How to change Differential Gear oil 2004 Winnie Voyage?

[mmulroy]

FIRST, I have no cover on my rear Differential. Is there a bottom bolt that I can remove to drain the oil or do I have to suck it out the check plug on the upper side of the diff?

 

[Eagle5]

The Topsider Pump would work well:

Topsider Extractor​

 

[Pointyears]

FIRST, I have no cover on my rear Differential. Is there a bottom bolt that I can remove to drain the oil or do I have to suck it out the check plug on the upper side of the diff?

Not sure what "no cover" means. I've never seen a rear differential with no cover; the only difference being the size and the number of bolts. Given that I have no idea what your class A differential looks like, if I was going to through the effort of changing the fluid on any vehicle that I own or have ever owned, I'd take the cover off, clean the the inside of the differential thoroughly (brake cleaner is your friend), clean the edges, apply a new gasket, reattach cover, torque to spec, and fill to fill hole while vehicle is level. Using the above pump, while a clever idea, will just leave all the metal fragments still in there (you're bound to have some after 20 years) making changing the oil only a partial success.

 

[creativepart]

We don't know, because you haven't said, if you have a Ford or Workhorse chassis.

Here's a diff oil change on a similar Ford:

Here's one where the person used the extractor:

 

[tderonne]

As said, need to ID your chassis. Need to know the GVWR too. Then you can figure out your axle.

Dana S135 is one possibility around 2005. It was used by Ford and Workhorse, but depends on the GVWR. It has a plug on the bottom (no rear cover). It takes like 12 quarts of fluid.

Dana S135 service

 

[mmulroy]

Not sure what "no cover" means. I've never seen a rear differential with no cover; the only difference being the size and the number of bolts. Given that I have no idea what your class A differential looks like, if I was going to through the effort of changing the fluid on any vehicle that I own or have ever owned, I'd take the cover off, clean the the inside of the differential thoroughly (brake cleaner is your friend), clean the edges, apply a new gasket, reattach cover, torque to spec, and fill to fill hole while vehicle is level. Using the above pump, while a clever idea, will just leave all the metal fragments still in there (you're bound to have some after 20 years) making changing the oil only a partial success.

Thank you. That's nice but not my Class A.

 

[mmulroy]

The Topsider Pump would work well:

Topsider Extractor​

View attachment 1064306

That's a really nice unit. Thanks!

 

[mmulroy]

We don't know, because you haven't said, if you have a Ford or Workhorse chassis.

Here's a diff oil change on a similar Ford:

Here's one where the person used the extractor:

I watched the video and that's a really nice extractor. I'll look into it. Thanks!

 

[mmulroy]

As said, need to ID your chassis. Need to know the GVWR too. Then you can figure out your axle.

Dana S135 is one possibility around 2005. It was used by Ford and Workhorse, but depends on the GVWR. It has a plug on the bottom (no rear cover). It takes like 12 quarts of fluid.

Dana S135 service

This may very well be mine. However, the only possibility of a drain plug on mine has to be one of the lower bolts that tightens the differential to the diff. housing/case. What ill do tomorrow is remove the 2 lower bolts and see if gear oil comes out. If not, everything has to be done through the upper oil level check bolt. Thanks for the quantity. I believe that's about right. I appreciate your help. P.S. I do have a Workhorse chassis.

 

[Pointyears]

This may very well be mine. However, the only possibility of a drain plug on mine has to be one of the lower bolts that tightens the differential to the diff. housing/case. What ill do tomorrow is remove the 2 lower bolts and see if gear oil comes out. If not, everything has to be done through the upper oil level check bolt. Thanks for the quantity. I believe that's about right. I appreciate your help. P.S. I do have a Workhorse chassis.

Can you take a pic of your diff? My pea brain is having a hard time groking a coverless differential... but with bolts.

 

[tderonne]

P.S. I do have a Workhorse chassis.

What GVWR? Or what model Voyage? 2005 chassis? Should be able to determine exactly what axle you have. There's also a tag on the axle that will have info about it.

Looking a bit more, looks like you could have a Dana S110 or S130, not the S135. The 110/130 is similar to the S135, but is a bit smaller and uses less fluid, 8 quarts.

Dana S110/130 Service manual

From the above linked manual: "Remove the bottom two carrier to housing capscrews and allow the lube to drain into a suitable container"