The Ford Barn

shew01 · 07-19-2022, 04:02 PM

I’m looking through the Les Andrew’s book for a differential fluid change interval, but I don’t see one.

What do you suggest?

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Ruth · 07-19-2022, 04:18 PM

5,000 Miles per instruction booklet.

shew01 · 07-19-2022, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruth

5,000 Miles per instruction booklet.

Thank you. I’ll make a note of it.

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shew01 · 07-19-2022, 04:33 PM

I currently have Snyder’s 600W in the differential.

I don’t want to hijack this thread that talks about transmission oil:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

But, does modern oil extend the change interval?

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Rob Doe · 07-19-2022, 04:36 PM

If your differential drips occasionally, you need to check the level based on time as well as miles. We drive a lot and I find the level down a good bit in 1000 miles or say a month or two.

Synchro909 · 07-19-2022, 06:22 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I change the oil in the cog box and the diff at the same time and same oil. 5,000 miles and Penrite T250 oil. The exception (isn't there always an exception?) is the Mitchell gearbox. GL5 gear oil but still T250 in the diff.
BTW, I have a magnet on every drain plug in all of my cars.

Jim Brierley · 07-20-2022, 11:37 AM

I have never in 60 years ownership of my A, have I changed the diff or trans oil unless during a rebuild. I don't tour very often, but have driven it many miles in that time.

Tom Endy · 07-20-2022, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

I have never in 60 years ownership of my A, have I changed the diff or trans oil unless during a rebuild. I don't tour very often, but have driven it many miles in that time.

I have driven several modern cars over 100,000 miles and never changed the differential oil. I would think the same logic applies to a Model A differential. I put over 50,000 miles on my Victoria after I overhauled the differential many years ago. Recently I did change the differential oil only because I could, but I don't think it was necessary.

Tom Endy

Y-Blockhead · 07-20-2022, 05:09 PM

All of my moderns don't even have a drain plug.

JayJay · 07-22-2022, 04:14 PM

I change the trans and diff oil when I get a new car (who knows what the history was), check it annually and top off as necessary. Much ado about what to use, but I keep a couple of quarts of the 600W that the suppliers sell and just don't think about it. I'm kind of with Tom Endy, seems to me the newer lubricants would not degrade in 5000 miles.

Oil every 500 miles as I haven't had oil filters. I've ordered a Burtz engine so I will likely rethink the filter issue when I build it.

JayJay

AL in NY · 07-22-2022, 05:53 PM

Once ever 100.000 miles is good!!!!!!!!!!!!

shew01 · 07-22-2022, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Doe

If your differential drips occasionally, you need to check the level based on time as well as miles. We drive a lot and I find the level down a good bit in 1000 miles or say a month or two.

I’ve used Blue Hylomar on the drain plugs in the past. That helped with my dripping.

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shew01 · 07-22-2022, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Endy

I have driven several modern cars over 100,000 miles and never changed the differential oil. I would think the same logic applies to a Model A differential. I put over 50,000 miles on my Victoria after I overhauled the differential many years ago. Recently I did change the differential oil only because I could, but I don't think it was necessary.

Tom Endy

I replaced the oil with Bratton’s 600W this time because I already had it on hand, but I may go with a more modern oil (140W or 250W) like one mentioned elsewhere on the site the next time around.

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rotorwrench · 07-23-2022, 04:38 PM

I've noticed most folks don't look at all the facts that go into the reasoning that Ford used in making their recommended fluid change schedules. If lubricant was the only factor then a long schedule may appear to be the way to go. It is a fact that the rear axle is not a hypoid type so it has a lot less gear tooth surface area for wear and wear they do. The metal particles build over time and they need to be removed to keep things wearing normally. Another thing that can effect lube quality is condensation. A car that is driven long enough to get fully warmed up will vaporize some moisture but not all cars get fully warmed and driven a lot of miles. Any moisture in there will get acidic over time and start corrosion during long periods of inactivity.

