Engine what is differential fluid?

what is differential fluid?

what is differential fluid? what is that use for?

The differential is a part of the transmission that splits the power between the two wheels. On RWD vehicles, its the big round chunk that you see b/w the rear wheels. On FWD vehicles, it's usualy built into the transmission. Manual transmission vehicles frequently SHARE fluid between the gearbox and the differential....so the differential uses the gear fluid as lubricant and if you change one, you've changed both. Automatic transmission frequently have separate differential compartments and the differential fluid and transmission fluid are NOT shared, in which case you need to change BOTH.

Ordinary differentials (open diffs), which comes on 95% of vehicles kind of suck b/c when wheels start spinning, the diff transfers power to the wheel with the LEAST traction...and that gets you nowhere fast.

Higher performance diffs are in the form of limited slip differentials (LSDs), which transfers more torque to the tire with the most traction. There is also viscous coupling diffs for 4WD vehicles...it links the front wheels to the back wheels. Then there is the locking differential or Torsen, which locks the set of wheels together so they spin exactly the same speed. These differentials use differential fluid, typically a very heavy weight oil with some friction modifiers in there.

Didn't mean to write an essay, but I'm bored....so what the hell, right?

Trav