My dealer installed 80W-90 in my differential when they serviced it. It is a standard 2WD differential. Since they will most likely be repairing it under warranty (IF it needs any work) they can use whatever they want...LoL!

BTW...the service department where I bought my 03 Sorento said they have never replaced a Sorento differential...

 

FROM KGIS ON DIFF FLUIDS
Items
Specified lubricants
Quantity

B.J. - T.S.J. Driveshaft type
B.J. Boot grease
T.S.J. Boot grease

Repair kit grease
Repair kit grease

170 gr. (6.0 oz.)
140 gr. (4.9 oz.)

Differential
Front
Rear
Conventional differential


With LSD (Limited Slip Differential)

Hypoid gear oil
SAE90, API GL-5
(Mobil : Mobil Lube HD
Shell : Shell Spirax HD)

SAE85W90, API GL-5
(Mobil : INFILREX 33,
SK : G-LS)

Fill the reservoir to the plug hole
Front : 1.3L (0.34 gal)
Rear : 1.6L (0.42 gal)

AS FOR YOUR XFER CASE FLUID, KIA SPECS FORMULASHELL ATF IN PLACE OF DEXIII, KIA PN IS UB080 CH031 AND THE BAR CODE #'S ON THE BACK ARE 21400 56130. SAYS RIGHT ON THE FRONT REPLACES DEXIII KPS

 

Right, I have all the oil specs from my Kia manual, but the local yocals around where I live don't seem to carry SK oil products nor the Mobil INFILREX 33 for limited-slip differentials. Any alternate suggestions?

I'll see about finding some FORMULASHELL ATF.

Thanks!
rogerd

 

The Stuff In ( ) Are Brand Recommendations...you Can Use Any Brand Name As Long As It Meets The Api Gl-5 Spec's. We Use Coatal Products Through Our Service Facility. Save Receipts. Kps

 

Question.....We own a 06 Kia Sorento. In the manual it says (REAR DIFF) with and without LSD. Owning a manual Kia how do i know what one to use?

 

kps,
Thanks. Yesterday I stopped by a local shop/retailer and got a short course on automotive lubricants resulting in learning basically the same thing...regardless of brand, GL-5 90 weight for limited-slip differential applications is what I need. The oil I'd already bought said it was for both conventional and LSD applications so was told to put it in and see if I got any chatter. If so, add an LDS oil additive and if not, I'm good to go. So far, no chatter.

Kiacouple,
Not sure about 2006 models. In 2003 (mine) both 2WD and 4WD were supposed to have limited-slip rear differentials. The front axle on mine is a conventional (open) diff. One way to tell is to jack up the back end so both tires are free to move and spin one tire by hand. If the other tire spins in the opposite direction you have a conventional diff and if it goes in the same direction you have a limited-slip. Also, when I was looking for replacement oil, I found that all said they were API: GL-5 and many said they would work for either type of diff. Good luck!

rogerd

 

if you have a 2003 4wd usa sorento, yes you have rear LSD

the fact that with both rear wheels off the ground and when one truns the other turns opposit means you have a later 2003 that doesn't have the Lsd spring pack in the rear diff center section, if both turn in the same direction you have the spring pack

only early 2003 sorentos had the spring pack

without the spring pack they work just as well and are less likely to loose stibility on hard pack snow and ice and cause spin out in two wd mode and and not chatter as much on turns

early 2003 models w/spring pack should use LSD additive to reduce chatter or elliminate it

without the spring pack the discs should last longer

don't know the cut off date for the ellimination of the spring pack only early 2003 did have them

 

If you are looking for Dex III and have a Wal-Mart near you, look there. You should be able to get it in 1 gallon jugs for about $8.

 

My 07 sport package has LSD in the rear and standard one up front.I used the 80-90 gear oil for LSD in Mobil 1 synthetic and regular up front. You can get both @ Walmart . Document, Document , Document. Good luck

 

I bought in January '03 so have the spring pack type. I didn't put in any LSD oil additive yet...keep listening for chatter but so far nothing.

One other question. I haven't done the transfer case oil change yet as I can't figure out how to get the fresh stuff back in. Is there a funnel of some kind that'll fit into the confined space up there that I can use to pour in the ATF?

 

i do it the same way i do the ft diff

appx 2 ft 3/8 plastic tubbing and an empty 1 qt gear oil conainer cut off just enough of the taper screw on top so that the rubbing slides down the hole tightly in the taper screw on top to almost the bottom og the quart bottle

fill the bottle with the proper fluid and squeeze it, it flows up the tube in to the transfer case or the ft diff which ever one your are filling

works for me, i am sure other people have other way of doing it

 

Check with the parts house you buy the gear oil at...they should have a special cap that goes on top of the thin plastic bottle -- the cap has a nipple on it. You attach a hose to that nipple then put the end of the hose into the fill plug hole and squeeze the bottle to get the oil into the fill plug hole on the back of the differential. But don't forget to install the drain plug first...LoL!

 

Thanks...will see what I can find at Kragen's