Low axle fluid on new truck

[CoastyAV8R]

I know this has been thrown around before but thought I would put my 2 cents in. On a whim I thought I would check rear diff fluid level. I put in 1 1/2 quarts before it was full. So, if you haven't yet, check yours too. It takes 5 minutes to do it and may be the cause of some of the rear end whine/problems some guys are experiencing...

 

[Buzzer]

Whoa!!! Now thats alot of oil to be missing. Good thing you checked!!

 

[jelag]

I think that before I added fluid I'd give my dealer a call and let him look at the truck for 2 reasons..... 1-if you have trouble down the road you have a work order that says something was wrong from day one... ... . 2- the dealer's pre delivery system should check that and add it back... . their doing you the customer an injustice as well as the owner of the store... and he deserves the right to know... .



Jim

 

[CoastyAV8R]

The dealer knows, believe me, he is aware of it. The dealer is 160 miles away so I'm not gonna drive up there to show him it's low on fluid. I know what your saying and if he was local, I would have. I ride motocross bikes and it's a given when you buy a new one you have to tear it apart to grease it correctly and ensure that everything is put together correctly, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that with a new truck. This is a great site though and full of very useful tips and info...

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Just out of curiosity.



I'm use to filling my pumpkins to the level plug. But it is my understanding from other threads that the correct level on the AAMs is 1/2" below the level plug. I cruised through the shop manual to see what I could find but all I came up with was the fluid capacity. The owners manual is way over at the house.



The reason I bring this up is to make sure I'm right because last weekend when I rotated tires on my dually I also checked the rear pumpkin. It was approx 1/2" below the level plug.



Secondly, if this is the correct level there may be folks over filling the pumpkin up to the level plug.



What say you, Oh, learned ones?

 

[sag2]

Starting with the 04's they started putting a fill line on the diff cover. It is to the left and about an inch below the plug. If you filled it to the plug, it is over full.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

:--) Where in the hell did you find that info at? I filled it up like I usually do, which I guess in this case is over full. Well, I didn't have a heck of a lot to do tomorrow. I've never heard of that and for years just filled it up till it came out the fill hole.



Others heed the word of Sag2...

 

[Sixpac2]

I'll second sag2, I looked at my 04. 5 and there is a fill line stamped on the cover and it is about 1 inch below the center of the fill plug.

Originally posted by sag2

Starting with the 04's they started putting a fill line on the diff cover. It is to the left and about an inch below the plug. If you filled it to the plug, it is over full.

 

[bulabula]

I got an old '03 filled to the hole(s). Life is good.



BTW, after seeing the glitter from my front diff when I did the first diff oil change, I'd change that stuff out earlier than what the book calls for.

 

[MLee]

low oil

Do what my son did about his his. Took delivery on a Friday, service bay not open on Saturday. so he bought the required fluids and did it him self. Notified the dealer what had been done and of course they said it should have been done, it wasn't. Then presented the dealer with the receipts, and they reimbursed him for the money he put out. they still PLAY dumber than a stick with other customers, and say it should have been done.

just my penny'e worth

Marv.

 

[CFenton]

I had my dealer check the levels before I recieved the vehicle. One of my past 2wd vans was near empty at the first oil change - no leaks, so I am paranoid about it.

Mine was at the proper level on delivery.

 

[sag2]

Over filling is probably not that big of a deal as long as the fluid does not leak out the axle seals or blow out the vent. I don't know if over filling will cause it to aerate as it spins the fluid in the diff. Bubbles will actually reduce the lubricating properties. That is why it is so important not to over fill an engine or auto trans. It just seems like a waste of expensive fluid if you don't need to add additional. I think more important than fill level is servicing it regularly, especially if towing.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I do think mine was underserviced from the start. I stuck my finger in up as far as it would go and still didn't get any fluid on it. That is why I started fillin' her up. I'm going to drain some out by parking it on the incline of our driveway and let some drain. I'm totally mistified why after all these years, they would change the standard way of servicing the fluid in the axles. I do love this truck though...

