Showing now: 2024 TITC - Touring - Main A3
Live on On-road — watch with the community.
Learn how to tune your RC car by changing the oil in the differentials, especially useful for 4WD cars!
Rough starting points — diff fluid varies a lot by class and position. Always defer to your kit's recommendation.
| Class | Front | Center | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 buggy (nitro/e) | 5,000–7,000 | 5,000–7,000 | 3,000–5,000 |
| 1/10 off-road 4WD | 5,000–10,000 | 5,000–7,000 (if equipped) | 2,000–5,000 |
| 1/10 off-road 2WD | no front diff | — | 3,000–7,000 |
| 1/10 touring (RWD/AWD) | usually a spool — no fluid | no center diff | 2,000–7,000 |
| 1/10 FWD touring | 100,000–1,000,000 (front-only diff) | — | — |
Many RC cars use gear differentials (as opposed to ball differentials or solid axles) in their transmissions in order to transfer power from the drivetrain to the wheels. Many 4WD cars also use gear differentials in the middle of the car to balance the power distribution between the front and rear of the car. Learn more about types of differentials.
Adjusting the fluid in gear differentials is a powerful way to change its handling and steering characteristics. Read below to see how each differential's fluid affects your car's handling.
Lighter front diff fluid
Thicker front diff fluid
Lighter center diff fluid
Thicker center diff fluid
Lighter rear diff fluid
Thicker rear diff fluid
It varies hugely by class and position — 1/8 buggies run a few thousand cSt per diff, touring cars usually have only a rear gear diff (about 2,000–7,000 cSt) with a spool up front, and FWD touring cars run an ultra-thick front diff (100,000+ cSt). Start from your kit's recommendation.
Diff fluid is measured in cSt (centistokes); "wt" is the shock-oil convention.
Battery and Charger Deals
LiPo packs, smart chargers, and everything that keeps you running.
