A couple questions about a service I received from xpress lube today (Please help!)

venom94 · Jan 14, 2009

Hey guys, I have a 2003 mustang gt (manual 5 speed) with a little under 44k on the engine. I went to a texaco express lube and was informed that the synthetic rear differential fluid needed to be changed. They advised that the previous owner before had not changed it soon after he bought it and that since I havent had any problems its a good indicator that he didnt drive it much (only had 26k on the motor when I bought it). They advised they could do it for $80 and I got the feeling that they were trying to con me into paying them more money. My question is, do you guys think it would be necessary for me to have this fluid changed out or should I get a second opinion?

Another quick question is this. I got 2 conflicting answers in regards to power steering fluids from autozone and advanced auto parts. One said that I use Mercon V auto transmission fluid and the other said I use regular power steering fluid. Unfortunately I do not have access to my haynes book (another state) and the owner of the car previous to me lost the owners manual. Could you guys help me clarify which is the correct power steering fluid to use and whether you think I should change my rear differential fluid? Thank you very much in advance.

Hairston

SilverBullet01 · Jan 14, 2009

I would buy some gears first....that makes changing the fluid worthwhile

SaleenGT2001 · Jan 14, 2009

$80 for a diff fluid change?!?

you can do it yourself for less than $20 and it most likely isnt necessary.

2000GTdriver · Jan 14, 2009

My Haynes recomends MERCON automatic transmission fluid for the power steering. They also recomend changing diff. fluid at 60,000 miles. In my experience these lube places often try to sell you extra work that you really don't need.

2002BLGT · Jan 14, 2009

SaleenGT2001 said:
$80 for a diff fluid change?!?

you can do it yourself for less than $20 and it most likely isnt necessary.

75w140 synthetic mobil is almost 20 bucks a quart now , it can probably wait till about 60K or so before I would bother changing it

venom94 · Jan 14, 2009

Thank you guys very much for the responses. This is much appreciated. Thank you again.

evil281 · Jan 14, 2009

wow it only cost me about 20 bucks when i did mine a year ago, real easy stuff

venom94 · Jan 14, 2009

Wait, I do have one more question.

Do you guys recommend changing out my power steering fluid? The tech said that it needed to be topped off but when I looked it was already topped off. I checked the color of the fluid and its a dark amberish color, looks like dark fluid with a hint of red actually. Do you guys think its necessary for me to change that out or just leave it alone since it was full and I only have 44k on the engine? Thanks.

AdRock · Jan 15, 2009

If the power steering fluid is really dirty it can't hurt to flush it out. Use Mercon V auto trans fluid and you'll be fine.

As a rule of thumb I try to do a differential service every 30k. It's a little too frequent but the extra cost is worth my automotive OCD not driving me completely insane. I've used Mobil 1 75w-90 synthetic in the rear the last two times I changed it and it's been fine. You can get the 75w-90 at autozone for $9qt.

flstang65 · Jan 15, 2009

evil281 said:
wow it only cost me about 20 bucks when i did mine a year ago, real easy stuff

what did you use? i use mobil 1 synthetic and its like $15-18 an quart here, plus the friction modifier.

Also, those lube places are a joke. They are notorious for ripping people off, to include regular oil changes. I have seen those guys around Orlando charge as much as 39.99 for a conventional oil change. 69.99 for diesels.

I change my rear diff fluid like once every other year. That's just me though.

evil281 · Jan 15, 2009

i got my factory rear fluid and modifier from the stealership when i did mine

NitroDuck · Jan 15, 2009

Those shops are all hacks. Jiffy Lube up here told me I needed a new airfilter and I literally pulled the K&N out of the airbox and said "Did you even look at it !??!"

The best thing to do is to pull up and say "I'm only here for an oil change, try to upsell me and I'll freak out at your manager."

It usually works.

Jiffy Lube changed the diff fluid back in '03 on my dad's basically new Suburban and they destroyed the axle bearings. The truck literally had 15000 miles on it. (The worst part is that it was a company vehicle and he ran the dealership that he got it from for 20 years. He could have just had them do it, but he was lazy and let them talk him into a fix for a problem that wasn't even diagnosed!)

Brute03 · Jan 15, 2009

i changed my diff fluid at 65K and i'm not touching it again, that stuff stinks - at least not until i get gears

evil281 · Jan 15, 2009

Brute03 said:
i changed my diff fluid at 65K and i'm not touching it again, that stuff stinks - at least not until i get gears

same here, did my tranny and dif the same day, what an array of lovely smells

mogs01gt · Jan 15, 2009

no need to change the rear fluid.

flstang65 · Jan 15, 2009

i would have to say my favorite fluid is coolant though. also, it doesn't taste half bad either.

venom94 · Jan 16, 2009

AdRock said:
If the power steering fluid is really dirty it can't hurt to flush it out. Use Mercon V auto trans fluid and you'll be fine.

As a rule of thumb I try to do a differential service every 30k. It's a little too frequent but the extra cost is worth my automotive OCD not driving me completely insane. I've used Mobil 1 75w-90 synthetic in the rear the last two times I changed it and it's been fine. You can get the 75w-90 at autozone for $9qt.

Its a little brownish red but its above maximum atm. Would you consider using a baster to change out the fluid or doing it as the manufacturers recommend?

darkside03gt · Jan 16, 2009

My owners manual states that because the diff fluid is synthetic it does not need to be changed for the life of the car. Kinda wierd IMOP. Stay away from places like that they will all try to rip you off. I had my fuel filter changed on my civic years ago at a jiffy lube and they charged my $70 or so. I didnt think much of it because they said it was in a tough spot. I later found out that it was actually bolted to the firewall and was a 10min job at most. I was pist and never went back.

A couple questions about a service I received from xpress lube today (Please help!)

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