couple of diff questions

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

glenbat
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 256
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Harlow/Hertford

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:55 am

My 325 cab is spending a lot of time in the air recently, is it worth changing the diff oil while she's up and stripped? If so whats best to put in her? dont know if its ever been changed or what its like :?
And are there 2 plugs, one for draining and another to fill up to (fill up til its level and starts coming out = enough oil)?

many thanks in advance
mrLEE30
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 6589
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sweating buckets in Bahrain

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:38 am

not sure about which oil to use SAE 90 IIRC, but if you have access to the diff might as well change it. big tip : remove the upper plug first, then remove the lower drain plug (heard stories of folk removing the drain plug first then cannot remove the fill plug = cannot be refilled = knackered diff :cry: ), also best done with oil warm (i.e drive for ten mins first), to refill, fit the lower drain plug, torque to 45-50Nm then fill until oil comes out of filler hole, the car must be level too!! torque the top plug to 45-50Nm.

mrlee
Image
stuartgallafant
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Costa del Croydon

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:25 pm

is it an LSD or an open diff? if its a open, use Castrol SAE-XO. if its a slip diff, use Castrol SAE-XJ
Image
glenbat
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 256
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Harlow/Hertford

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:03 pm

ummmmm :oops: stuart i have no idea?! started life as 316 cab now a 325 cab but not sure if the diff was swapped over, any way of telling?

cheers guys
stonesie
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3277
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Doncaster

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:55 pm

if theres no id tag on it then with the car in nutral and both wheels off the ground spin 1 by hand...... if the other turnes the same way you have a slipper
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:08 pm

stuartgallafant wrote:if its a slip diff, use Castrol SAE-XJ
It's SAF-XJ - close, but no Cigar winkeye
If it aint broke - Modify it...