Ooops - Questions About Filling Differential

[supark]

So for some reason I just had to change out my differential oil tonight - drained out the old stuff - it was actually pretty dark compared to the new oil so I'm glad I checked...

Anyway, I had two quarts of redline 75 x 90 and pumped it in - spilled a little bit but I'm certain that I pumped at least the indicated 1.8 quarts in there, but no oil was flowing out of the level check hole. I stuck my finger in there and the oil level was probably about a 1/3 of an inch from the hole.

My long-winded question is: will I damage my differential if I drive it a bit with the oil a little low? Drove it a bit after I did the fluid change and nothing seems amiss. Definitely going to go down to NAPA first thing tomorrow morning to get more fluid though.

Thanks

[Furious]

i dont recommend it at all. the differential is one thing that should always have optimal lubrication.

from the sounds of it, its really just a little bit. the rule of thumb is fill the diff till it just starts to come out the fill hole. and im talking just a little bit, maybe a string of fluid might come out..

[97alpineM3]

I'd take the top bolt out ... and pump some more in there.. it wouldnt take that long.. and it will keep your mind quiet while driving..

Good Luck...

Les

[93 325i]

I am doing that this weekend..I ordered 2 Qts of redline from bavauto, will that be enough?!? I read the capacity was 1.8, that is correct?

[supark]

I pumped maybe another quarter of a quart of oil in there before it started to spill out. I'm pretty sure that the surface that I'd parked it on was level. If I were doing this again, I'd definitely have another bottle of oil lying around just in case.

Got it up to around 80 on the way to work, no problems. I guess I'll know if I screwed up my differential if it starts grinding...

Still can't get rid of that damn rubbing noise - almost sounds like a brake caliper is sticking... but I'm not sure. It only does it the first time I start up the car after it's been parked for a few minutes...

[Furious]

the rubbing could be a wheel bearing.

[bitcore]

or the handbrake.
If it is the handbrake:
Put the car in neutral and roll back at about 1-3 MPH and hit the handbrake hard. Not fast enough to where your tires chirp, but enough to be a hard stop.
That oughta fix it... maybe not but it does the trick every time for me.

[supark]

Originally posted by Furious@Nov 4 2004, 01:18 PM
the rubbing could be a wheel bearing.

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But wouldn't the wheel bearing make the noise all time - not just the first 30 feet or so that I drive the car? I only hear the rubbing noise about once or twice when I'm rolling forward (related to the speed I'm travelling). Otherwise, I don't hear noise or feel vibration at all.

[supark]

Originally posted by bitcore@Nov 4 2004, 01:36 PM
or the handbrake.
If it is the handbrake:
Put the car in neutral and roll back at about 1-3 MPH and hit the handbrake hard. Not fast enough to where your tires chirp, but enough to be a hard stop.
That oughta fix it... maybe not but it does the trick every time for me.

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I'll try that - going to adjust the e-brake this weekend when I have access to a garage so I can put the back end up. There's appropriate amount of slack in the handbrake though - it's at full stop at about 7 clicks (I believe the appropriate range is 5-7 clicks).

I guess that would make the most sense - as it is something that occurs only after I have parked with the handbrake up... we'll see. At least I have some really good differential oil in there now

[kearnyme]

Once you fill it up, don't worry if it leaks a small amount from time to time.. I have a friend who is a Rolls Royce mechanic (he also works on BMW, Porches, Mercedes, etc..) And he says that differentials in german cars will do that. Its normal.

[supark]

Originally posted by kearnyme@Nov 4 2004, 02:42 PM
Once you fill it up, don't worry if it leaks a small amount from time to time.. I have a friend who is a Rolls Royce mechanic (he also works on BMW, Porches, Mercedes, etc..) And he says that differentials in german cars will do that. Its normal.

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Yeah - I actually noticed while I was down there that the rear driver side axle was a little wet. But when I opened up the differential - the fluid level was fine. If I end up needing to do my rear bearings, I'll probably just switch out the seal then.

[Furious]

no a wheel bearing may not always make noise that you will notice. my buddies 328 had a blown wheel bearing (really blown) and it would only make noise at cetain speeds .

[supark]

Originally posted by Furious@Nov 5 2004, 12:49 PM
no a wheel bearing may not always make noise that you will notice. my buddies 328 had a blown wheel bearing (really blown) and it would only make noise at cetain speeds .

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Well - the utterly confusing thing is that the car only makes the rubbing noise once or twice after it's been sitting for about 10 minutes or so - I don't hear it in stop and go, just after I've parked the car for a little while - as I'm driving off going maybe 5-10 miles an hour... The rubbing isn't present at any other speed or time. I'm thinking it's gotta be something like a sticking caliper or something.

[Furious]

its possible. a sticking caliper is ok, a seized caliper is bad. if i were you, id take all the slider pins in the brake caliper and regrease them. also grease the ears of the brake pads so they move smoothly.

[bitcore]

Wet axle could be the U-Joint seals leaking their grease...
I tore mine to hell when I snapped the U-join when I hit that fuckin curb and it slung everywhere whilst I drove back to the parking lot.