08-11-2008, 11:37 PM
You have to change your diff lube IF it is not a sealed system; it is not a sealed system IF there is a blow-off (breather) valve on the top of your diff that allows air out, and therefore allows things in (water). And everybody here who's trailering a boat s/b running an extended rear-diff breather anyway.
3 other systems that were exposed/submerged for a significant period of time but are sealed were your brake, tranny, and gas tank.
I think you would be crazy not to change each of these fluids. Water in any these systems will probably not cause catastrophic and/or immediate problems, but it ain't good to introduce a foreign fluid to any fluid-based system.
So what's the odds of you getting water in a sealed system? Probably not great, however, if the system was hot (think tranny), and suddenly got submerged in cold water, the seals might not do their job. If you hadn't been driving for a while when the truck took a deep six, the tranny probably wasn't hot.
But why wonder? Changing fluids is slightly time-consuming, but easy. There isn't a fluid in my truck that I haven't changed at least once. And if the fluids hadn't been changed in a while, it's a good idea to do anyway.
If this freaks you out to do it yourself, take it to any mechanic.
Sorry about your mess, man.
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3 other systems that were exposed/submerged for a significant period of time but are sealed were your brake, tranny, and gas tank.
I think you would be crazy not to change each of these fluids. Water in any these systems will probably not cause catastrophic and/or immediate problems, but it ain't good to introduce a foreign fluid to any fluid-based system.
So what's the odds of you getting water in a sealed system? Probably not great, however, if the system was hot (think tranny), and suddenly got submerged in cold water, the seals might not do their job. If you hadn't been driving for a while when the truck took a deep six, the tranny probably wasn't hot.
But why wonder? Changing fluids is slightly time-consuming, but easy. There isn't a fluid in my truck that I haven't changed at least once. And if the fluids hadn't been changed in a while, it's a good idea to do anyway.
If this freaks you out to do it yourself, take it to any mechanic.
Sorry about your mess, man.
[signature]