Changed my rear differential oil and...

[mathiowetz]

If I remember correctly the top mark of the dipstick was approx. 3/4 inch above old oil level, (didn't measure though) didn't think it would hurt raising oil level that much.

 

[bombero]

As someone that has driven and maintained fire trucks under the most adversed conditions on this continent, I cant believe DC schedule maintenance for our rear ends. I can go 7500 miles on a oil change but ???? on a dif change? Plus it synthenic. some of these amsoil guys should be yakking. These american rear end are also used buy GM, wonder what their PM schedules are??

 

[HoofinSoot]

Well, I changed the fluid in both the front and rear last night. 15,465 miles and both of them came out MINT ! Nice carmel color, no foul smell -- just typical read end fluid. I tow a 12,000# enclosed car trailer... have used the truck to pull out tree stumps... . and generally use the truck as a ..... TRUCK ! There was the slightest bit of gray matter on the fill plug magnet, but that should be expected with break-in. I'm glad I did it for my own peace-of-mind, but I would be lying if I thought that it was really necessary at 15,000 miles. JMO

 

[OHale]

Hi Hoofinsoot,



Do you have the anti-slip rear diff?

 

[Tony T.]

Well, I changed the fluid in both the front and rear last night. 15,465 miles and both of them came out MINT ! Nice carmel color, no foul smell -- just typical read end fluid. I tow a 12,000# enclosed car trailer... have used the truck to pull out tree stumps... . and generally use the truck as a ..... TRUCK ! There was the slightest bit of gray matter on the fill plug magnet, but that should be expected with break-in. I'm glad I did it for my own peace-of-mind, but I would be lying if I thought that it was really necessary at 15,000 miles. JMO

As I stated in earlier post mine was the same as HoofinSoot, I changed mine at 15,200 miles just barely any gray on the magnet as he stated with his. Actually friend of mine thats a mechanic was helping me change it out, was kinda giving me a hard time about changing it, an really did when we popped the cover loose an the oil looked so good, Heck this looks new to me, he said.



Why is it that some are finding the fluids to be real dirty an some are not.



Think about the people that never read thier owners manual or even know about the TDR.



Tony

 

[rbattelle]

Think about the people that never read thier owners manual or even know about the TDR.

Those people are in trouble. When I got my truck I also got a whole supplement to the manual that said if you failed to follow even one little item in the service interval your warranty would be void. Furthermore, it says you must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the service was performed properly. That is the only reason I've abided the 15k axle fluid interval. After 7/70 is up, I will probably extend to 30k miles between fluid changes.

 

[midlife crisis]

Well... I folded. I split the difference and changed the rear oil today. FWIW- 7500 on the clock, 5k of that towing a 5500# TT. The truck has sat idle in the garage for the past three weeks, and when I pulled the cover the oil appeared pretty clean. Once the inital flow of relatively golden/light brown fluid went into the bucket, the last 1/4" of fluid in the bottom seemed kinda black and sludgy. There was hardly any metal sludge on the plug, but I do recall cleaning this when I did the top off the dealer neglected around 3k ago. A shot of Brakleen to clean out, and let the jack down to get everything to flow out did the trick. I stopped short of raising the front end though. I did notice the Zeibart on the rear cover seemed kinda blistered, so the majority of the afternoon was spent cleaning and repainting the cover. This part took as long as finding the 6. 99 per qt Castrol Synthetic 75/90 ( John Force fan here). Changing the oil took very little time. Now I got a Silver Metallic cover with black bolts and it looks great. Mine took exactly 3. 5 qts to put at the bottom of the fill plug. All in all, glad I did it- suggest everyone do so. Regards- Drew

 

[OHale]

Not getting any feedback, but the mechanical anti-slip provides additional components for wear-in. This could be one explanation of why some find clear rear diff fluid, others not.



BTW Valvoline makes a synthetic 75/90w also.

 

[DPKetchum]

My neighbor with his 03 3500 srw 6 speed 4x4 tows horses for a living,anyway changed his fliuds for THE FIRST time at 90K. Looked almost as good as what was put back in! Put the mopar stuff back in. Truck now has 135k plus. I mentioned the interval was 15k and he said DO WHAT!No way! Said he never would DARE to change diff fliuds like that and waste good money. Go figure. He's had almost 0 issues with truck. Still on FIRST set of brakes and got 90k from the FIRST set of tires. Said best TRUCK he's ever owned.

 

[OHale]

My neighbor with his 03 3500 srw 6 speed 4x4 tows horses for a living,anyway changed his fliuds for THE FIRST time at 90K. Looked almost as good as what was put back in! Put the mopar stuff back in. Truck now has 135k plus. I mentioned the interval was 15k and he said DO WHAT!No way! Said he never would DARE to change diff fliuds like that and waste good money. Go figure. He's had almost 0 issues with truck. Still on FIRST set of brakes and got 90k from the FIRST set of tires. Said best TRUCK he's ever owned.

