Front and Rear Axle Fluid Change

[RMurano]

Last month I purchased a used 2016 RAM, replacing my 2006. I was looking at the Owner’s Manual and it does not list lube change intervals for the front and rear axles, unless you tow frequently. This seems odd to me. Do you really never change the lube in these axles if you do not tow much? I tow 8,000 lbs. about 5,000 miles per year. I don’t consider this frequent towing. I feel that these fluids should still be changed. Would like some advice on this please? Would you change the axle lube at some point? What intervals for light towing?

Thanks!

 

[spoon059]

I follow the severe duty schedule, which I believe is every 30K miles. I tow about 9500 lbs, probably 3-4000 miles per year. Gear oil is cheap. One Saturday afternoon every 3 years is pretty cheap too!

 

[Kirwin]

Is in the owners manual, 20K miles if used for "frequent towing". For the 2013 owners manual, this is listed on page 157 and the asterisk note is on page 160 of the diesel supplement. Asterisk note is below.
* Inspect the front and rear axle surfaces every 20,000 miles (32,000 km). If gear oil leakage is suspected, check the fluid level. If using your vehicle for police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer towing change the axle fluid every 20,000 miles (32,000 km).

 

[Kirwin]

Note the the OEM lubricant specified for our axles has changed to a 75W-85 oil part, number 68210057AA. It states specifically on the back of the bottle that it is for the RAM HD 2500 and 3500 axles. Do not let them sell you the 75W-90 oil they have for the 1500 axles.

 

[gsbrockman]

Note the the OEM lubricant specified for our axles has changed to a 75W-85 oil part, number 68210057AA. It states specifically on the back of the bottle that it is for the RAM HD 2500 and 3500 axles. Do not let them sell you the 75W-90 oil they have for the 1500 axles.

That change occurred during the 2015 model year, and does apply to RMuranos 2016 truck. That being said----the 2003 through 2014 HDs still specify the GL5 75W90 synthetic.

To my knowledge....the 1500s have been specd with 75W140 synthetic for a number of years.

 

[Kirwin]

That change occurred during the 2015 model year, and does apply to RMuranos 2016 truck. That being said----the 2003 through 2014 HDs still specify the GL5 75W90 synthetic.

To my knowledge....the 1500s have been specd with 75W140 synthetic for a number of years.

As far as the new oil application, the old 75W-90 part number 5102232AA is superseded and the new part number 68210057AA is what Ram is specifying for 2003-2017 2500 and 3500 trucks. Part number 5102232AA was the 75W-90 oil that was specified for 2003-2015. For the 1500 specified oil that's what I thought too, but they tried to sell me a 75W-90 they had on the shelf because I was looking for a 75W-90 GL 5 oil. The lubricant list shows that 75W-90 oil (with a different part number) is for 1500 trucks and other light duty 9.25 corporate axles. I don't know much about the modern 1500 axle lubricant but pre 1994 they used 75W-80 oil.

 

[Newsa]

Last month I purchased a used 2016 RAM, replacing my 2006. I was looking at the Owner’s Manual and it does not list lube change intervals for the front and rear axles, unless you tow frequently. This seems odd to me. Do you really never change the lube in these axles if you do not tow much? I tow 8,000 lbs. about 5,000 miles per year. I don’t consider this frequent towing. I feel that these fluids should still be changed. Would like some advice on this please? Would you change the axle lube at some point? What intervals for light towing?

Thanks!

Realize that the rear differential is what most HD Ram owners carefully "break-in".

Many believe that is why the owners manual cautions no towing for 500 miles.

I changed my rear diff fluid at 16,000 miles even though I had only towed 5000 miles (less than 5000 lbs). The front doesn't need changed as often. Check the fluid levels and top off every 6 months or so. Many of us are expetiencing weeping seals so keep an eye on it.

 

[jelag]

so my new to me 2013 had a shudder on take off when towing..... but it was only noticeable when at a freeway exchange (slight hill) and making either a left or right turn... I first thought this was a transmission issue but when I discovered it only occurred on the turn and not a straight ahead take off I decided it was in the rear end...

When I bought the truck it had never towed... and my use towing is now about 5000 miles... we tow a 15K lb 5er, 4 months a year...

At the suggestion of bob 4x4 I changed the differential oil... I personally chose the 75W-110 Amsoil Severe Duty full synthetic fluid... I immediately noticed when the truck was empty that on a turn it ran smoother... and with the trailer in tow my shudder was gone... I don't know at this moment how often I'll go back and change the oil... but I'm no opposed to doing it more frequently than suggested... I had already changed the transmission oil and filter...

On another subject I'm surprised how well the transmission cooler works... towing the 5er up a 8% grade we saw a slight increase of transmission temperature but not nearly the rise that I expected....

