Does this Front Differential Fluid look OK?

[TruckGuy2020]

Never owned a truck before so not sure what I’m looking at here. 43K miles on 2022 2.7L. Used a fluid extractor to pull out Front differential fluid. Only 1.6L came out but it took the full 1.7L in per the manual to fill.

For reference, I very rarely off road or use the 4WD function. I almost never even used the 4auto function either so the use of n the gears has been minimal.

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[TruckGuy2020]

Here’s a video for better look.

 

[Avalance150]

Looks like very normal to me! Especially at that mileage, expect rear diff to be a bit darker.

 

[Fox146]

Looks pretty good. As long as there are no shiny chunks or excessive flakes but don’t see anything there

 

[Calson]

A trick of the quick lube places is to remove a small amount of fluid and put it on a white towel and comment about how dirty it is and con customers into getting the fluid changed. I even had a dealer's service advisor do this.

With a new vehicle one of the first things I do is make a crib sheet that shows at what mileage or interval fluids should be changed. I put a copy in the glove box for reference.

The Ford recommendation is to change the transmission, front axle, rear axle, and transfer case fluid every 150,000 miles. Nothing to be gained by changing it sooner.

With 4WD it is a good idea to periodically use the 4WD to move the lubricant around in the axles and transfer case which also lubricates the seals. The AC is good to use periodiclaly to keep seals lubricated as well.

 

[jhelrey]

A trick of the quick lube places is to remove a small amount of fluid and put it on a white towel and comment about how dirty it is and con customers into getting the fluid changed. I even had a dealer's service advisor do this.

With a new vehicle one of the first things I do is make a crib sheet that shows at what mileage or interval fluids should be changed. I put a copy in the glove box for reference.

The Ford recommendation is to change the transmission, front axle, rear axle, and transfer case fluid every 150,000 miles. Nothing to be gained by changing it sooner.

With 4WD it is a good idea to periodically use the 4WD to move the lubricant around in the axles and transfer case which also lubricates the seals. The AC is good to use periodiclaly to keep seals lubricated as well.

For $250 in fluid costs, you bet your ass I'm going to service my truck before 150K miles. I also keep my vehicles until 200K and I'm a firm believer in PM.

This cost goes up drastically if you can't do the work yourself so that would come into play.

 

[CoolCoyote]

A trick of the quick lube places is to remove a small amount of fluid and put it on a white towel and comment about how dirty it is and con customers into getting the fluid changed. I even had a dealer's service advisor do this.

With a new vehicle one of the first things I do is make a crib sheet that shows at what mileage or interval fluids should be changed. I put a copy in the glove box for reference.

The Ford recommendation is to change the transmission, front axle, rear axle, and transfer case fluid every 150,000 miles. Nothing to be gained by changing it sooner.

With 4WD it is a good idea to periodically use the 4WD to move the lubricant around in the axles and transfer case which also lubricates the seals. The AC is good to use periodiclaly to keep seals lubricated as well.

Bro you should be changing the transmission fluid every 30k to 45k miles, no matter what the manual says. Change it at 150k and you'll be rebuilding the transmission within 6 months. Reputable shops won't even change it at that high of mileage if it has no prior record of being changed.
The owner's manual lists extremely long intervals so they can advertise lower cost of ownership.
FoMoCo is also in the business of keeping it's dealership service departments flush with heavy repairs that directly result from ridiculous intervals.

 

[PowerBoostSoCal]

I just had all changed at 55K - transmission, front/rear differentials and transfer case + coolant at 50K and spark plugs will change at 60K. Expensive, but talking to the Ford fleet service guys he showed me trucks that use recommended intervals that have super expensive repairs between 70 and 90K and the sheriff F150 and Explorers that they change oil at 3.5K and everything else at 50K run almost forever - they have a 10 year old patrol Explorer with 190K in the shop that has had no major repairs, just good maintenance ... admittedly the paint and appearance could use some attention, but the county service administrator wants everything functioning properly when needed (saves tax payer money too).

 

[zx6roclet]

My 95 f250 still has the oem diff fluid from 95. She has 305000 on the clock and runs like a top. Diff fluid changes are over rated?

 

[Pedaldude]

Ford uses pretty high quality differential lubricants and when I changed the fluid in the rear 9.75” diff on my Navigator at 60K miles, it looked brand new!

With 4WD it is a good idea to periodically use the 4WD to move the lubricant around in the axles and transfer case which also lubricates the seals. The AC is good to use periodiclaly to keep seals lubricated as well.

Once a month is what’s recommended and the weak link is the ESOTF motor which will just freeze if you don’t “exercise” it regularly and sometimes even when you do!

Excellent tip! The A/C system will definitely stop working from disuse, usually because the seals in the compressor dry up.

Also use the ball valves around your house if they’re new. Large municipal water works have guys who have only one job and that’s to exercise the gate valves all over the city, just so they’ll work the one time they might be needed. If you are a forgetful person, do it on your birthday, April Fool’s Day or some other memorable day and change your smoke detector batteries too.

 

[SilverSpur]

It looks like water in the fluid to me.

 

[Dizz]

On the 2000 Tacoma at 15 years and only 50 K miles I changed every fluid thinking the fluid would break down similar to gasoline
It had manual transmission
The new stuff that went in didn’t look or smell a bit better than what came out
I felt like was a waste of time and money
4 months later Toyota bought it Bain rusty frame deal??

 

[Mosey]

Mine looked just like the OP’s.

 

[SilverSpur]

One never knows of how the previous owners care. Some ford deep water not thinking of the axle breather tube being submerged too. I used to cross water at times up to 3 ft but only briefly with my 73 blazer K5. Back then I was able to take care of my vehicles and do all the maintenance. I would rebuild the axle assemblies from bearings, seals, dust seals, axle u-joints, drive shaft U joints, and leaf spring replacement. Trained as a mechanic to repair all wheel and tracked vehicle assemblies.

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