LL COMPONENTS IN A VEHICLE are equally important. If your engine fails, you become stranded. However, if your differential fails, your are in just as much trouble. Many motorists do not often think about the lubricants in their vehicles that require changing other than motor oil. Differential gear lube is one of the oils that should be changed in order to optimize gear and bearing life, but it is often overlooked or changed only when failure occurs.

There are approximately 22 components that make up the average differential. All of these components require high quality, clean gear oil in order to perform at an optimal level. Gears require a break-in period similar to internal combustion engines. Traditionally, new engines get the oil changed after a 3,000 to 5,000 break-in period, but differential gear lube is commonly neglected. Because differentials do not have filters, break-in wear particles continue to circulate between gears, bearings and limited-slip clutches, which can lead to premature wear or failure if subjected to severe service.

Some manufactureres are giving special attention to changing differential oil after the first 500 to 3,000 mile break-in period. Differentials today are subjected to severe duty service and encounter more stress and heat than was the case only a few years ago. Modern gear oils are faced with the challenge of providing adequate wear protection during severe service and break-in operating conditions, while also providing maximum fuel efficiency.

AMSOIL recommends that all vehicle differential gear lubes, especially vehicles operating in severe service, be changed shortly after the break-in period of 5,000 miles to ensure optimum differential component life.