CF ChatterFix
Preventive Maintenance

Transmission & Differential Service

Driveline components are long-lived until they are contaminated, and they are expensive and slow to replace. The magnetic plug is the cheapest diagnostic in the shop — metal on it is a direct read on gear and bearing condition.

Interval Annual
Est. Duration 2.5 hrs
Steps 4
Applies To Fleet & Vehicle Maintenance

The Procedure

The steps ChatterFix schedules for this PM. Every step is a checkable item on the work order — a technician can speak their way through it without touching a keyboard.

  1. Sample and drain transmission and differential fluid
  2. Inspect magnetic plugs for metal accumulation
  3. Refill to spec and check for leaks under load
  4. Inspect driveline U-joints and centre bearing

Why This PM Exists

Driveline components are long-lived until they are contaminated, and they are expensive and slow to replace. The magnetic plug is the cheapest diagnostic in the shop — metal on it is a direct read on gear and bearing condition.

What Skipping It Looks Like

A transmission or differential failure that takes the unit out of service for a week waiting on a rebuild, when a fluid change and a look at the plug would have given months of warning.

Setting the interval

By mileage — commonly 50,000 miles — adjusted for duty cycle. Heavy haul and mountainous routes justify shorter intervals.

Equipment This Covers

Common Questions

How often should this PM run?
Annual. By mileage — commonly 50,000 miles — adjusted for duty cycle. Heavy haul and mountainous routes justify shorter intervals.
How long does it take?
Budget about 2.5 hours for a technician working to the standard procedure. ChatterFix uses that estimate for capacity planning, then learns your plant's actual time from completed work orders.
What happens if we skip it?
A transmission or differential failure that takes the unit out of service for a week waiting on a rebuild, when a fluid change and a look at the plug would have given months of warning.
Can I use this checklist in ChatterFix?
Yes — this exact procedure ships in the Fleet & Vehicle Maintenance industry pack. Pick your industry at signup and it is scheduled on the right assets automatically, with no configuration.

Related Procedures

Stop Retyping Your PM Library

This procedure — and every other PM for your industry — is already built into ChatterFix. Pick your industry and it lands on the right equipment, on the right interval, in about three minutes.