Characteristics of Car Differential Oil That Must Be Replaced, Let's Understand!
For a car to move, a component called the differential is needed. This component functions to transmit the engine's rotation from the car's transmission to the drive wheels so that the car can move forward or backward. To ensure that the differential works well and is protected from wear, differential oil is required.
Therefore, every car owner must know the capacity of the differential oil and the signs that the differential oil needs to be replaced. The complete signs are as follows.
Signs That the Car Differential Oil Needs to Be Replaced
Differential oil is a special lubricant for the differential that lubricates the gear contact in the differential box, providing protection to the pinion gear so that it does not come into direct contact with the bearing. This way, components in the car's transmission can be maintained, thus prolonging their wear life.
Generally, every car requires two liters of differential oil. However, with the use of the car, the capacity of the differential oil will decrease.
Considering its important function, differential oil should be replaced every two years or when the car reaches a mileage of 40,000 kilometers or its multiples.
If not, it can cause several problems such as loud noises from the car engine, damage to the differential components and other transmissions, difficulty in controlling the car's wheels, and even car fires due to overheating.
So what are the signs that the differential oil needs to be replaced that every car owner should know? For more details, please pay attention to the following review.
1. Change in color and concentration of the oil
The first sign that the car's differential oil needs to be replaced can be seen from whether the oil color has changed or not? New differential oil usually has a golden yellow color with a thick concentration. However, over time, the differential oil can change color and should be replaced immediately when its color turns dark black and its concentration becomes thin.
2. Problems with the gear ratio
The second sign is that the car's gear ratio will have problems. This occurs because the lubrication effect of the differential oil decreases with use, causing the gear ratio to be unable to withstand friction from other components. As a result, the performance of the automatic transmission in the car is disrupted.
3. Car wheels are difficult to control and the car's speed is unstable
The third sign can be seen from the condition of the car wheels that are difficult to control. As is known, over time, the quality of the differential oil will decrease to a thin consistency, making it unable to lubricate the transmission, differential, and drive wheels. As a result, the car wheels are difficult to control and the car's speed is unstable even when driving on straight and undamaged roads.
4. Loud noises from the CVT box and vibrations in the car body
Difficult-to-control wheels and unstable car speed can also lead to new problems such as loud noises from the CVT box and vibrations in the body when the car is moving. This happens because the differential oil fails to provide protection to the transmission components during operation, resulting in massive friction between components.
5. Increased car temperature and a burning smell
The last sign can be seen from a significant increase in car temperature and a burning smell. This occurs due to large friction between components, which raises the engine temperature (overheating) and produces a burning smell. If left unchecked, this can increase the risk of fire.
If the above signs appear on your car, immediately replace the differential oil and service the car at an official Daihatsu workshop.