This is why I buy new. :-laf



I know our trucks are tough but not following the service schedule voids the warranties and will cost more money in the long run. This is the first time in 9 years with the TDR I have heard of someone putting used lubricant back in their truck. Has he ever changed the engine oil? That sounds like a waste of money too in his book. Also, when he changed his tires did he save the air from the old ones and put it in the new tires?



I think for a $40k truck putting $35 worth of fluid in it every year or two is smart. Towing horses is a good back up plan in case you are stuck by the side of the road.

 

[DPKetchum]

Oh no. He put NEW Mopar oil back in. Just did'nt do first service till 90k and fliud did LOOK GOOD. He changes oil & Filter every 7500 and air and fuel every other change. Only bought THREE tires,used the spare. In fact his 90k tires were NOT quite to the wear bars! He did service the 6 speed then also but almost didn't cause its not really called for. His WARRANTY didn't take long to expire. In fact this year he's not pulling much. Only when funds are low. He did just pull 3200 miles in 5 days in the last two weeks. Wears him out pretty bad. Takes a while to recover. When horses are on can't take time to sleep in a motel room etc. Grabs quickie sleep time in the back seat of the truck. Averaged 16. 1 mpg by the overhead. Mpg increased little by little until around 100k then has leveled off. Stays around 68mph with 3. 73 gear. Over 70mph mpg drops quite a bit. His trailer has required NOTHING but air psi checks and a little lube in the bearing buddys. 16 inch tires are not 1/2 worn on it. Said 'I' almost ruined his fuel economy. Always commented about the annoying fan that came on at 70mph. I finally realized what he was talking about. I said thats NOT a fan but a drone! Said I bet its the powersteering hose. Well he PAID for his updated hose and said G/whiz this drives real smooth now. Said he now has to watch his speed cause his annoying "fan" is no longer!

 

[OHale]

Now I see. I am glad to hear the good news about his truck. I sure do like mine and hope to just be changing oil and filters for about 90k or more.

 

[adsharpe]

The oil would have looked like crap at 1200 miles, as mine did. My guess is that Mopar is buying oil by price, not specification. I put in Shell spirax S. Get in 5 gallon pail for less that $5/qt. They certainly bought the rears on price. I doubt these old Chevy rears are going to last like the Danas. Better change frequently.

 

[DPKetchum]

I doudt its only by price. I'm sure its formulated to certain specs. D. C. had SO MANY PROBLEMS with Dana they had to change. The Danas were not getting to be a nightmare they were a NIGHTMARE for owners and dealers. Lots of SECOND chances given to Dana before pulling the plug on them. Several years worth of second chances. Dana claimed a LOT of there work force hit retirement age and the NEW people replacing them took their quality down the tubes. At least that was ONE reason given.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I was just trying to have a laugh. I was not trying to slam Vaughn. I have great respect for Mr MacKenzie. I was saying that I am lazy as I knew it was supposed to be changed at 15K. . . .

Vaughn Please don't take offense. I was not trying to insult you. If thats the way the post comes accross I appoligise. Ken Irwin

Kirwin I just stumbled across this old thread and can't believe the smart-alec comment I made on Page 1. . . musta been having a bad day! I never even checked back after posting either. My apologies for sounding negative, even if it was 2-1/2 years ago

Yes I think I was guilty of not changing the original lube on my '03 for about 10k miles like you pointed out too, and as I recall it was pretty bad too
LOL

Vaughn

 

[rbattelle]

My apologies for sounding negative, even if it was 2-1/2 years ago

March 6th, 2007: Vaughn Mackenzie finally repents his wicked ways, and kirwin removes him from his "List of People Who Have Wronged Me". :-laf



Ryan

[Ken's a nice guy, I'm sure he hasn't held a grudge. Isn't that right, Ken? Ken... ?]

 

[steved]

Wow. I'd change it right away if I were you.



On Edit: on second thought, save the money you would spend on the fluid for new front and rear axles. I can't imagine either is in very good shape after 90k miles of towing with the factory fluid.

Sounds like a siezing ujoint to me...



steved

 

[Kirwin]

I knew Vaughn was a nice guy

I figured it was something like that! None of us are perfect yet! Getting close to time to change the differential oil again! Ken Iriwn

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I figured it was something like that! None of us are perfect yet! Getting close to time to change the differential oil again! Ken Iriwn

Hmmm, come to think of it, I have about 50k on the rear lube in the '96!

 

[vinconco]

I'm at a loss here. Schedule B shows diff changes every 15,000 and Schedule A shows NONE. I guess that means you can keep your break in oil for 100,000 and not void the warranty. Scary