Procedures for Changing the Rear Differential Fluid on a Chevy 2000 Silverado

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Changing the differential fluid in your light truck will extend the life of its drivetrain.

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Changing the rear differential fluid in a 2000 Chevrolet Siverado can extend the life of the truck's drivetrain. The 2000 Silverado came with optional two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive systems. The two-wheel drive version has only one differential in the rear, while the four-wheel drive model has two differentials and a transfer case, all of which require fluid changes. Changing the rear differential fluid should take approximately two hours, if you have never done this type of work before. All of the tools and materials for this project are available at auto parts stores.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Raise the rear of the vehicle slightly, so that you can access the rear differential housing. Set wheel chocks in front of the front tires. Set jack stands underneath the axle housing on either side of the truck.
   
   
2. Set a drain pan beneath the differential housing. Remove the differential plug, using the head of a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to turn the drain plug. Turn the drain plug counterclockwise to remove it.
   
   
3. Allow the differential to drain for approximately 10 minutes. This will ensure that you have removed as 
   much fluid as possible. Use a hand-held siphon pump to pump the remaining fluid from the differential into a drain pan. The siphon pump will also remove the majority of floating metal grindings from inside the differential housing.
   
   
4. Reinstall the differential drain plug. Tighten the plug to between 35 and 50 foot-pounds of torque. Do not run the drain plug all the way into the housing, or you will break the seal or damage the differential's gears.
   
5. Remove the fill plug from the differential in the same manner that you removed the drain plug. Place the inlet hose of the siphon pump into a bottle of 80w-90 or 85w-140 gear oil. Place the outlet hose of the siphon pump into the fill hole of the differential.
   
   
6. Pump differential fluid into the differential until you have a small amount of drip or seepage coming from the fill hole.
   
7. Remove the siphon pump. Insert the fill plug into the differential. Tighten the plug to between 35 and 50 foot-pounds of torque. Do not over-tighten the plug or run it through the differential.
   
   
8. Remove the drain pan from beneath the vehicle. Discard the used gear oil at a local auto parts store or oil change center--both of these places offer free oil disposal.
   
   
9. Lower the vehicle to the ground.