2002 GMC Yukon Differential Fluid
The recommended differential fluid for a 2002 GMC Yukon is 75W-90 synthetic axle lubricant.
Written by David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The recommended differential fluid for your 2002 GMC Yukon is SAE 75W-90 synthetic axle lubricant with limited slip additives.
It might be time to change out your differential fluid if you are noticing burning smells from under your car, unusual vibrations when turning, or just if you haven’t checked in a while. Fortunately, differential fluid services only cost between $100 and $150, and you can save most of that money by doing it yourself with the right tools.
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The best rear differential fluid for the 2002 GMC Yukon
The recommended differential fluid for your 2002 GMC Yukon is any SAE 75W-90 synthetic axle lubricant. You may need to add limited slip friction modifiers depending on which gear oil you buy. Ask your supplier or mechanic if you are unsure.
Here are a few options:
What is rear differential fluid—and why does your car need it?
Differential fluid helps your car's differential run smoothly. Without it, the gears would wear down quickly and you’d be left with an expensive repair.
The differential
is responsible for controlling the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels to allow the wheels to spin at different rates. When you turn a corner, the outside wheel has to spin faster than the inside wheel, or the turn would be shaky and cause unnecessary wear and tear
. The differential is essentially a box of gears that turn very quickly. Without lubrication, it wouldn’t take long for the teeth on those gears to be destroyed.
How often to change your GMC’s differential fluid
Differential fluid has to work a lot less hard than the oil that lubricates your engine. As a result, the oil is good for a relatively long time. You should aim to change your differential fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
If you forget about your gear oil for too long, you will eventually start to notice a few signs that you have pushed it too far. These signs include:
- A burning smell coming from the rear gearbox
- Whirring, howling, or straining noises
- Unusual vibrations, especially when turning
One way that you can make sure you don’t let your differential fluid get too bad is to simply ask your mechanic to check it as part of your routine
maintenance schedule
. How to change your GMC Yukon's differential fluid
Changing your 2002 GMC Yukon’s differential fluid is actually pretty straightforward. With the right tools and some confidence, you can save some money and do it yourself. You’ll need:
- Car jack and jack stands, or ramps
- Socket wrench set
- Fluid transfer pump
- Drain pan
- Nitrile gloves
First things first, before jacking up the car make sure you check your owner’s manual and confirm that you have the correct type and volume of fluid for your car. Once that’s dealt with, just follow these steps:
Step 1: Secure your car on jack stands or ramps so you can get under it.
Step 2: Locate and remove the fill plug. Make sure to at least loosen the fill plug first, so you know it comes off before you’ve drained the gear oil.
Step 3: Locate and remove the drain plug and let all of the fluid drain into the pan. You will probably smell a pretty rank scent, like rotting eggs.
Step 4: Reattach the drain plug and use the fluid transfer pump to fill the differential with fluid. Aim to fill between the bottom edge of the fill hole to ⅛ inch below the bottom edge.
Step 5: Reinstall the fill plug and you’re done!
If you want to go the extra mile, you can remove the entire cover, wipe out the old oil, and replace the gasket (if necessary). Don’t use any cleaning agents to avoid contaminating the gear oil. This will, of course, add a lot of time and complexity to the job, but it can be worthwhile to remove unwanted debris and prevent leaks (if you change and reseal the gasket).
MORE: How to put a car on jack stands
How to find affordable GMC insurance
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