Interesting!!

[Big_H316]

I've read so many posts on here about the 5600 fluid that I finally decided to change mine yesterday. People have mentioned burned smells, metal/bronze flakes and so on. My '03 has 200k on it and the original fluid I drained out yesterday, aside from being discolored, was still in very good condition. About 185k of those miles are spent pulling about 25k lbs of cargo. There was nothing but fluid in the bottom of the case, no sludge, filings, etc. Re-filled it with synchromesh in hopes to get another 200k out of it.



Just thought I give some insight on the factory fluid. It must be pretty good stuff as expensive as it is. Just hope the synchromesh is as good. The recommended fluid changes on these trucks, besides engine oil, is a plot against the owner to spend money for things they really don't need. My front and rear diffs finally got new fluid at 100k and the original still looked brand new. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong at all with changing the fluids at the recommended intervals, it's just expensive. I love to turn a wrench just as much as the next guy but Dodge needs to rethink their interval changes. If a product was so bad that it had to be changed that often they would not risk putting it on a $40k vehicle. I know, I know, you're thinking about the dreaded lift pump but that one's been beat into the dirt.



I guess what I'm saying is that if you take care of your Cummins and your 5600 they will take care of you. And again, by all means change the fluids when you feel it's necessary, I just don't think it has to be done when Chrysler specifies it. Happy Motoring

 

[klenger]

Congrats on the trouble free operation of your truck. I think it's interesting that for schedule B service, Dodge recommends changing the diff fluid every 15K, but has not recommended change interval what-so-ever for the NV5600. Go figure.



What is your oil change interval?

 

[Big_H316]

My oil change interval averages every other week (5,000 miles). She gets 3 gallons of Delo 15-40 and a gallon of Lucas oil stabilizer. I know, that's 4 gallons, but it always reads at the perfect fill line. And since the local Cummins dealership doesn't carry FleetGuard filters I get LuberFiner instead. LuberFiner has been around for years and years and so far so good.



Kinda funny though, I get my Fleetguard fuel filters from them, why not start carrying the oil filters as well.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

The recommended fluid changes on these trucks, besides engine oil, is a plot against the owner to spend money for things they really don't need. My front and rear diffs finally got new fluid at 100k and the original still looked brand new. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong at all with changing the fluids at the recommended intervals, it's just expensive. I love to turn a wrench just as much as the next guy but Dodge needs to rethink their interval changes. If a product was so bad that it had to be changed that often they would not risk putting it on a $40k vehicle.

I just don't think it has to be done when Chrysler specifies it. Happy Motoring

I believe that DC as well as all the other auto makers are all "in bed" with each other. This is just another way for them to get you to spend even more of your money on oil products. I also believe that if they really wanted to they could make a vehicle that gets 3-4 times the mileage that it does now, but you wont see that happening. Do as yo feel necessary for changing the fluids but you are right, some of it is unnecessary.

 

[rbattelle]

2 nights ago I changed my axle fluids. I've been following the 15k interval, and I have to say I'm glad I have. The fluid that came out this last change (45k) was dark in color and I feel was definetly due for replacement. Front and rear looked very similar. It looked much like it did on the 15k and 30k changeouts, with very very fine powdered contaminants in it. I have absolutely quiet axles and have had no problems with either one thus far. The pattern on the ring gears looked pretty good. I was happy to find very little metal sludge on the magnetic drain plug (much less than I found at 15k, and less than I had at 30k),



I had planned on switching to a 30k or 45k axle fluid change interval, but I think I'll go at 15k again and see what happens.



-Ryan

 

[Cattletrkr]

I changed the factory t-case fill at 33K. Nasty, disgusting, smelly crap. Refilled with Amsoil that still looks like new. Changed the NV5600 when I put the fastcoolers on, otherwise that'd still be in there. I've changed the diffs close to the recommended intervals. First time it was time to change, but the last time it came out like new. I've got Amsoil in the rear now, that'll stay there for a while. I always get what I would consider a lot of filings on the rear magnets, both on the plug and dipstick. (Mag-hytec)



Big_316, why the Lucas stabilizer? I know there are a lot of guys who swear by it. Up here the big rig guys like it 'cause it helps with cold starts about as much as synthetic oil does. I've thought about doing that myself, but I haven't had any luck with the fuel additive so I'm really not sure about the oil stuff.

 

[Big_H316]

Have you ever seen how thick that stuff is? I can see why it would helpcold starts... it's like honey and would have to bond to the metal. Tip: don't try to pour it out of the container on a cold daycuz it ain't happening. I plan on keeping the truck for several years and God only knows how many more miles so I need as much lubrication as possible. As for their fuel treatment, I don't like it, it did nothing for my truck when I used it. I stick with Powerservice fuel treatment. I show about 2mpg better when I use that stuff and the engine idles smooth as silk too.