Liquimoly diff fluid sucks

[Arith2]

I started hearing a scraping sound coming from the rear of my car and thought is was possibly a worn spring in the E brake. After the adjustment the noise was still there. I spun the wheel and checked for play in the bearings to find they're fine. I even did a 996 brake conversion with a full brake flush. Didn't fix it.

I REALLY didn't want it to be the diff but it is. I drained the fluid with about 8,000 miles on it and it came out grey. The last fluid came out clear and the bottom of the diff had no excessive metal. The car has 77,000 miles and metal doesn't just shred, unless it isn't properly protected. I can understand if my clutches are going, but this junk killed my diff in 8k miles. I should've invested in some different fluid sooner but it is what it is now.

This is a heads up for those using it, you should probably find a different fluid.

[Tbonem3]

What fluid specifically? Sorry

[Radekxpl]

That sucks I would highly recommend this OE formula: How to mix differential fluid with friction modifier for BMW e46 M3 e90 M3 e92 f80 M3 f87 M2 e60 M5 https://youtu.be/lUpOFxGtN-E

Same as BMW OE diff fluid but at quarter of a cost, I have been running this close 9 years on a heavily tracked car with superb results currently 154k on original diff with not a single noise or hiccup.


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[Arith2]

That sucks I would highly recommend this OE formula: How to mix differential fluid with friction modifier for BMW e46 M3 e90 M3 e92 f80 M3 f87 M2 e60 M5 https://youtu.be/lUpOFxGtN-E

Same as BMW OE diff fluid but at quarter of a cost, I have been running this close 9 years on a heavily tracked car with superb results currently 154k on original diff with not a single noise or hiccup.


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Yeah I definitely wished I wouldve gone that route initially. It's definitely the proven way. Right now my band aid is Motul with a little FM but that problem isn't solved. It quieted up a bit but the noise is still there.

What fluid specifically? Sorry

The 75w-140 diff fluid they make. It's apparently designed to be right for our diffs.

[DropTopKingM3]

I almost went with different transmission and diff fluid. I was going to do redline or liqui moly. I ended up going the OEM route instead. Sorry to hear about your situation bro.

[EthanolTurbo]

Damn that sucks! I'm sorry this happened to you, this is a bullshit situation. I doubt LiquiMoly has the stones to compensate you for this or the inclination (but they should.) I'm switching away from them as I feel they're mostly hype.

Personally I have had great success with Redline diff fluid in particular, about to try their oil as well as it seemingly outperforms Amsoil and other high grade boutique oils. Oil/fluids are like religion though, you don't want to bring it up because everyone will die defending their preferred flavor.

[George Hill]

We need more info on this. How do you know the oil caused the diff failure. And what exactly has failed?

While I only run SAF-XJ in diffs I do know people who run LM with no issues.

[Sharocks]

I'm running LM 75W140 in the M5. Smooth as silk.

I only run OE in the M3 however but that has a built diff so I'm trying to protect my investment lol

[bigjae46]

Hold on now...

A diff fails and it can only be the diff fluid’s fault? I highly doubt that.

Sounds like there is a bad bearing.


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[r4dr]

Hold on now...

A diff fails and it can only be the diff fluid’s fault? I highly doubt that.

Sounds like there is a bad bearing.


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+1. We're doing a lot of confusing correlation with causation here.

[enjoy_m3]

+2 unless the diff was underfilled, completely wrong fluid, or something inside was already on it's way out.

[Arith2]

The diff was fine. I'm not incompetent and definitely filled it with the right viscosity. It was not under filled or leaking. I put Liquimoly in and the diff began to fail. Also note that the fluid that came out on my diff service looked good and healthy the first versus grey and sparkly this time.

[Flat-Six]

Why not just use the OEM fluid?

[Arith2]

Why not just use the OEM fluid?

Ignorance. I thought Liquimoly was good then. I hadn't traveled far enough down the oil rabit hole yet. Why drop $150 when you can spend $40 on something "just as good"? That's a week of groceries.

I've definitely learned since then. I was still at the beginning of my journey as a technician.

[bigjae46]

The diff was fine. I'm not incompetent and definitely filled it with the right viscosity. It was not under filled or leaking. I put Liquimoly in and the diff began to fail. Also note that the fluid that came out on my diff service looked good and healthy the first versus grey and sparkly this time.

If it was grey then it could be grease from the CV joint getting in through the input seal?

I don’t see how a diff oil causes a diff to fail other than the LSD unit.


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