What color was your front differential fluid??

lps5053 · #1 03-11-2015, 12:42 AM

Well tonight I started my driveline fluids change. Started with the rear diff, fluid that came out looked in good shape, replaced with Red line 75w90.

Moved to the front. Took off the necessary components to get to the front diff. Cracked the fill plug first and then put the pan under to drain it. Un did the bottom drain and to my surprise, red fluid came out?? I had to stop, go on realoem to ensure I had not drained the transfer case. Now some digging on real oem led me to the OEM recommended fluid of Castrol SAF-XO. From best I can tell from Google images, it appears red. I just thought it was weird.

Drained it and filled with redline 75w-90. And yes I'm positive it wasn't the transfer case. I ensure that when I looked at real oem. Just trying to see if this is normal at all

4.8isX5 · #2 03-11-2015, 03:38 AM

Mine was a brownish/slight gold color. Not sure if theres much diff fluid wise between pre and post facelift..

I did mine at 63k, rear diff and front replaced with mobil1 full syn 75-90.

Did x drive fluid at 80 something K miles. Should change yours too although its not xdrive prolly atf fluid or gear oil but youd have to check.

lps5053 · #3 03-11-2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

Mine was a brownish/slight gold color. Not sure if theres much diff fluid wise between pre and post facelift..

I did mine at 63k, rear diff and front replaced with mobil1 full syn 75-90.

Did x drive fluid at 80 something K miles. Should change yours too although its not xdrive prolly atf fluid or gear oil but youd have to check.

From what I've read, my transfer case should hold ATF and thats what came with the Transfer case service kit from ECS. I just thought it was really weird to see what looked like the same color as ATF come out of my front diff. I'm just trying to figure out if that was the stock fluid or if he had it serviced and the tech thought the front diff was the transfer case and put ATF in instead of gear oil. Both front and rear diffs now have Red Line 75w-90 in.

Ricky Bobby · #4 03-11-2015, 09:51 AM

Yeah its definitely not even something you can mix up (front diff/transfer case)

Should be good to go Len

lps5053 · #5 03-11-2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Yeah its definitely not even something you can mix up (front diff/transfer case)

Should be good to go Len

Good stuff. When I pulled the plug, my heart stopped for a second because I thought I had everything planned out but I was not expecting to see red fluid come out of the front diff.