American Axle - Fluid Spec, Fill Level And Break-in Procedure

[drtrox]

I received this fax from the dealer today. This is the text, I was not sucessfull in posting the scanned copy of the fax. (Well I managed to include a scanned copy of the fax today but the text below is easier reading... )





American Axles



Dodge Trucks are now using American Axles for 2003 and later. Please make sure your Service Department is using the correct lubricant and adhering to the correct fill levels.



These axles do not require Friction Modifier, but do require a special synthetic lubricant. According to American Axle, this 75W-90 lubricant part number listed below is a pure synthetic lubricant and does not contain Phosphates. This is different from the 75W-I40 that is used on DANA and Corporate Axles.



Please use Mopar Part # 05102232AA on all American Axles



Caution: Overfilling these Axles may result in lubricant foaming and overheating!



Please adhere to the fill levels described in the vehicle owner's manual or levels listed below.



9. 25 Front: 1/4" +/- 1/4" (Total of 1/2" below fill hole)

10. 5 Rear: 3/4" +/- 1/4" (Total of l" below fill hole)

11. 5 Rear: 1/2" +/- 1/4" (Total of 3/4" below Fall hole)





Reminder

 A break in period of 500 miles is required before towing!

 Afterwards do not exceed 50 MPH for the first 500 miles of towing.





\...

Dana & Corporate Axles

Both of these axles require the 75W-140 Synthetic lubricant available through Mopar Parts when used for towing. (See Owners Manual)



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[navyramman]

OPS,

I just filled my axle's up till they ran out of the hole with the right oil. I leave in 5 hours from St. Louis to KC and back.

 

[Steve M]

So all this fuss and they haven't been low...

 

[Casey Balvert]

Let me get this straight. First they tell you NOT to use 75W140 in AAM axles and then at the very end they tell you that you DO need to use it?

 

[Dean Upson]

The tech at my dealership told me when I picked up my truck in November that the levels should be 3/4" below the hole, he told me that after he had checked the fluids in the PDI.



Casey, I think the reference to 75W140 was to Dana and Corporate Axles.



Dean

 

[D808]

Then, according to the DC specs:



Maximum front axle lube level - bottom of the hole OK.

Maximum 10. 5 rear axle lube level - 1/2 inch below bottom of hole.

Maximum 11. 5 rear axle lube level - 1/4 inch below bottom of hole.



I filled my 11. 5 rear axle to the bottom of the hole with Mobile 1 Synthetic 75W90. Hopefully 1/4 inch overfill won't hurt. I would rather be a little high, than a little low. What do the rest of you guys think?

 

[D808]

After thought:



I believe DC has been filling our axles to the minimum levels. Possibly to save a few bucks on each vehicle.

 

[kchristopher]

Originally posted by federalman

Hopefully 1/4 inch overfill won't hurt. I would rather be a little high, than a little low. What do the rest of you guys think?

Well, I'm not an axle expert, but I think I would rather be a little low than to take the chance on aeration (less oiling with more oil). Would you rather run your engine a little high as opposed to a little low? Same analogy. Every engine guy I talk to says don't overfill, better to be low. Whipped/aerated oil just doesn't work well.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by Dean Upson

The tech at my dealership told me when I picked up my truck in November that the levels should be 3/4" below the hole, he told me that after he had checked the fluids in the PDI.



Casey, I think the reference to 75W140 was to Dana and Corporate Axles.



Dean

Thanks Dean, I misread it. Duh.

 

[Rosco]

I picked up my new truck yesterday and I made them pull the plugs so I could see for myself. The front axle was maybe 1/4 inch below the plug and the 11. 5 rear axle was 3/8-1/2 inch below the plug. The tech then said "do not fill to the bottom of the hole because it will blow out the axle seals". I pesonally am happy with the level considering my other truck was about 1 inch below the plug.

 

[D808]

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!!!



My genuine 2003 Dodge HD-CTD owner's manual states that for all axles, the fluid level should be one-quarter inch below the fill hole. The manual further gives a plus or minus variance of one-quarter inch. Therefore... ... ... ... ..... filling to the bottom of the fill hole should not be a problem. Further, common sense dictates that the bottom of a lubricant fill hole should be located at the maximum desired fill level. That has also been standard engineering practice for quite a few years.

 

[PBeaudoin]

I talked to an engineer at American Axle for about 1/2 hour about all these questions. He told me filling to the bottom of the hole is NOT a problem at all. And only use 75w-90 which is their oil in Dodge's camoflauge because it is a true synthetic. Mobil1 is as good per this gentleman.

 

[Blue Goat]

My level was 1. 75" low. Axel bearing locked up at 530 miles. Dealer assured me the level was ok when delivered. The repair required a complete new rearend unit. It's funny, the repair paper work indicated all levels were ok.

 

[jlevesque]

i called d. c. tech line today too see if anything has changed with

these diff fluid levels and the old info we had from nov 2002, has

changed, so here it is.





2003 heavy-duty 10. 5 american axle rear axle fluid safe level should be 3/4" plus or minus 1/4" below the fill hole.



2003 heavy-duty 11. 5 american axle rear axle fluid safe level should be 1/4" plus or minus 1/4" below the fill hole.



all american axles should be serviced with sae 75w90 gl-5

synthetic fluid p/n 05102232aa.

additive not required if equipped with a trac-rite differential.



this revision did not address the front diff.



James

 

[Fireman]

James,



Does this mean, Don't use 75w-140 if you tow frequently or heavy?



Fireman

 

[Steve G]

I'm a little confused here. My owners manual states:



Limited-Slip Differentials in vehicles equipped with 10. 5"/11. 5" Axles DO NOT REQUIRE any limited slip oil additive (friction modifiers).



The 2003 Maintenance Manual states in Note:

Trac-Lok differentials require limited slip additive in the lubricant. Trac-Rite differentials DO NOT require limited slip additive.



So which one do we have, Trac-Lok or Trac-Rite?



Steve

 

[Casey Balvert]

Track Rite. Also as far as fluid viscosity goes, while DC's website says to use 75W140 for towing (I think they are mixing old info with new), AMM has only tested the axle with the 75W90 fluid which is made by Texaco specifically for AAM axles factory fill. (That answers the question about who fills the axles at production) That same fluid is sold by Mopar under the part number indicated by James. Everyone as confused as I am? I will just buy the Mopar stuff; that way they can never question it if the axle fails. Fireman you were right as usual.



Casey

 

[Blue Goat]

I hate to further confuse the issue, but my dealer installed the 75W-140 when they replaced my complete rearend due to a bearing failure. He is suppose to located the TSB and send me a copy.

 

[Dean Upson]

More confusion: I heard that some of the late 2002's were given the wrong (75W90) oil and that is what the tsb (if there is one) is about . Personally, I think if all these new trucks were given the wrong oil by mistake, there would have been a massive recall by now.



Dean

 

[dmurdock]

Well, let's not over-confuse the issue... an American Axle is an American Axle. . dodge,ford,chevy,whatever. I'd go by what AA says...