Your Neighborhood Full Service Repair Facility
We Test - Not Guess!
We Diagnose & Fix Problems The First Time
We Service All Makes & Models
"100 years of combined experience in the automotive industry"
July 10, 2017
There are a lot of drivers in Lewis Center who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in Ohio these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Lewis Center 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 Lewis Center 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 Ohio 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 Center Lewis Center 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 Center Lewis Center 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 Center Lewis Center, we've been providing quality automotive service for our valued Lewis Center customers since
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Lewis Center
210 Hornbeam Lane
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
740-549-3332
http://www.tuffylewiscenter.com
January 25, 2026
Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them. Our vehicles have the same issue. The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear. Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow y... More
January 18, 2026
Let's face it. New vehicles are expensive, so finding a good used one can save drivers a lot of money. It's tempting to look through ads, find a private seller who has what you're looking for and pay a price you think is a great deal. But when you go over to look at a used car, do you really k... More
January 11, 2026
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More
