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Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear
an unusual noise. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
All axle assemblies are filled by volume of fluid
during production. They are not filled to reach
a certain level. When checking the fluid level on
any axle, variations in the readings can be caused
by factory fill differences between the minimum
and the maximum fluid volume. Also, if a vehicle
has just been driven before checking the fluid
level, it may appear lower than normal because
fluid has traveled out along the axle tubes and has
not drained back to the sump area. Therefore, a
reading taken five minutes after the vehicle
has been driven will appear to have a lower fluid
level than a vehicle that has been stationary
for an hour or two. Remember that the rear axle
assembly must be supported to get a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be
on a level surface.
• For 4.8L and 5.3L engines, the proper level is
from 0.04 inch to 0.75 inch (1.0 mm to
19.0 mm) below the bottom of the filler plug
hole, located on the rear axle. Add only enough
fluid to reach the proper level.
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