Back to all

Vive la Differential at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights in Glendale Heights

August 21, 2016

There are a lot of drivers in Glendale Heights who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in Illinois these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Glendale Heights folks 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 your mind. It's not uncommon for people in Glendale Heights to not know they have a differential, let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a track at any Illinois high school. 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 vehicle 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 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 manufacturers recommend intervals for when to replace your differential fluid.

Your knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He'll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Your Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights service advisor can look up the vehicle manufacturer's recommended service interval or you can check your owner's manual.

At Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights, we've been providing quality automotive service for our valued Glendale Heights customers since . If you need to schedule differential maintenance, or any other automotive service, give us a call at 630-588-8846.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights
1153 Bloomingdale Rd.
Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139
630-588-8846

More articles from Tuffy Glendale Heights

A Clean Start (Battery Cleaning)

March 24, 2024

Your vehicle is loaded with electrical devices. Computerized components are everywhere, so good electrical connections are important. Those begin with your vehicle's battery, so it's important that its connections are in top shape. Ever had a flashlight that didn't work, took out the old batteri... More

Hey Glendale Heights Drivers, How Many Miles Are on Your Car?

March 17, 2024

Nowadays, Glendale Heights drivers are paying more at Illinois gas pumps. For some families it adds up to several hundred dollars every month. That's got to come out of the budget somewhere. This is one of the reasons many Illinois drivers are putting off buying a new car. They plan on keeping th... More

Procrastination Prevention in Glendale Heights

March 10, 2024

Every one of us has a little procrastinator inside us. Some put off getting our teeth cleaned. Others put off answering our emails. Yet others put off calling friends and family (sorry, Uncle Joe). And there are those of us who put off getting our vehicle's service done, whether it's a repair or ... More