What Happens Exactly With No Differential Oil

Say your differential had a leak that went unnoticed while in storage, and when you get her back, the differential is absolutely empty of gear oil. I'd imagine that a tiny amount will still be coating the parts, so it could very well go unnoticed for a good half mile perhaps? But after that, would you even know something was wrong? Like if a "grinding" noise alerted you? Also, are any other parts, besides the differential itself, subject to damage? If not, then it seems that the worst case scenario is having to replace it, but are there any other potential dangers due to catastrophic failure, such as it locking up or something like that?

If you're wondering, the answer is yes, I'm a paranoid schizophrenic. However, I'd like to know the range of what can happen, should something like this happen to me. Thanks!

 

some one correct me but i would assume with no gear oil you wouldnt get to far down the road before major damage. first thing i think of would be major chipping in the diff gears which would cause more damage with in the diff housing.

EDIT: this is exactly what you dont want to hear. pay attention to the video
http://youtu.be/vRLTech0eUw

 

Bad things, that's what will happen...

 

Front or rear diff?

I'd fill it up with some dyno oil. Put a couple miles on it. Drain it into a clean pan through a cheesecloth. If you see large shards of metal in the cloth that's no good. If not add some LSD additive and top it off with dyno oil.

You should have the mechanical LSD (2008 sport) so 'if' it's your rear diff that would make some crappy noises with what I hope would be minimal if any damage if it was low. Also remember you need to run LSD additive if your using dyno oil.

IMO if you caught it early like your post states you should be OK.

 

Use a magnet to check the oil for shavings

 

you mean dip it in the oil?

 

I'd pour the oil over the magnet so you get as much contact with the magnet as possible.

 

I threw up a little bit in my mouth. I listened to two rear ends go in my Oh-6. Good luck OP.

 

Well... lack of oil means lack of boundary lubrication between the gear teeth that slide against each other. This means excessive wear and heat. Also a lack of lubrication in the bearings that hold all the gears in place, which again, wear and heat.

Keep it going very long and you can cause severe damage. You're likely to notice a noise if you're conscientious at all. IMO you'd be likely to hear a whine.

You COULD lock up a diff but I don't think that's likely to happen very quick, with extended driving I think it's possible or it's possible the differential blows rendering the truck inoperable in 2wd but still possibly rolls.

No other parts in the axle are subject to failure aside from gears/bearings. Unless it explodes and in that case it COULD take out the axle housing or 3rd casting but IMO that's not likely to happen.

 

different way to skin a cat I guess. cheesecloth will catch everything big with no chance of missing anything.

 

Don't forget as well that if there is no lubrication for the gears, then there is no lubrication for the bearings either. It takes very little time to destroy a bearing without oil.

 

Do both. Cheese cloth and put a magnet on top and then pour.

 

How could you miss the puddle of oil under the truck? How many Qts does the differential hold?

 

3, it'd be a big smelly mess.

 

I have no idea what the pinion or spider gears in these rear ends look like but I am sure they are about the same as a something I am familiar with like the Ford 9" rear end. The gear oil in the rear end not only keeps the gears clean, lubricated, and catch the metal shavings it also keeps the rear end cool. Think about it, at 70 miles an hour those gears are being turned by the axle at the same speed and that generates a ton of friction, and friction makes heat. I've never seen it happen, but I'd venture to guess that it would either go boom or the gears would start disintegrating and you'd hear a lot of clattering and the truck would start vibrating really bad. Not good and with a Toyota I bet it would be a 5 thousand dollar oops if not more.

 

Exactly!

 

Your gear oil lubricates the wheel bearings as well as you gears.

Many years ago, driving to the trails... We had a guy with an old pickup truck.
Needless to say....no gear oil in the diff. His c-clip broke and his entire axle shaft (with wheel attached) came vaulting across the road and embedded itself into the ground while his drum came off, axle tube dragged on the ground and dug a hole in the pavement before he came to a stop.

The entire diff and everything attached to it was completely destroyed.

 

On the highway a Dude in a Titan flew past me and the diff was loudly ringing like a bell. God knows how far this dim wit got down the road.

 

Better idea. Make a cheese cloth out of a magnet and and a magnet out of a cheese cloth. Pour your oil over your cheese cloth magnet and let it run over and through your magnet cheese cloth!

 

Yes it would be a smelly mess, how can you miss it. If you have a LSD diff you still have to add LSD additive regardless if you fill it up with synthetic. Synthetics say LSD compatible, not has LSD additive in it. If you didnt here any noises then you didnt hurt it. Where is the leak coming from? The drain plug? Which has a magnet on it by the way so any fragments are gonna be stuck to it. Dont be surprised there will probaly be a few shavings stuck to it. Its normal.