Change the lube like Ford recommended and stuff will last a lot longer. Changing lube is cheaper than changing worn out parts.

gdmn852 · 07-25-2022, 11:40 AM

Hello, the original oil change and fluid changes were recommended probably due to the amount of dirt roads of that era , when I bought my first Model A in late 1960,s still a lot of “old timers “around I remember them saying dirt would wear out engines in less than 30,000 miles. Ford did increase oil changes to 1000 miles . I use that as time for my 31 if it had a filter could go longer. Differential and transmission at around 2500 with oil from Snyders.As the previous post mentioned condensation is also a concern on car infrequently driven cars, and oil cheaper than repair.

07-19-2022, 04:02 PM	#1
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	Differential Fluid Change Interval I’m looking through the Les Andrew’s book for a differential fluid change interval, but I don’t see one. What do you suggest? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-19-2022, 04:18 PM	#2
Ruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Glide, Oregon Posts: 1,336	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval 5,000 Miles per instruction booklet. __________________ Ruth "Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"

07-19-2022, 04:33 PM	#4
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval I currently have Snyder’s 600W in the differential. I don’t want to hijack this thread that talks about transmission oil: https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app But, does modern oil extend the change interval? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-19-2022, 04:36 PM	#5
Rob Doe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 490	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval If your differential drips occasionally, you need to check the level based on time as well as miles. We drive a lot and I find the level down a good bit in 1000 miles or say a month or two. __________________ "It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!"

07-19-2022, 06:22 PM	#6
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I change the oil in the cog box and the diff at the same time and same oil. 5,000 miles and Penrite T250 oil. The exception (isn't there always an exception?) is the Mitchell gearbox. GL5 gear oil but still T250 in the diff. BTW, I have a magnet on every drain plug in all of my cars. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

07-20-2022, 11:37 AM	#7
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,085	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval I have never in 60 years ownership of my A, have I changed the diff or trans oil unless during a rebuild. I don't tour very often, but have driven it many miles in that time.

07-20-2022, 05:09 PM	#9
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval All of my moderns don't even have a drain plug.

07-22-2022, 04:14 PM	#10
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,068	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval I change the trans and diff oil when I get a new car (who knows what the history was), check it annually and top off as necessary. Much ado about what to use, but I keep a couple of quarts of the 600W that the suppliers sell and just don't think about it. I'm kind of with Tom Endy, seems to me the newer lubricants would not degrade in 5000 miles. Oil every 500 miles as I haven't had oil filters. I've ordered a Burtz engine so I will likely rethink the filter issue when I build it. JayJay __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan

07-22-2022, 05:53 PM	#11
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval Once ever 100.000 miles is good!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ AL in NY

07-23-2022, 04:38 PM	#14
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval I've noticed most folks don't look at all the facts that go into the reasoning that Ford used in making their recommended fluid change schedules. If lubricant was the only factor then a long schedule may appear to be the way to go. It is a fact that the rear axle is not a hypoid type so it has a lot less gear tooth surface area for wear and wear they do. The metal particles build over time and they need to be removed to keep things wearing normally. Another thing that can effect lube quality is condensation. A car that is driven long enough to get fully warmed up will vaporize some moisture but not all cars get fully warmed and driven a lot of miles. Any moisture in there will get acidic over time and start corrosion during long periods of inactivity. Change the lube like Ford recommended and stuff will last a lot longer. Changing lube is cheaper than changing worn out parts.

07-25-2022, 11:40 AM	#15
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 691	Re: Differential Fluid Change Interval Hello, the original oil change and fluid changes were recommended probably due to the amount of dirt roads of that era , when I bought my first Model A in late 1960,s still a lot of “old timers “around I remember them saying dirt would wear out engines in less than 30,000 miles. Ford did increase oil changes to 1000 miles . I use that as time for my 31 if it had a filter could go longer. Differential and transmission at around 2500 with oil from Snyders.As the previous post mentioned condensation is also a concern on car infrequently driven cars, and oil cheaper than repair.