Some of the most important maintenance on your vehicle happens in parts you rarely hear about. The differential and driveline components help transfer power from your engine to your wheels, and they rely on clean fluid to do it smoothly. Because these services are not needed as often as an oil change, they are easy to forget, but skipping them can lead to expensive repairs.
Your differential allows your wheels to turn at different speeds when you go around a corner, and it contains gears bathed in lubricating fluid. Over time and mileage, that fluid breaks down and collects tiny metal particles from normal wear. If it is never changed, the gears wear faster and can eventually fail, which is a costly repair. Vehicles that tow, haul, or see a lot of miles are especially hard on differential fluid.
Warning signs of a neglected differential can include whining or howling noises that change with speed, a rumble or clunk, or a burnt smell from overheated fluid. Catching these early is far cheaper than replacing damaged components.
At Home Town Auto Care in Franklin, we check your differential and driveline fluids and let you know when a service is due based on your vehicle and how you drive it around Middle Tennessee. Fresh fluid at the right intervals is inexpensive insurance for parts that are very expensive to replace. If you are not sure whether your differential has ever been serviced, or you have noticed an unusual noise, stop by our Franklin shop and let us take a look.