Just my thoughts... Jim

 

[Cummins12V98]

Get rid of the OE fluid asap in my opinion!

 

[zac skaar]

Get rid of the OE fluid asap in my opinion!

I areee, as of yet I'm not towing more than 5000k per year. I use a gl5 75-90 royal purple. When the day comes (hopefully sooner than later) and we do an upgrade my thoughts are to go to a 75-140 synthetic. Any thoughts or concerns

 

[Cummins12V98]

Towing heavy as I do 75-110 AMZ/OIL SevereGear is what I use.

 

[RamRob2500]

I have a question regarding 75W 85 in 2016+ trucks: What's the suspected reasoning for the change? Possibly for Mopar to make a buck off of the rare 75w 85 oil? I believe GM HD trucks have the same axles as our RAMs and the GM is still calling for 75w 90 in their diffs. I have nearly a case of Amsoil (liquid gold) 75w 90 gear oil left over from my previous truck and would like to use it up in my 2017 RAM, but I'd also like to use what's best for my RAM as well. What do you guys think of 75w 85 vs 90?
Thanks! RR

 

[Kirwin]

I think that was purely a consolidation of all the different types of oil Fiat is stocking. The 75W-90 is fine as long as it's a GL5 oil you will be fine.

 

[RMurano]

I have a question regarding 75W 85 in 2016+ trucks: What's the suspected reasoning for the change? Possibly for Mopar to make a buck off of the rare 75w 85 oil? I believe GM HD trucks have the same axles as our RAMs and the GM is still calling for 75w 90 in their diffs. I have nearly a case of Amsoil (liquid gold) 75w 90 gear oil left over from my previous truck and would like to use it up in my 2017 RAM, but I'd also like to use what's best for my RAM as well. What do you guys think of 75w 85 vs 90?
Thanks! RR

Thanks for all the input everyone! I went to the dealer yesterday to purchase 75W 85 and they wanted $55 a quart! The parts guy was also shocked at the price. He said that 75w 90 is fine and just get it somewhere else. I also used Amsoil 75w 90 on my 2006. I emailed Amsoil about 75W 85. Amsoil's reply was to use 75w 90, and it would be fine. Also, Amsoil said it would not void the warranty. I went ahead and ordered 75w 90 from Amsoil.

 

[Badunit]

Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-140 in mine, because I had it on the shelf. It probably has a minute affect on fuel mileage (which I doubt I could measure) but, otherwise, I see no problem with it. I'll go back to 75W-90 next time.

 

[Newsa]

I actually used a combination of half Amsoil Severe Gear 190 wt (2 quarts) and half Amsoil Severe Gear 75-140. Ran it for 2 years from July 2015 until today.

Opened the differential this morning and everything looked great.

While at it, I replaced the differential cover with an AFE differential cover that has a sight glass. And this time, I only used 1 quart of Amsoil Severe Gear SAE 190 wt (because that's all I had left from 2 years ago. And 4-5 quarts of Amsoil Severe Gear 75-140. I filled almost to the top of the sight glass.

 

[Newsa]

Ignore this. It posted twice

 

[Cummins12V98]

I actually used a combination of half Amsoil Severe Gear 190 wt (2 quarts) and half Amsoil Severe Gear 75-140. Ran it for 2 years from July 2015 until today.

Opened the differential this morning and everything looked great.

While at it, I replaced the differential cover with an AFE differential cover that has a sight glass. And this time, I only used 1 quart of Amsoil Severe Gear SAE 190 wt (because that's all I had left from 2 years ago. And 4-5 quarts of Amsoil Severe Gear 75-140. I filled almost to the top of the sight glass.

Why are you running the 75-140?

 

[Newsa]

Why are you running the 75-140?

I live in Florida. It's almost always hot here. And my experience is.... it didn’t hurt it yet, it probably won't hurt it.

If 70 wt (70w 85) is good for 0° F (and below) degree weather, 75w-140 won't hurt it when it rarely dips below 55°F

Edit: Made a trip to Georgia Dec 2015 with the half 190 wt/ half 75w-140,

No noise or other probs with the differential. Wasn't extremely cold, but the gear oil wasn't too thick..

I'm more concerned about the ATF in the G56 than I am about the gear oil in the differential. But I think (hope) the FAST coolers will help keep it cool enough so the ATF doesn’t thin too much.

 

[NIsaacs]

I live in Florida. It's almost always hot here. And my experience is.... it didn’t hurt it yet, it probably won't hurt it.
75w-140 won't hurt it when it rarely dips below 55°F

Cummins powered, heavy towing trucks like 140 wt, like bread and butter I run 85/140 non-synthetic in all mine with 80/90 in the front. I change the rear every 36k.

Nick