# 2002 Mustang, differential

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 5, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676 "2011-09-05T23:04:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![barrera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@barrera](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barrera)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/1 "2011-09-05T23:04:19Z")

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My mechanic recommended differential change @53,000 miles?? then again @70,000. Does it need to be changed if it’s not leaking?

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**Author:** ![fawadquazi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fawadquazi/32/213_2.png) [@fawadquazi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fawadquazi)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/2 "2011-09-05T23:05:34Z")

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Do you mean differential oil? My mechanic has given me similar advice because he is not satisfied with the grade recommended by Ford.  
What does your Service Manual say?

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**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/3 "2011-09-05T23:16:34Z")

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I normally do 80K between diff oil changes. That’s worked well for me for the past few decades. I’m sure you’ll get more opinions, but I’ve also heard that from others. I also run synthetics everywhere.

Like Fawad said, tho, what does your service manual say?

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/4 "2011-09-06T04:43:16Z")

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I think (?) the interval on differential oil is about 60k miles. Changing it at 53 and again at 70 is a bit of overkill it would seem to me.

If the car has a Posi rear axle then I’d change it more frequently than 60k miles.

My daughter has a Mustang and I’ve thumbed the manual on that one but I don’t remember for sure what the interval is.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/5 "2011-09-06T15:06:53Z")

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The Ford spec is;  
Synthetic rear axle lubricant does not need to be changed for the life of the vehicle ( normal service use ) unless axle service is required or submerged in water.  
( non-synthetic fluid , 3000m/3months )

Your service intervals are in a book separate from the owner’s manual, “scheduled mainteinance guide”.  
No books ? ( silly goose ,why’d you toss them out ? )  
[www.owner.ford.com](http://www.owner.ford.com)  
upper left menu choice “vehicle basics” select owner’s manual there to view pdf.

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**Author:** ![bennyandthejets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@bennyandthejets](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bennyandthejets)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-mustang-differential/67676/6 "2011-09-07T13:35:45Z")

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Wow, changing your differential fluid 3 months or 3K miles. You’ll sure have some clean, fresh pumpkin juice. I think that interval might be for engine oil, or maybe it is a typo?