Axle fluid change every 15,000 miles!!!!!!!???

[TRLRTRSH]

Axle fluid change every 15,000 miles

that my 2005 drw ram 3500 cummins 4x4 I run light truck all of the time with no serious plans for towing anytime soon. I do lots of city driving and keep my speed below 70 on the hwy. I live in flatlands too, so what gives?

I know I'll get flamed for this but what the heck! :-laf A couple of questions come to mind.

1. Where do you live, what state will do? Is a 4X4 really necessary??

2. NO serious plans for towing. WHY a drw RAM 3500??

3. LOTS of city driving?? Would a HONDA CIVIC not be better?????

In case some of you guys don't get this I'll repeat this :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

Some guys just love driving a RAM

 

[Hercules130]

I just checked my service booklet and in plan A there is not scheduled differential fluid change

 

[steved]

I just checked my service booklet and in plan A there is not scheduled differential fluid change

I was sure mine said 30k for the "A" plan... maybe I'm thinking of something else?



steved

 

[amsoilman]

What brand of oil did you use? :-laf :-laf :-laf

I'm only going to give you ONE guess





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[BBowers]

what kind of fuel mileage are you getting dieselhed?

 

[Mobius1]

When I used to work on Jeeps they required it every 12K. That was a Front Diff, Xfer case and rear diff. Some people go a lot farther mileage wise than that and end up ok, then again there are people who have to have front or rear diff rebuilds at 20K miles.

 

[barbwire]

Hey fellas, couldn't we take differential samples, the same as sampling the engines, and change according to the results? At least a person would maybe feel a little better about running longer if the results said "oil OK" right?

OOOOOOOOOOkkkaaaaa, Dumb question , I guess

 

[macdaddy]

Then there's that one member (don't remember name) who drives commercially that went 115K on an 03 6 speed drw 2wd without changing any fluids, and swears the oil was fine .



I changed mine out at the recommended 15K, 30% towing. The oil looked fine i'll be doing mine every 50K no worries .



Mac

 

[jtsandbird]

anyone using royal purple 85w/145w ?

 

[steved]

anyone using royal purple 85w/145w ?

I have two cases of it to use, but just changed 20k ago with Mobile 1 75w90... not ready yet.



steved

 

[MEREDOG]

anyone using royal purple 85w/145w ?

i did front and rear on my 01 a couple years ago with it. HAven't checked it since but all seems well.

i am going to put it in my 03 in the next couple weeks too.

 

[RDyson]

The picture above looks like the front diff. I just changed mine for the first time at 65K. The synthetic I drained looked almost as good as the new I put in. I wouldn't be afraid to go at least 50K unless you are towing a lot.

 

[BSkinner]

From a previous post on TDR:



I'm ashamed to admit I waited until 26,000 miles to change my axle fluid. I don't tow and my truck has a pretty easy life so I didn't think I needed to change at 15,000 miles. The rear axle lube was filthy and I was pretty mad at myself when I drained it. The front axle fluid looked new. So, I recommend to change at 15,000 the first time just to establish a base line. I'll change my rear diff fluid twice for every time I change the front.



Bob

 

[klenger]

Here's the schedule I'm thinking of going to. It seems to be a good compromise between cost and intervals. The schedule favors fluid and filter changes over gear box fluid changes only. Looking for feedback on my plan. I tow my 10k 5er about 20% and live in toasty southern AZ and almost never use 4WD. Note that these intervals are after doing early changes of the fluids the 1st time.



#ad

 

[Sarge]

Looks like a decent compromise. Is this on your web page??

 

[coobie]

I have two cases of it to use, but just changed 20k ago with Mobile 1 75w90... not ready yet.



steved

steved,how do you like the mobile 1 75w90? I have the amsoil severe gear in my diffs,transmission, and transfer case now,no problems so far (35,000 miles)I had it all changed out at 15,000 miles. Amsoil products are kind of hard to find around here and a little pricey. I have been thinking about the mobile 1 75w90 this time around. coobie

 

[JGrosso]

At 22,000 miles I changed the rear lube and installed a PML cover at the same time. The stock gear oil did look a bit dirty. Re-filled with the Mopar 75w-140 Synth fluid which is supposed to be a very good oil, just expensive, but I get a discount from the dealer so It's not as bad as if I was paying full price. Haven't got around to changing the front gear oil yet.

 

[klenger]

Looks like a decent compromise. Is this on your web page??

It's at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/pictures/maint-achedule.gif or just right click on the image above. The chart is from a more elaborate Excel worksheet that I am working on that keeps track of actual milage intervals for each service item.

 

[Kirwin]

75W-140 is NOT a recommended oil for the AAM axles!

Check your owners manual or FSM for the AAM axle! Oo. The only authorized lubricant is the 75W-90 synthetic gear oil. The 75W-140 was for the Dana axles. Just want you to make an informed choice. Many service writers at Dodge don't know this even though they put out a service bulletin about it. Check the TSBs in the TDR. They have the correct one in there now concerning this. Ken Irwin