 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  06-16-2006, 09:33 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern IL Posts: 263 |  Diff Cleaning
is it ok to use a grease solvent on a differential? So far i have just been scraping it clean, but it is taking forever and isn't getting it perfectly clean. is it ok to use some kind of liquid solvent to help me? if so what kind do you use/recommend? thanks! |  |  | | 06-16-2006, 12:10 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,288 |
got any pics of this?
i assuming its the inside of the diff rather than the outer casing.... __________________
1995 BMW 316i Cosmos Black
Mods: • Magnex Cat-Back Exhaust • Smoked Corner Lights + Repeators • M3 17" Wheels • De-Baffled Air Box • AC HandBrake Handle and Gear Knob • DEPO Euro Epsiloids + Predator Chronium Rings • Chrome Interior bits •IE Poly-Urethane RSFMs • Kenwood Power Series Audio • Powder Coated e36 325 Front Callipers • Sports Seats | | | | | 06-16-2006, 07:50 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Athens, Ohio Posts: 121 |
I've always heard not to use any cleaners or solvent inside whatsoever. If you're talking about the outside, however, I'd use just about whatever. | | | | | 06-16-2006, 08:39 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern IL Posts: 263 |
no i meant the outer casing. I want to put a fresh coat of paint and put a Z4 diff cover on it before i get the insides reworked from a 4.10 to a 3.63. I just didnt want to do something that would somehow mess up the diff. | | | | | 06-16-2006, 08:47 PM | #5 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
covers are typically aluminum and the rest of the case steel. i would think any good degreaser would work well.
also, do you mean z3 cover or z4? __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 06-16-2006, 09:07 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern IL Posts: 263 |
i think they are off a z4. i want the finned one to help cool the diff faster. ebay has them for a little over $170 i think. | | | | | 06-16-2006, 09:16 PM | #7 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
should be the m-coupe/m-roadster one (mz3 models). i as well as a number of others on here have it on the large case diff.
not sure what the z4 diff cover looks like so i have no idea if that works or not. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 06-16-2006, 09:21 PM | #8 | | Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dublin, Pa Posts: 57 |
I would use kerosene. It is a great degreaser and leaves a small film behind that give some protection. I used castrol purple on my e21 and all the aluminum started to corrode after that. It was clean but too clean. But if you are going to paint right away then I would assume you could use almost any degreaser. Just make sure you don't let it sit too long, like dry on as it might start to etch the aluminum. Thats my 2 cents.  __________________
Todd Davis
'95 Club Sport - Bosal Exhaust, Koni Shocks
not installed yet-RDSport suspension,DASC Supercharger, B&M shifter
'04 E46 M3 |'92 Porsche 911 C4 |'99 LR Disco II|'70 Volvo 1800E|'04 V70R
Mechanical Design Engineer | | | | | 06-16-2006, 09:30 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
Oven cleaner works awsome but don't leave it on the aluminum parts too long...  Dave __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 06-17-2006, 06:42 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 206 |
Just clean it with gasoline and a paint brush __________________
K&N Cone Filter with Heat Shield, Racing Dynamics Strut bar, Blisten yellow sport suspension, Clears all around, Angel eyes, Dinan Engine Chip, Infinity BassLink 10" Sub, Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel | | | | |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | |
 Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
Linear Mode
