Confused about my diff oil levels...

[CGauthier]

Ok in the rear diff I put in two 4 oz'ers of mopars LSD additive,then I wasn't able to fit in three full quarts after that. Stan(Paccool) says 3. 7 quarts with stock cover. I don't think the level of the vehicle is perfect, but i figgure it's fairly close. At Dodge they said the front diff took just under two quarts, I put in a little over two full quarts and one LSD, i can't feel the level with my finger. Does some of the oil only go into the axles after you drive it a bit? I REALLY dont want to over fill it... .

 

[bgilbert]

Carl, I fill mine up til oil runs out the fill hole. I don't care what capacity is, yeah I got the books if I wanted to look up the oem fill, but I just buy a bunch of gear oil, usually at least 2 qts over the factory recommended fill for both diffs then I always have extra for spills, etc. You will know its full when oil runs out the fill hole. I think the book says you're full when the oil level is an inch or so below the fill hole--> blah. Bill

 

[Tim1]

Ditto on fill till it runs out the fill hole. I always run the truck up a side hill on both sides to fill the cavity for the wheel bearings after I work on the brakes to account for the loss. Tim

 

[MRickard]

standard practice has always been to fill it up to the hole.

 

[TMWeber]

My . 02- I followed the manual and filled 1/2 to 1 inch below the fill hole. The manual states that overfilling can cause the oil to foam and thus loose it's ability to dissipate heat (or something like that). Anyway it did not sound good. However, if Bill and Tim are not experiencing anything negative they may have a good point, after all I used to have a Getrag but it's long gone because I did not know about the 1 quart overfill. Soooo it looks like we're back to square one. Somebody else chime in here with your experience!

 

[MRickard]

I do not see how it would cause much more foaming as the ring gear goes from the bottom to the top, so there is always something "churning" it all up by going in and out. You will start getting leaks though, especially if the vent is plugged.

 

[CGauthier]

I kinda thought maybe some of my old oil stayed behind somewhere or somthing, I still have a hard time figguring out why I need less oil. O well, I'll drive it for a bit and see if the level goes down or something. Thanks guys



P. S. That's how i've always done diffs too,up to the fill hole, but on this Ram EVERYTHING has to be perfect lol



Carl G

 

[paccool]

Carl, the question was what is the stock capacity. Thats when I told you 3. 7. Having said that I should have clarified it a little. I'm like the other guys, fill it till it flows out the hole. I usually put in 4 full quarts. (before the new cover went on last week)



Were you sitting on level ground when you changed it? if you happened to be sitting with one side low, some of the old would have gone down the axle tube.



Stan

 

[CGauthier]

Oh, dam I should have thought of that Is that 4 qts + 8oz of modifier? Next question... will that little bit hurt being mixed in with synth?(Sorry Bill, I know you dont like synthetic because of leaks but I just had my axle seals done and really wanted to try it. If i see one little leak that stuff is coming out). I know I've heard your not supposed to mix synth with dino

 

[bgilbert]

Carl, most sythetic gear oil bottles I've seen usually say 'compatible' with all conventional (dino) gear oils. Did yours say so? Bill

 

[CGauthier]

Originally posted by bgilbert

Carl, most sythetic gear oil bottles I've seen usually say 'compatible' with all conventional (dino) gear oils. Did yours say so? Bill

Nope Then again it's Mopar oil and doesn't say a damn thing. BTW... don't do what I did buying oil from the dealer, it's a ripoff... I can be so dumb sometimes. The reason i did was because you can't get it anywhere else except in 5 gallon pails; well i paid the same amount for that as I would have for a 5 gallon pail. Somebody slap me.



Carl G

 

[Paychk]

Originally posted by CGauthier

Somebody slap me.



Carl G

The way I see it, the only way you would deserve a slap is, if you bought oil from them a second time.

 

[CGauthier]

Originally posted by Paychk

The way I see it, the only way you would deserve a slap is, if you bought oil from them a second time.

You have a better chance of seeing God than the dealer does seeing me pull up looking to buy some oil LOL.

 

[Paychk]

 

[dpuckett]

I have had 6 of these 1st Gen jewels (and a couple were real gems, lemme tell ya ), and have ALWAYS filled the diffs, front and rear, to the hole. I've never had the oil foam up or blow out past seals, unless the seals were bad to begin with. The Mag- Hytec covers raise the fill level (or so I've been lead to believe), so the axle shafts get some lube and you have no reports of blowing out oil. You can have it near empty and blow seals if the vent is plugged.



In a LSD, it is hard to get too much modifier, or at least it has for me. I've run as much as 16oz of the Chrysler stuff and had no problems with slipping, though I'd rather have a little too much slip than not enough. I HAVE had problems with the clutches grabbing prematurely, and eventually the wear down to nothing and you have a spool.



Daniel

 

[MRickard]

I HAVE had problems with the clutches grabbing prematurely, and eventually the wear down to nothing and you have a spool.

Kinda sounds like mine - I was going to add in HTML code to "strike out" the LSD for my sig/profile, but it was not allowed. This dodge one either takes a few seconds to engage, or mine is worn out because when the going gets a little slippery there is only one 'burnout' in the grass. I am going to change the fluid and see if it is better, other than that my LSD is a piece of junk. I'll get a locker someday.



Also, with regards to leaks w/ the rear:

One thing many overlook is the vent - as the diff gets warm, the fluid expands, and if there is no 'breathability' of the air in the case, it will get compressed and 'push' the oil through the seals, even if they otherwise are good seals. The vent end just needs to be high enough that you will not get water into it from driving through creeks and such. You also want the last several inches to be going downhill, so water that spashes in and whatnot rolls back on out.