How to Check Car Front Differential Fluid

Your car's front differential transmits power from the engine and transmission through a set of gears to your front wheels. Depending on the make and model of your car, you might have an automatic or a manual front differential. An automatic is automatically shifted while you are driving. A manual is shifted by the operator. The type that you have will determine how you check your front differential fluid.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jack
• Safety stands
• Socket wrench
• Wrench
• Allen wrench

Automatic

1. Start the engine of your car and allow it to idle for 60 seconds. Set the parking brake. Apply the foot brake and hold it. While holding the foot brake, select each gear momentarily, ending in park.

2. Open the hood of your car and secure it with the prop rod.

3. Locate the transmission dipstick and tube and clean any dirt and debris off of the top. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert the dipstick in to the tube until it is fully seated. Remove the dipstick again and read the level of fluid indicated on the stick.

4. Add automatic front differential fluid to the tube using a funnel if the level falls below the minimum indicator on the stick. Add the fluid in small quantities at a time and check the level between each addition, as you did before.

5. Remove the prop rod and close the hood of your car securely.

Manual

6. Turn your car engine off and open the hood of the car, securing it with the prop rod.

7. Look to see if your car has a manual front differential dipstick. If you do have a dipstick, you can follow the steps given above for checking an automatic transmission's front differential fluid using a dipstick.

8. Check front differential fluid level on a car without a dipstick by jacking up the car and installing safety stands.

9. Locate the differential fill plug and remove it.

10. Inspect the fluid level. It should be at the bottom of the fill hole or not more then 3/16th inch below. Using a funnel, add front differential fluid to bring the level to the bottom of the fill hole.

11. Replace the fill plug, remove the safety stands and lower the car to the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use the proper differential fluid for your car's make and model. If you are not sure what fluid to use, refer to your vehicle owner's manual.
• Always secure a raised car with safety stands before getting underneath it.

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