[tlare58]

I can't find in my owners manual what the frequency is for replacing the front and rear differential fluid on my 2016 Ford Explorer XLT with 53K miles on it....Valvoline says every 30-60K miles....but nothing in the owners manual...thoughts???

 

[J_C]

Ford probably considers them "lifetime" fluids which means it will last longer than your powertrain warranty.

Due to the small volume used and heat generated, your transfer case has the shortest interval, some suggest around 30K mi. Differential, would depend on how severe duty it sees, both hauling loads and the ambient temperatures. 50K would be a conservative measure, 75K pretty middle-of the road, and 100K pushing it, then every 50K from that point forward.

Since you're already at 53K and it's on your mind, I'd go ahead and change it, yourself, or at a shop that lets you see the condition of the fluid coming out so you know how bad it was, and can use this as a gauge for how long to wait till the next fluid change if all else is equal for the vehicle use.

Granted, if you're going to use an aftermarket fluid, it may have a different lifespan than the motorcraft. You might ask about something like that at https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ or at least research it as someone else has probably asked and answered that topic.

 

[tlare58]

Ford probably considers them "lifetime" fluids which means it will last longer than your powertrain warranty.

Due to the small volume used and heat generated, your transfer case has the shortest interval, some suggest around 30K mi. Differential, would depend on how severe duty it sees, both hauling loads and the ambient temperatures. 50K would be a conservative measure, 75K pretty middle-of the road, and 100K pushing it, then every 50K from that point forward.

Since you're already at 53K and it's on your mind, I'd go ahead and change it, yourself, or at a shop that lets you see the condition of the fluid coming out so you know how bad it was, and can use this as a gauge for how long to wait till the next fluid change if all else is equal for the vehicle use.

Granted, if you're going to use an aftermarket fluid, it may have a different lifespan than the motorcraft. You might ask about something like that at https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ or at least research it as someone else has probably asked and answered that topic.

So my wife drives the explorer around on small errands and then we take it on long trips...it has never been used off road or for any towing....when do you think I should consider changing the Transfer case fluid and the front and rear differential fluids...maybe at 60K miles? Ironically, when I went to valvoline for an oil change yesterday, it was the first time any mechanic shop had suggested changing the differential fluids...is it because I had been under 50K miles? Usually these shops PUSH products and services you don't really need...and no one had done this up until yesterday....

 

[J_C]

^ I can't predict the criteria for a quick lube place pushing services, but yes it might have been that it was under 50K. Might also depend on how busy they are, if they have empty bay time then it's more profitable to keep the bay in use with more services per vehicle.

Definitely replace the transfer case fluid now. It is more fragile and susceptible to cooking the fluid and making it wear the TC out. Front and rear diff, as already stated it depends on your philosophy about vehicle maintenance. It's always easier to tell people to change fluids sooner rather than later, as it only wastes a little time and money while waiting.

If it were mine, I'd go ahead and change the front and rear diff fluid and see how they look. If they don't look bad, wait another 50K to 75K mi to change again. If they look bad then I'd change with the transfer case every 30K mi.

It also depends on what a quick lube or other shop would put in it. If they use the cheapest fluid they can find, it'll probably have less heat tolerance and be cooked easier, sooner.