 

[Midnight]

The thing that is weard about the fill point is if you look at it, it is accually lower than the axle tubes. So then, just how much is getting to the outer wheel bearings?

 

[HOCummins04]

Just been reading in my Owners Manual, page 351. Says under rear axle and 4x4 front drive axle fluid level section,

=========

The fluid level should be 1/4" +- 1/4" below the fill hole on the 9. 25" Front Axle. The fluid level should be 3/4" +- 1/4" below the fill hole on all 10. 5" and 1/4" +- 1/4" on 11. 5" Rear Axles.

=========

If I am reading that right, filling to the hole is not overfilling - it is within spec. CoastyAV8R you are just fine seems like, but I would check your owners manual. Mine is a 2004. 5

 

[MChildress]

DEALER STATED HE KNEW OF LOW FLUID PROBLEM WITH AXLES AND PROMISED ME THEY WERE CHECKED IN MAKE READY. I LOOKED AT THE AXLES AND NOTICED INK MARKS ON ON THE FILL PLUGS AS IF THEY WERE CHECKED. TODAY FOR PEACE OF MIND I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED FLUIDS FOR THE AXLES,TRANSFER CASE,AND SIX SPEED. REAR AXLE TOOK A FULL QT. TO BOTTOM OF FILL HOLE. / FRONT AXLE TOOK 1/2 QT. /TRANSFER CASE TOOK 3/4 QT ATF+4. /SIX SPEED TOOK ALMOST A FULL QT. TOOK DELIVERY 04/04 2004 600/SIX SPEED/4X4/DRW/SPORT/LINE X LINER/B&W TURN OVER BALL

 

[Thoennes]

my 04 305 with 1200 miles on it went in for trans cooling line recall monday and i had them check rear fluid for two reasons , reading about low fluid levels on some of these trucks and since new its had a rear end whine under acceleration at 50 mph. they drove truck and said it does have a rear end whine around 50 and it was full on fluid. the service tech shows me a letter from chrysler about this and it said to put sure grip additive in rear and drive it for awhile to see if that helps. i told them that as far as i know the 04 has synthetic fluid in it and it already has the additive in it. he looked at me kinda funny and said this is what DC says to do and if it doesn't help the noise to bring it back and they will look at it. first of all i hate having them mess with rear end on my new truck. the noise is only there at around 50 not higher or lower and as soon as i lift off pedal it goes away. the worst part is most in town driving is 45-50. the way i look at it is there is a 50-50 chance that if i have them fix it, it will be right or worse then it is and i will regret it. truck should never have left factory making this noise to begin with. on a side note , other then this rear noise the ctd dodge is one nice truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

04 swb, 4-door, 2500, auto ,open rear,average mpg 20.

 

[roperteacher]

The rear end was replaced on my truck at 2200 miles! The whine became a drone between 60-65 MPH. THe rear diff fluid was FULL, but BLACK at 2200 miles from all the metal. They replaced it no problem and 1200 miles later, seems A-OK...

 

[Black Ram Alpha]

Found same thing with my 03 , 3/4 ton. Differental was only half full from factory. (discovered this at 20,000 mile check up. ) The lube does 2 things --lubes and cools . So in my opinion the amount of fluid is important for the cooling aspect . Anyway--I sucked out the old lube & re-filled with valvoline senthitic blend to the drain plug level. (darn thing holds about a gallon) LOL .

 

[05mxdiesel]

The dealer knows, believe me, he is aware of it. The dealer is 160 miles away so I'm not gonna drive up there to show him it's low on fluid. I know what your saying and if he was local, I would have. I ride motocross bikes and it's a given when you buy a new one you have to tear it apart to grease it correctly and ensure that everything is put together correctly, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that with a new truck. This is a great site though and full of very useful tips and info...

Tell me about buying a new bike, the Japs need to use a normal moly grease instead of their brush on fish oils and learn how to torque bolts to their proper specs. By the way my rear axle was overfilled and was foamy when I changed it.