Is synthetic ok?
If you have a 99-02, then you're fine with the synthetic and not adding the GM limited slip fluid. However, if you have a 98 or older, then you want to avoid the synthetic and be sure to add the limited slip additive. This is because the 99-02 units use spider gears rather than friction discs like the previous years.
The only caveat to that rule would be if someone had already replaced the factory Torsen unit with an Eaton or Auburn that uses clutch discs.
I dont like synthetic oil for the rear end. I had a dead quiet set of 3.90s in my 9" with 2K miles on them get totally destroyed after four passes at the strip. After the last pass and on the way home, they screamed bloody murder on accell and were still quiet on decell. Oh and I put synthetic oil in the rear just prior to going to the strip.
Nothing moved in the rear, the gears were burned up as a result of intense heat. After researching on the net, I found others who had similar issues with synthetic in the rear. No more synthetic rear gear oil in my car.
He says that while the synthetic DOES have better heat properties, he still prefers non synth as it seems to coat the gears better than synth. I don't know if there is any truth to it, but since I've switched to non synthetic, I have had better rear life.
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