What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 531.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle
uid unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear
an unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
All axle assemblies are lled by volume of uid
during production. They are not lled to reach a
certain level. When checking the uid level on any
axle, variations in the readings can be caused by
factory ll differences between the minimum and
the maximum uid volume. Also, if a vehicle has
just been driven before checking the uid level, it
may appear lower than normal because uid has
traveled out along the axle tubes and has not
drained back to the sump area. Therefore, a
reading taken ve minutes after the vehicle has
been driven will appear to have a lower uid level
than a vehicle that has been stationary for an hour
or two. Remember that the rear axle assembly must
be supported to get a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be
on a level surface.
For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles, the proper
level is from 0.6 inch to 1.6 inches (15 mm
to 40 mm) below the bottom of the ller plug
hole, located on the rear axle. Add only
enough uid to reach the proper level.
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