Back to all

Differential Service at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd)

August 8, 2021

Here at AutoNetTV, we have national viewers, like your neighbors in Fort Myers, who write to us with questions or feedback. One common question we're asked is: "What is a differential and what does it do?" You may have been told by your Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) service advisor that your differential needs serviced, or it's seen it as an option up on the service menu. Differential service at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) covers a lot of things, so let's first talk about what a differential does.

As you drive through a turn, your outside wheels and inside wheels turn at different speeds. Kind of like the cars going around a race track - the ones driving in the outside lanes have a greater distance to travel than the cars in the inside lanes. The differential is what allows the outside and inside drive wheels to rotate at slightly different speeds so that the tires don't hop or skip while taking corners, or lose traction in dirt or snow on Fort Myers area roads. Differentials have gears in them that transfer the power from the drive train to your wheels - which is why they're often referred to as gear boxes. The gears need to be very strong to do this work, and they need to be properly protected so that they'll last.

All vehicles in Fort Myers have some form of differential. If you have a front-wheel drive car, your differential is sometimes called a transaxle and is located in the front. If you have rear-wheel drive, the differential is in the back of the car. Fort Myers auto owners with a four-wheel drive vehicle have a differential in the front and the back - and in the middle as well. The center differential adjusts for differences in speed between the front and rear wheels.

Differential fluid lubricates and cools the gears. Over time, the fluid can get dirty from bits of the gears grinding off. The additives that keep the fluid clean and protect the differential break down over time. So your vehicle manufacturer has scheduled intervals for you to have your differential fluid changed. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) service advisor if you are not sure about your recommended schedule.

Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd)
3263 Colonial Blvd
Fort Myers, Florida 33966
239-277-7655
https://www.tuffycolonialblvd.com

More articles from Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd.)

Right or Left? Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) Power Steering Service

May 19, 2024

Have you ever driven a vehicle without power steering? If you have, then you probably appreciate how much easier it is to drive today's modern vehicles. Before power steering, all of the force to turn a vehicle had to come from the driver's arms. That's why old cars had such large steering wheels... More

When Are Your Tires Worn Out?

May 12, 2024

Hey Fort Myers area drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for our Florida streets? How can you tell on your vehicle?While there may be legal requirements for the Fort Myers area, there are safety concerns that go beyond meeting minimum replacement mandates.Two-thirty-seconds of... More

An Oil for All Seasons (Engine Oil Selection)

May 5, 2024

You swap your winter boots for flip-flops in the summer. Why not change your winter engine oil for summer, hot-weather oil? While it may seem like it makes sense, there's some good news. Most drivers don't have to, and here's why. Engine oil can be made in different thicknesses. That thicknes... More