Differential oil

[420ma]

I'm not sure how to change or check the gear oil in my 1993 Marathon or even inspect it.

[Goliath]

If you've never changed it, you should at least once.
It is kind of a pain, but you only have to do it once.

I would get a thin metal paint scraper, remove all the bolts, and go around the lip of the pan with the scraper. It's a thin pan, and may distort a little, but that will get straightened out when you tighten it back down.

After you remove it, clean out the pan, and remove the gasket material from both the pan and the diff. That too, is a pain in the a$$.

Here's two pics of when I did mine.
.

[Goliath]

When you go to put it back together, get a good quality (and thicker) diff fluid, since you probably won't do it again.

It's a pain to try and fill it from the drain plug, and there is a way to add a little more fluid.
After everything is clean, have all the parts next to you, and get under the cart.

Before reinstalling the pan, make sure it's somewhat level, and that you didn't distort it too badly in a fit of rage when either removing it, or cleaning it.

Use a THIN layer (you don't want to squeeze a bunch of it into the diff) of suitable diff cover gasket sealer. Fill the pan slightly above the drain plug level.

Hold the pan level and raise it until it meets the diff. Screw in a few screws around the perimeter to hold it in place, until you can reinstall all the screws.

Torque all the screws, and clean off the excess RTV (sealer).

Pull beer tab, drink, repeat.
Don't drive for about 12 hours (or until sober)

I've attached a pic of the diff fluid I would recommend, and the RTV to use.
.

[Goliath]

BTW, sometimes crap gets into the bolt holes during removal, making them difficult to screw back in.
BEFORE starting the reinstall procedure, either chase the threads with a tap, or use a good clean bolt you removed, and some lubricant, to make sure they all screw in easily.
You don't want to fight a few bolts (like I did) while holding the pan in place.

[Dixie Chopper]

My neighbor has an ‘88 marathon and it has a dipstick. His was in the 2016 flood down here Check out what his diff fluid looked like after lmao



Just get some good quality gear oil as suggested above and you’ll be good.

[Goliath]

That's some nasty a$$ diff fluid!
Looks like honey mustard.

[CrazyDad]

Thanks Goliath I’m just getting ready to tackle this myself except I have to beat the dents out on the pan.

[420ma]

Awesome info, thanks