Using diff drain plug as filler plug due to magnet

[Towncivilian]

The drain plug has a magnet, the fill plug doesn't. The plugs are the same size. Now obviously there shouldn't be fluid above the fill hole most of the time, but the fill plug still gets some contact with fluid (i.e. when you're on an incline I'd think, and I'm sure fluid splashes around in general, too). Wouldn't a drain plug with magnet in the fill plug spot be beneficial to help catch more ferrous wear material? Such a concept can be applied to the transfer case, front differential, manual transmission, too since they have fill & drain plugs. A new OEM drain plug with magnet costs about $8 at list price. Am I just being crazy here?

[Chuck Tribolet]

Make darn sure you have clearance for the magnet.

I think it's probably overkill. And probably not very effective because the drain plug magnet is getting help from gravity.,


Chuck

[zach7685]

Town... if you ever sell any of your cars let me know..... I dont even need the carfax

[Towncivilian]

Haha, I hear you. I probably overkill maintenance.

I'm sure the drain plug with magnet will have plenty of clearance - when draining & filling my diff last I looked through the fill hole and nothing was in the way and I could stick my finger in pretty far (sexual joke in 3, 2, 1...). For $8 locally I'll just pick one up. I'll swap it out then remove it in a month to see if it's collected any sizable junk.

[Towncivilian]

I finally put the drain plug in the fill plug spot today. I'll remove it next engine oil change to see whether it collects anything.

[yngw13]

tried doing the rear diff drain....fill plug came off no problem with a 1/2 and used an impact wrench....drain was a pain...impact wrench was weak....ended up warping top half....so played it smart and went to the mechanic nearby to loosen it up...ten bux to tip him....so had to do other stuff and pushed back the job to tomorrow...btw ended up ordering a new drain plug on ebay for $15 shipped...but might just keep it and use the partially warped plug...looks like the previous owners never changed the fluid judging from the frozen and crud topped plug. so....is the front easier to drain?

[Towncivilian]

I have no idea if the front is easier to drain, I have a 2WD, sorry.

Use the new drain plug, you'll have less headaches in the future. Maybe get the 13mm drain plug socket (see the general info thread for details) to help prevent further warping. I used a 1/2" drive 25-inch breaker bar to loosen the fill plug, then a broken 1/2" drive HF torque wrench to remove it. I used a new 1/2" drive HF torque wrench to tighten it. I set it to 60 ft/lbs (range is 43 - 87 ft/lbs), but never reached that. I gave up after it got really tight.

[yngw13]

tnx town....

so I got to changing the fluid...and while it was flowing I noticed it was clear and looked fresh...didn't smell new though...

cleaned up the plugs with silicone spray and a brush and wiped it with shop towels...there was sludge on the magnet

so put back the usable drain plug with some anti seize...and started filling it with 3 quarts of 75w-90 Mobil...didn't have much spillage but used my index finger to check the fill level... 3 qts is more than enough I thought coz the axle was jacked up high...I used the silicone tube funnel attached to the bottle to make filling it easier...I highly recommend it