I have a junkyard pulled 300SD differential that looks like it was dropped in sand at some point in its removal. I want to flush it out really good and my idea is to use gasoline. Would it be safe to do that?

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1984 300D Turbo 200K

Paint thinner is a better idea. A bit slower but it does a better job of "floating" the loose bits.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Biodiesel or just Diesel will clean it.

Sixto
98 E 320s sedan and wagon

I'd consider using diesel. Car guy I knew ran biodiesel in his partswasher, and when my son brought home a Wheelhorse tractor transmission/rear end that was frozen solid we defrosted it in the cellar and rocked diesel through it till it came out clean.
I figure it's more like the oil you are cleaning out.

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95 E300D working out the kinks
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, gone away
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 145k miles, summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k miles
12 VW Jetta- 160k miles

Where specifically is the sand? I'd limit initial cleaning to the affected areas otherwise you could be redistributing the sand to inaccessible areas.

Mineral spirits ( " paint thinner " not laquer thinner ) would work but soaking long term could swell seals.

Ditto,
A flush with the drain plug removed, using kerosene or mineral spirits, should remove the sand.
Filling it with the plug installed may cause bearing and seal problems.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

If I had sand in a differential, the cover would be coming off. And if I was installing a junk yard differential, it would get new seals.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Pull the diff cover to see if any sand got inside, there is a good chance it didn't. If none in there put cover and re-fill. If sand is in there flush it out with diesel fuel but don't let it sit too long or it will need seals...another project on it's own!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

It seems the consensus is to use diesel so I will. The sand is all around the axle seals area when I got it so chances are it migrated inside when the junkyard was handling it. I am going to clean it up and change the axle seals. When I go to install it, I'll give it a good final rinse before I install the cover.

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1984 300D Turbo 200K