First, apologies for not including any pictures, but I assume that you all have seen stripped 10mm hex plugs, and mine is no different.
Fortunately, I was able to cleanly remove the front differential fill plug, but somehow, in my haste to swap fluid, I really buggered up the drain plug.
I was able to suction out most, if not all of the fluid through the fill plug (I owe the Mrs a new turkey baster), getting out more than 0.5 L. I also ordered a new drain plug, so now the question...Is it worth it to fight to get the drain plug out to clean off the metal on the magnetic filter? For reference, fluid was last changed ~5 years ago (don't judge me).
My sense is that I run the risk of doing more damage than good, but thought I would, again, source the collective wisdom of the group.
Many thanks!!!
RIP Front Differential Drain Plug
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Ilya
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- Car: 2011 M56x but I spend a lot of time on my 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S. Former owner of a 2007 M35x. Also take care of my wife's 2016 QX60.
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Re: RIP Front Differential Drain Plug
I personally would fight the battle. Use any means necessary to remove that plug, even if it means cutting the bolt head so you can use a phillips or something to loosen it.
Re: RIP Front Differential Drain Plug
Based on the info you provided, I say call it a day.
In my opinion, you are not compromising or risking an increase in metal contamination leaving the plug in place, it is not worth the hassle.
I serviced my M35x front end diff for the first time at about 120k miles, (it was never serviced from new) and was surprised at how clean the oil was in addition to lack of metal on the plug. I can't recall for sure if the drain plug was magnetized or not now that I think about it.
The old C3 Chevy Corvette diffs were serviced using turkey baster drain & refills.
I just performed a diff service on a 98 Continental Mark VIII I own, that is a turkey baster procedure also.
Both the fore mentioned diffs are $$$ units, with no drain plugs.
I do think the fill plug on the Mark was magnetized, I was going to place a super magnet over the Mark fill plug after torquing it down, but had a concern that the proximity of the magnet might interfere with the ABS sensors, so it just was not worth it for me to find out if it would have been an issue.
In my opinion, you are not compromising or risking an increase in metal contamination leaving the plug in place, it is not worth the hassle.
I serviced my M35x front end diff for the first time at about 120k miles, (it was never serviced from new) and was surprised at how clean the oil was in addition to lack of metal on the plug. I can't recall for sure if the drain plug was magnetized or not now that I think about it.
The old C3 Chevy Corvette diffs were serviced using turkey baster drain & refills.
I just performed a diff service on a 98 Continental Mark VIII I own, that is a turkey baster procedure also.
Both the fore mentioned diffs are $$$ units, with no drain plugs.
I do think the fill plug on the Mark was magnetized, I was going to place a super magnet over the Mark fill plug after torquing it down, but had a concern that the proximity of the magnet might interfere with the ABS sensors, so it just was not worth it for me to find out if it would have been an issue.
Re: RIP Front Differential Drain Plug
Thanks to you both for the input...You managed to capture my inner conflict, perfectly!
I got the replacement drain plug on Wednesday, and it didn't look like I thought it would...It did not have the long magnet sticking out from it, as the rear drain plug did, so I will probably leave well enough along, for now (as much as that pains me).
Again, thanks for the input!
I got the replacement drain plug on Wednesday, and it didn't look like I thought it would...It did not have the long magnet sticking out from it, as the rear drain plug did, so I will probably leave well enough along, for now (as much as that pains me).
Again, thanks for the input!