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Differential? What exactly is a differential? Does my vehicle have a differential?  Does my differential need serviced?   These are common questions a lot of local Des Moines drivers have, so you’re not alone if you’re wondering what a differential is and what it is for.

Every vehicle on the road has a differential, whether you drive a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive vehicle. In fact, it’s a pretty important part of the operation of your vehicle.  A differential allows for differing wheel speeds.  For example, when you turn a corner, the outside wheel travels a greater distance than the inside wheel, which means the outside tire needs to move faster to keep up with the inside tire.  Without a differential, your tires would jump and skip during a turn.

The differential is part of the driveline and is located between the wheels, where the driveshaft joins up with the axle.  Whether your vehicle is a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive depends on if you have a rear differential, front differential, or both.  On front-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is called a transaxle because its location allows it to be combined with the transmission. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is on the rear axle, and four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles have a differential on both axles as well as a transfer case in between.

Do I need a differential service?  Differentials have many moving parts and strong gears that need proper lubrication, so they don’t seize up. Over time, the differential fluid gets dirty, breaks down, and needs to be replaced. So, it is necessary to have your differential serviced regularly.  It is recommended to have the differential fluid changed every 40,000 to 60,000 miles.  However, check your owner’s manual because every vehicle has specific requirements and recommended intervals.

What will happen if I skip a differential service?  If the differential fluid is left too long, or if it starts to run low, the differential will get noisy and could eventually stop working.  If this happens, the gears could seize up, locking up the wheels, causing a lot of damage or even worse – an accident.

How much does a differential service cost?  Depending on your vehicle and how much differential fluid your vehicle needs will all factor into the cost of a differential service.  At Hilltop Tire Service, the price starts at $165.

What does a differential service include?  A differential fluid service is a process to drain the old, contaminated fluid and replace it with new differential fluid.  At Hilltop Tire Service we use the BG Differential fluid that is backed by the BG Lifetime Protection Plan.  This high-quality fluid comes with all the additives and conditioners your differential needs to run more efficiently.

The Hilltop Difference

The expert technicians at Hilltop Tire Service in Des Moines, IA know what to look for and when a differential fluid flush is needed.   We are passionate about giving good, honest opinions that you can trust, and always with your safety our number one priority!  That’s the way we’ve done things for nearly a century – it’s the Hilltop Way.