2013 Escalade ESV Annual Maintenance Update: the good, the bad, and the incompetent

[91RS]

This is pretty much normal for those front differentials. If there’s no noise or vibration, it’s fine. Just keep it full and keep driving. You’ll know when it goes bad.

 

[skpyle]

This is pretty much normal for those front differentials. If there’s no noise or vibration, it’s fine. Just keep it full and keep driving. You’ll know when it goes bad.

Thanks, good to know.
This is my first GM clamshell front differential. The only other front differential I have dealt with was the Dana 35 in my old Explorer.

Onward!

 

[skpyle]

I got off work early this morning, so I took the opportunity to change the front differential oil. Its been almost 1000 miles. The oil that came out was not as bad as that from 12/04/22, but it was not good. It was dark and had a little sparkly bits. I refilled it with 80W-90 mineral gear oil.

Plan now is to change it a couple more times, and drive it until it quits.

 

[donjetman]

I got off work early this morning, so I took the opportunity to change the front differential oil. Its been almost 1000 miles. The oil that came out was not as bad as that from 12/04/22, but it was not good. It was dark and had a little sparkly bits. I refilled it with 80W-90 mineral gear oil.

Plan now is to change it a couple more times, and drive it until it quits.

we had a 2002 4x4 surburban that had a noisey frt diff that was also making a lot of metal. I said I'd drive it until it quit too. Years went by and it never quit. Finally traded it in on our current Yukon.

 

[skpyle]

Yep.
We shall see how long this one goes.

 

[skpyle]

Had the Escalade up on jack stands today to rotate the tires. Front shocks are going out…another story.

It has been 1600 miles, so I drained the front differential oil.
It looked surprisingly clean and clear!

I refilled it again with mineral 80W-90.
I will do this again at the 145,000 mile oil change. If the differential oil is still clean and clear(or reasonably so), I will refill it with Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90.

I feel a little better about this front differential now after seeing this oil.

 

[petethepug]

Keep your eyes peeled for a NOS diff. If you’ve got a s/c they’re used to paying the dealers hourly rate and mark up. By the time they receive the estimate for a dealer front dif swap they’ll gladly pay for a NOS part and you swapping it out. That’d likely still be cheaper than the dealer.