2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Dana 80: When to switch to synthetic oil?

[slo-ryde]

Owner's manual suggests using synthetic oil in the rear axle if towing. I've read here numerous times that we don't switch over to synthetics until everything is broken in. My truck has 14,000 miles on it with no towing. I'm almost certainly going to have a travel trailer in the next few months and want to get the Mag Hytec cover and switch over to synthetics at the same time. The owners manual doesn't say anything about waiting for the axle to break-in. Can I assume everything is broken in by now?



Mag Hytec recommends using Amsoil LE-607 oil and even offers it and the friction modifier when buying the cover. Anyone have this cover on the 2WD with the factory sway bar? Looks like some kind of spacer is needed to drop the sway bar down. I'm just wondering how far down the sway bar will end up.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by slo-ryde

Mag Hytec recommends using Amsoil LE-607 oil and even offers it and the friction modifier when buying the cover. Anyone have this cover on the 2WD with the factory sway bar? Looks like some kind of spacer is needed to drop the sway bar down. I'm just wondering how far down the sway bar will end up.

First of all, knowing Jerry at Mag Hytek, the oil they are reccommending is LE- Lubrication Engineers NOT Amsoil. You can get more info on LE products here



As for switching? I would say 14K on the clock is plenty, I would do it without fear of having problems.



I have installed several of the hytec covers on 2wd trucks with sway bars and some had a clearance issue, some did not. The spacer is nothing more than a 1" block of aluminum that is put on the passenger side sway mount. The bar is then relocated slighty on the drivers side and once completed, will offer more than enough room. More people seem to have problems with the spare rubbing on the cover than the swaybar .



Kev

 

[slo-ryde]

It's all in the fine print! As I was scanning the Mag Hytec website I saw the ALMASOL LE-607 thinking it was AMSOIL!



Thanks for the correction. Is this synthetic or dino? The website doesn't make the distinction.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but I believe your differential had synthetic gear lube in it from the factory. Synthetics and break-in periods pertain to the engine because you need to give it time for the rings to seat properly. In the industrial world we switch to synthetics in gear boxes and drives immediately with no ill effects and I would do the same in my truck as far as differentials, transfer cases and manual transmissions (factory fill is synthetic) are concerned

 

[rweis]

I did the swap, no prob. MH has a spaceer kit. I used a narrow cargo strap to pull the spare toward the rear to give more clearance.



Bob Weis

 

[amsoilman]

slo-ryde



When it comes to synthetics in gear boxes, such as transmissions, differentials etc. the synthetics can be installed right away. When it comes to an internal combustion engine, yes, you need to let the rings "seat"(break-in) before installing the synthetics.



The LE-607 is a petrolium product, not a synthetic!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Dane]

The LE-607 is a petroleum product, not a synthetic!

It's a very, very good dino oil, that's why Roy was recommending it...

 

[Cooker]

Originally posted by turbo tim1

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but I believe your differential had synthetic gear lube in it from the factory.

I am not certain about the 03's with the American Axles, but the older trucks came from the factory with 90w dino oil.

 

[illflem]

The LE-607 is a petrolium product, not a synthetic!

All synthetic oils are petroleum except a few new vegetable based oils. We are running into a wall at work developing canola based lube oil because the API won't certify them since they aren't petroleum, new vehicle warranties require API certified. Even though some Amsoil products aren't API certified it's because they won't, not because they can't.