differential oil change?

[Hemiville]

Heard that it is a good idea to change the rear -end oil to a synthetic?Better mileage, longer life. What weight in a synthetic would be the best to use, say in Calif. and towing? Is Torco the way to go, and also, do you have to pull loose the differential cover to drain out the old oil, or can you use a "sucker" pump, which , of course, wouldn't get all the old oil out. Can you mix a little of the original oil with the synthetic without hurting anything?? I have an 01 with 6k on it. Thanx for your input.

 

[klenger]

Now you've opened up a can of worms. Let's try to keep this civil for the new member. First of all, if you can spare $235, consider the Mag-Hytec diff. cover. See them here. After installing the Mag-Hytec, you can drain the lube by removing a drain plug, plus it has a dip stick with a magnetic for checking fluid level and gathering stray metal. Most importantly, they look really cool. I use Amsoil 75W-140 synthetic (this is where the thread can get ugly). Welcome to the TDR.

 

[RustyJC]

The owner's manual strongly recommends changing the factory 90w to synthetic if you tow. We changed to Royal Purple synthetic 85w-140. You have to pull the stock cover off to drain the rear axle. You'll need the high temp (gray) Permatex RTV gasket maker to reinstall the stock cover.



Rusty

 

[SFord]

I currently have the Mag-Hytec cover and was wondering if one has to remove the cover to change over to syn. oil? What I meen to say is should it be flushed in some way before the syn. oil is installed?

 

[The Sequel]

Mixing the dino oil with synthetic is not a problem. Happens all the time when guys switch over their transmission fluid as you can never get it all out. Just dump what you can and add the synthetic. Obviously the more of the dino oil you get out, the more synthetic you are putting in to do all the things synthetic does that made you decide to put it in the first place.

 

[BarryG]

Hemiville:

Ditto what KLenger said



SFord:

You can also raise one side let it sit for a while then let it down and raise the other side and that should get most of the remaining fluid that is in the axle tubes. If you do it while it is warm it will flow alot quicker than ice cold.

 

[azcummins]

What is the cost to refill the diff. with Amsoil?

 

[klenger]

azcummins



Cost of the Amsoil is about $80 if you have the Mag-Hytec. Less for the factory cover. 80w90 is cheaper than the 80w140. The 80w90 is a really pretty light blue color.

 

[forr]

Hemiville:



BarryG's right about the warm up. If you drive the truck a few miles, the diff oil will warm up and make it easy to drain. Even if you're on level ground, you'll see that the diff moldings tend to drain to the cover side.



If you remove both covers to drain, you'll find the diff's will be well drained by the time you've cleaned the covers and scraped off all the factory sealer. I didn't go with the Maghytec but now wish I had.



As far as selection, I used the AMSOIL 80w90. But, I would say, research the synthetics that are readily available to you and select the one you're comfortable with.



LOL