fill the service port. You can do this by attaching a small nozzle and inserting the oil into it. You must continue adding the oil until it slightly spills from the port. You can also check the fluid levels by the steps mentioned above and continue filling in if needed.

We hope that the procedure given above made you understand how to check the front differential fluid in a Chevy Silverado or for any other vehicle that you may own.

Video Tutorial — How to Check Front Differential Fluid