Which diff oil for Non-LSD VS

[someguy360]

Hi Guys

Doing my first diff fluid change on the VS since I bought it (knowing the previous owner it has probably been several years since it was last done so thought better be safe than sorry, especially with how much punishment my diff gets)

What oil is recommended for the Non LSD diffs on the VS and how much will I need(I don't have its factory manual)?

Also is there anything I need to know or look out for with the VS diffs (I have only ever done subaru's) (I have heard because the equipe isn't IRS I need to take the entire casing off, instead of using a drain plug?)

Thanks All

[Brett_jjj]

The workshop manual says for a normal open wheel diff,to use use a mineral hypoid gear oil, SAE LS 2090 GL5. Or you can just use any SAE 80W-90 hypoid gear oil....Some of these diffs will have a drain bolt,usually the bottom bolt on the back plate,but I have seen this drain hole blocked or not drilled right through on some of these diffs,with these ones,you just have to loosen the back plate to drain the oil out....The diff will hold approx 1.7 litres of oil,you just fill the diff until the oil starts to run back out of the oil filler hole...

[greenacc]

I always used Castrol LSX-90 in my VS diff. It did the job nicely for 8 years. Can buy it in 1 litre or 4 litre.
Surely the bottom bolt will be a drain plug !?

[Brett_jjj]

Surely the bottom bolt will be a drain plug !?

Yeah. some of these diffs have the drain hole at the bottom bolt,and some others dont have the hole drilled all the way through into the housing.With these ones, the rear cover has to be loosened to drain it..They must be meant to be like this as the workshop manual says to loosen the rear cover to drain the oil..

[greenacc]

Wow there you go. If you are going to go that far and loosen the cover you might as well take it right off and have a look inside, and wipe out any crudd from the housing while you're in there. Hope you don't find any banana skins.

[Brett_jjj]

Banana skins or sawdust...