So yea... about rear diff fluid temps...
 

I was changing my rear diff fluid last night to Redline, (first time since I've owned the car) and I pulled the drain bolt out and it wouldn't come all the way out.

Confused, I yanked on it a little and it popped out...

this is what I saw...

:eek:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...Z/d8717bca.jpg

Luckily, I bought a new rear drain bolt and washer (as I always do) but I was a little concerned at first. Upon further inspection, it looks like the plastic covering around the magnet has melted due to high temps. I don't beat on the car a whole lot, but I have been to a track day or two.

Good new is there wasn't much metal or shavings...lol

Any of you road racers have any insight on how hot these diffs get?

I wouldnt think that should of been there in the first place. Whatever it is? There really is no issues so far as high temps in the rear end. But if there was plastic in there, then yea it would melt.

I'm getting a LSD install in about a week. I'll see what's going on up on there.

Did you try wiping that grime off? The drain bolt is magnetic and attracts any ferrous sludge. I've changed my diff oil twice and helped two friends. You can wipe all that crap off and then you have a cylindrical black magnetic plug under all that.

Or...

You melted the black plastic that surrounds the magnet...hard to tell.

Yea, there is a plastic cover around the rear drain bolt's center magnet.

That is what melted...

What I took of picture of is hard and solid, it looks nasty but it's one weird looking piece of plastic and I wiped everything off of it.

Question...

If the differential gets too hot, is there a separate warning light?

What th...?

Pretty sure there is no light... I could be wrong.

thanks for the reminder. will definitely be changing the differential oil along with the next engine oil change!

Why is there plastic inside??? and i think it gets like 300+Degrees not sure depends if you race or drift it goes over like 500F i hear

Nasty!

imagine what it did to the silicone in your vlsd. if you have a sport your diff is probably blown, and the seals may be too.

How many miles on the car?

Is there a service interval for the dif? I didn't think there was...?

Service interval is fluid change every 30k miles. I'd go show that to the dealer. Did a bunch of fluid gush out when you pulled the plug? That almost looks like the diff was dry. Also, any burnouts/donuts, etc?

FYI, there is no 'rear diff temp light' nor OEM active cooling system for the rear diff. For $1000 you can install a diff cooler pump and core.

Good to know -- thanks! :tiphat:

:iagree:

Y? Would burnouts and donuts melt things in your diff. I would think that this car can handle burnouts launches drifts etc without having problems. I'm sure it may cause problems down the road if you dont maintain the diff, but if you change your fluid at proper intervals or sooner and use good fluid I dont think you have much to worry.

My car just turned 19k miles.

There was plenty of fluid in the diff when I pulled the bolt out...

Since the fluid change it feels much better so I don't think anything is wrong with the VLSD.

As a reference, this is what it should look like.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/g37_370...600&page=popup