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Of all the various things on a vehicle that need regular service and maintenance, the differential is too often neglected. But what exactly is it, and what does it do? The differential is a component in all cars and is designed to compensate for the difference in distance the inner wheels and outer wheels travel as the car goes around a corner. In a rear-wheel-drive car, the differential has its own housing and lubrication, a thick, dark oil usually heavier than 80 weight.

The Composition of Differentials

Inside the differential is a cluster of gears that spin the wheels independently, however, these gears need lubrication in order to move more freely and not heat up too much due to the constant friction, hence the need for differential fluid in the housing. If this fluid isn’t changed in the manufacturer-prescribed intervals, then it can get dirty and thick, which could damage the differential over time. Trust us, you don’t want to pay for a new differential.

Visualize a rear-wheel-drive vehicle making a right-hand turn. As the car turns to the right, the left rear wheel will have to actually cover a longer distance and spin at a different speed than the right wheel. If the rear axle was delivering the same torque to both wheels, the left rear wheel would be binding and skittering as it made the turn. The differential is designed to allow the wheels to turn at different speeds around corners, eliminating that problem.

Uses of Differential

The Corvette differential uses an oil thicker than motor oil, somewhere between an oil and grease in terms of its weight. Like any other assembly, though, the oil in the differential will become contaminated over time and will start to break down due to heat. Most differentials need a fluid change at about 50,000 miles. If left too long or if the fluid starts to run low, the differential will become noisy and can eventually fail. If that happens, the gears can seize, locking up the rear wheels and potentially causing a lot of damage or even an accident.

Corvette Differentials have a fill hole, in some cases covered using a rubber plug that makes it uncomplicated to check the oil level. They do not, nonetheless, have a drain plug, which means that the only way to adjust the oil will be to eliminate the differential’s rear cover. This is inevitably a messy job that is best left to experts. Remember also that on 4WD automobiles, there’s a second differential for the front wheels. For 4WD vehicles, it’s normally a good idea to carry out service on each differential as well as the transfer case at an identical time.

If you’re in have to have any kind of oil-change service, whether or not it’s motor oil, transmission fluid flush, or Corvette differential service, you’ll be able to count on an expert who’s experienced in differential repair. Your car’s fluids are also important to neglect – make an appointment with them, and make differential fluid service a part of your car’s normal preventive maintenance schedule.