What Is a Differential and Do You Have One?
September 10, 2018
With front-wheel drive being so common these days in Perryville, Missouri, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Perryville drivers don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of Perryville customers' minds. It's not uncommon for drivers to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.
Call Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville in Perryville at 575-517-0022 for information about differential service, or stop by our Perryville, Missouri, auto center at 701 S. Perryville Ave, 63775.
To better understand what a differential does, think about our local Perryville high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.
The differential compensates for the difference in speeds between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.
It's a very important function. When you think of it, all the power to get a vehicle moving goes through the differential. Most cars in the Perryville, Missouri area weigh between 3,000 and 6,000 pounds (1,400 and 2,800 kg) – trucks even more. The power from the engine goes through the transmission and then through the differential to the drive wheels.
That's a lot of work and requires very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool.
The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So vehicle manufacturers recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.
The professionals at Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. Then they’ll replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.
Your Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville service advisor can look up the vehicle manufacture's recommended service interval or you can check your owner's manual. Give us a call at 575-517-0022 for more information about your differential service.
Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville
701 S. Perryville Ave
Perryville, Missouri 63775
575-517-0022
http://www.charliesfastlubeperryville.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville
The ?Man-Made? Engine Oil (Synthetic Oil Change)
July 14, 2025
If you own a newer vehicle, your vehicles manufacturer may require that it use synthetic oil instead of conventional oil. Synthetic oils are more stable, dont break down as easily, and provide better engine protection than conventional oil. All those things can prolong the life of your engine an... More
The Economy of Maintenance for Perryville Drivers
July 7, 2025
Do I keep my old vehicle or buy a new one? It's a question most Perryville drivers ask themselves at some time or another.Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don't ... More
Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)
June 29, 2025
So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle. O... More