Rear axle lubricant.
Rear axle lubricant.
Hello all: New owner 2002 Concourse. Just getting things done with the maintenance and was wondering what lubricant for the rear end. Seen some posts about this. Door jamb says E2 axle and above this RC86. Owners manual says either 80w-90 or 75w-140 Synthetic. If the synthetic their is a flag note #2 that says it is considered lubricated for life unless leaking or submerged in water. Any ideas? Thanks.
Re: Rear axle lubricant.
Not sure what axle you have, just be aware if its the traction lock it will require friction mofifier as well or you will ruin the discs.
Re: Rear axle lubricant.
Oh yes, the ULTRA-CONFUSING Ford manual differential section. Isn't that crazy? Who wrote that?
If you have axle code E2, you should have the same axle I do (also code E2). I have a Dana 70, 4.10 gear ratio, Limited Slip axle. It has 80/90W non-synthetic, plus Ford's friction modifier (for the Limited Slip).
I had some axle noise issues last spring which is what caused me to delve into this. I contacted Dana Spicer directly, plus took my Chinook to a specialist, West Coast Differential.
The thing with the Limited Slip is that if you have no friction modifier it makes lots of noise. If you have too much it's quiet but your Limited Slip function disappears. The Goldilocks is juuuuust the amount of friction modifier that makes the noises go away BUT NO MORE.
The upshot is that the synthetic lube can be too slippery. Hence they recommended the 80/90 regular gear oil and then adding just the right amount of the Ford friction modifier. That's what I had WCD do. Apparently the friction modifier can dissipate over a long period of time. Mine was fixed by a fluid change and new modifier (which they recommended at about 60,000 mile intervals anyway). BTW, everything inside mine looked fine, original 80/90 was ready for a change but no metal or obvious wear. I had about 70k on mine. Now I'm good to go for the foreseeable future.
BG
PS: There is an identification tag on the axle. On mine it's a vertical strip on the passenger/rear side of the pumpkin bolts. Like so:
If you have axle code E2, you should have the same axle I do (also code E2). I have a Dana 70, 4.10 gear ratio, Limited Slip axle. It has 80/90W non-synthetic, plus Ford's friction modifier (for the Limited Slip).
I had some axle noise issues last spring which is what caused me to delve into this. I contacted Dana Spicer directly, plus took my Chinook to a specialist, West Coast Differential.
The thing with the Limited Slip is that if you have no friction modifier it makes lots of noise. If you have too much it's quiet but your Limited Slip function disappears. The Goldilocks is juuuuust the amount of friction modifier that makes the noises go away BUT NO MORE.
The upshot is that the synthetic lube can be too slippery. Hence they recommended the 80/90 regular gear oil and then adding just the right amount of the Ford friction modifier. That's what I had WCD do. Apparently the friction modifier can dissipate over a long period of time. Mine was fixed by a fluid change and new modifier (which they recommended at about 60,000 mile intervals anyway). BTW, everything inside mine looked fine, original 80/90 was ready for a change but no metal or obvious wear. I had about 70k on mine. Now I'm good to go for the foreseeable future.
BG
PS: There is an identification tag on the axle. On mine it's a vertical strip on the passenger/rear side of the pumpkin bolts. Like so:
1999 Concourse
Re: Rear axle lubricant.
Thanks dougm and blue-go, Looks like I should have the rear end serviced as I don't know the history. 71000 miles so its probably time. Thanks again for the info.
Re: Rear axle lubricant.
Just a warning: In my direct experience (and also that of Astrodokk) many Ford dealers will actually argue that you CAN'T possibly have Limited Slip and/or will not know what the friction modifier is or not put it in, or put too much in (also bad).
So, you may want to arm yourself with info. The part number for the Ford friction modifier. The number of ounces they should put in (I feel like it was 3.x ounces but check me), specifying the 80/90W "regular" gear oil, making sure they know that more is NOT better, and a photograph of your axle tag showing the "LS" as you see on mine.
No, none of this *should* be necessary (and it wasn't at West Coast Differential), but at a Ford dealer I'd want to go in prepared. 100% of our experiences (granted that's only two) say this is true.
So, you may want to arm yourself with info. The part number for the Ford friction modifier. The number of ounces they should put in (I feel like it was 3.x ounces but check me), specifying the 80/90W "regular" gear oil, making sure they know that more is NOT better, and a photograph of your axle tag showing the "LS" as you see on mine.
No, none of this *should* be necessary (and it wasn't at West Coast Differential), but at a Ford dealer I'd want to go in prepared. 100% of our experiences (granted that's only two) say this is true.
1999 Concourse
Re: Rear axle lubricant.
Yeah, best if doing the service and replacing the entire gear oil. Then it's a no brainer: whatever proper ounces of additive (no more, no less), and then fill the pumpkin.
Should be good until the next change.
Should be good until the next change.
2000 Ford E-350 415CI/6.8L V-10 Triton Superduty 4X4 Chinook Concourse XL Club Lounge