My '99 Type R seems to be shedding a small amount of oil from the rear diff which I noticed on the alloy face, not on the ground. I have also noticed a whine (more than usual) from the back end at low speed. Suspect the diff oil needs changing and seals checked. I would appreciate any advice over change and check procedures as I dont want to **** it up by driving hard with no oil! Just completed 30,000 miles and oil needs changing anyway. Appreciate any advice, many thanks fellas

 

do the oil change yourself - providing you have right tools and diff oil it's easy.

BTW the drain/refill plugs can be as tight as a proverbial.

 

Yes, sorted it this morning. I had to gently heat around the drain plugs with a torch because they were so tight and a bast..d to turn. Replaced the oil without any problem. Fortunately the oil leak looks like/turned out to be the car underseal melting immediately above the alloy diff case so hopefully not a problem.

 

Told you it was a b[_]gger.. I jacked me car up, put a very long socket and abr on it, bar touching ground - let jack down - voila

 

[double post - i'm an ****]

[Edited by what would scooby do - 8/24/2002 8:18:52 PM]

 

What should the torque of these plugs be?

My dealer appears to have used the biggest gorilla in the workshop with the buzz gun set to mach 10 on mine. So much so that you can see the marks in the plug where the buzz gun has rattled against it.

Needed to jack under a ring spanner to free the bleeders.

jon
http://www.turbocharger.co.uk/

 

They are seriously tight. The worry is damaging the alloy casing or straining the diff retaining bolts by using sheer brute force. Using WD40 to soak does not work as the thread is too deep and angle wrong for it penetrate. However, the point is you have to change the diff oil eventually (ie every 30,000 miles). A tip is to directly heat around the drain plugs with a blow torch, gently on low heat for a minute or so, then loosen with sharp jerks keeping an eye on the case and the plugs. Damage to the diff is obviously a costly business.