Rear Diff Oil - Product Query

[TONUP]

Please see the cut and paste from my recent email to Comma Oils. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this whilst I await a response from them though.... Thanks Alan,

Dear Comma,

I have recently had my gearbox and transfer box oil changed at my local garage (Nissan Terrano Mk 2).

In the past I have always changed the rear differential oil myself, however on this occasion they undertook to do the work, despite my instruction to them not too. They informed me that they used Comma products throughout, which is fine as I usually buy them myself, in particular I am always careful to use your LS80W - 90GL5 (Limited Slip Differential Oil). On this occasion the garage have told me that they used Comma Gear Oil SX75W - 90 GL5 (High Performance Semi Synthetic).

It appears from the description on the label, which the garage gave to me, that this product can be a direct replacement in situations where a GL5, 75W, 80W, 85W, 85W-90 oil is specified. The LS80 - 90GL5 appears to fall within the scope of these.

Please can you confirm that this is an appropriate oil to use in the limited slip differential on my vehicle, or if I should drain it and replace it with the LS80 - 90GL5 I have already ordered from Wilco Direct?

With Thanks & Regards

Alan

 

[firebobby]

Alan, from what I have read on this site, I would drop the oil and fill with the LS oil, my local garage has 45 gallon barrels of oil with different grades in.

I like to do my own oil changes as I like to get as much old oil out as possible.

By the way, do all diffs have magnetic drain plugs

 

[Fez_uk]

if it does not say it's for LSD's on the container then it's not right.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

I agree take it out!

in general the more I learn and hear of multi-purpose and multi-grade oils the less convinced I am.

 

[firebobby]

Horses for courses :thumb2

 

[Adz]

LSD oil only & NOTHING else or it will be buggered :banghead

 

[TONUP]

Thanks for all of the replies guys.

I think that I am going to follow the general consensus of opinion on here and drain the oil and replace with the trusty Comma LSD oil.

I have only driven around 30 miles since it was done and mostly on a motorway, so hopefully no permanent damage done. I will leave it to drain overnight to get as much out as possible.

Typical, this is the first time I have used a garage for a long, long time. I should have written down what I wanted and taped it to the steering wheel.

I'll copy in the reply from Comma (if I get one, that is).

Best Regards

Alan

 

[Adz]

You wouldn't of damaged in those few mile's :thumbs

 

[TONUP]

You wouldn't of damaged in those few mile's :thumbs

That's good to hear. I'm just waiting for posty to bring the oil now.

Regards

Alan

 

[wildbri]

my son has a Chevy astrovan safari which we have converted to a camper, the book says that it as an LSD rear axel this uses gear oil and there is an aditive for LSD axels we have some of this LSD oill aditve. Bri

 

[Adz]

Good luck to him unless that what the book states but we on here will all tell Mistral / Terrano / Maverick owners to use nothing but LSD Oil in the rear axle :thumbs

 

[TONUP]

Answer from Comma Oils

In order to bring this one to a close, please see the response from the technical department at Comma Oil & Chemicals Ltd.

'Having looked at the listing for the limited slip, rear differential for the 2000-2007 model it does appear to require a product that contains the limited slip additive. We would therefore only recommend LS80W90 GL5 for this application. This is reflected in our online application guide ( http://www.commaoil.com/products/results/18284/1 ). I wouldn’t have thought that our SX75W90 GL5 would do any permanent damage when fitted as an alternative but it’s fair to say that it will have different frictional characteristics to the LS80W90 GL5 and may therefore affect the operation of the limited slip components and thus the handling of the car. If this is the correct model and it is indeed fitted with a limited slip differential then we would have to recommend that you change the fluid to that specified to remove any potential risk of damage to the vehicle'.

Regards

Alan

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

That's pretty conclusive, LSD OIL it must be! It was a good thing to do and get a proper answer from a reliable source :clap

 

[glanrichbex]

Just seen this and it gives me cause for concern.

How can the manufacturer of an oil decide which oil is most suitable?

Surely this would be a specification demanded by the vehicle manufacturer? If you have a reliance with waranty with the manufacturer or their agents, they will require that you have adhered to their specification. If then you have a malfunction you can go back to the manufacturer and make a claim. If you have taken the advice of a third party and used a product which the manufacturer has not recommended then they have every right to walk away.

There are many people who revel and get a feel good factor in brand names and products and get carried away. Example "Slick 50" - the most amazing lubricant on the planet, some even went so far to say your car could run without oil for 10miles without doing damage!!! - now we know it actually causes oil starvation and damage to alot of engines and Volvo were the first to offer a waranty as long as you didn't use it.

In this case the oil manufacturer 'may' be correct - but beware - always go back to the manual and check what the manufacturer states, after all they were the ones who designed and built the vehicle