No Oil

[yellow jacket]

:

Just My Luck!!!!!!

I remember reading about low trans and rear end oil in the new o3. I took delivery of 03 quad cab HO 6 spd 2WD 2 weeks ago. I run out to Indiana once a wk to get 28' race car trailers & I already have 4k mi on truck. Before I got truck I told dealer to make sure rear end oil and trans checked. He said that was done. On 2nd run coming home I heard loud howl from rear end. I checked when I got home & it was down a quart. Went to dealer -- he said "no big deal " and added a quart. Came home from another run today and noise is getting louder. Called dealer and they will pull cover tomorrow. Will keep you posted.



PS Truck came from MEXICO

 

[Rosco]

This issue is really ticking me off. This is not a new problem and I cannot belive that the dealers are not religously checking the differential fluid level before delivery. My fathers friend just bought a 2500 Hemi about a month ago and his rearend was making noise so he brought it in and suprise low on fluid. I will make the dealer pull all the plugs on my next '03 while I stand there and check them myself.



My present '03 had a low level in the rear diff also but I never had any noise. I drained and refilled with amsoil and now have 6500 trouble free miles.

 

[yellow jacket]

Hi Roscoe--

Just wanted to say I got my truck at Bald Hill .

 

[Fred Swanson]

That is pretty bad. I didn't have a problem, but I also pulled the cover to put the Mag-Hytec on.

Much nicer looking, too.

 

[Dean Upson]

Regardless of where the truck comes from, the responsibility for prep (incliuding fluid levels) falls squarely on the shoulders of the dealers.



Dean

 

[DHess]

I was told by a dealer that about all that's done anymore is remove most of the shipping plastic from the outside, hose it off, and check to see if the truck has 4 (or 6) wheels - and that's about it.



I took my truck to the dealer and told them I wanted both differentials, transmission, and transfer case filled until it runs out the fill hole. They put in (charged me for) a quart in each differential and a quart in the transmission - and according to the paperwork they put the same lub in each.



Dave

 

[tgbol]

I can remember in the mid 70's GM was shipping every vehicle a quart low on oil. This went on until a number of the dealers sued GM for the costs incurred. It seems If you sell a million cars a quart low you save X times one million $. Would you think that DC is doing now, or is it American Axle?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

After reading comments on this board about low driveline lube levels, and also concerns about the rather low physical level of the differential fill plug, I checked the level in my new '02, and it was down enough that I was able to put in another quart... It's been going on for a while apparently... Sure seems like a poor way for DC to cut costs, if that is the reason...

 

[Rosco]

Originally posted by yellow jacket

Hi Roscoe--

Just wanted to say I got my truck at Bald Hill .

I have bought all my trucks at Elmwood Dodge and they have been a good dealer to work with. I have read some post's about poor service departments and I have to say they have always tried hard to keep me happy.

 

[Blair]

When you buy a new truck ask for the PDI (pre delivery inspection) sheet. It is mandatory for the tech to fill one out and the dealer to keep it on file In Canada so I can't see it being different in America.

 

[JJW_ND]

Not a surprise

We get fleet vehicles that then go through a fleet pool to be asigned. In 1997 I had a Chevy 2500 454 5sp that was deliverd with zero oil in the NVG4500 5sp. I found this out at 1100 miles when it self destructed. The dealer was and is a GREAT local Chevy dealer. When visiting with them, they made sure to point the blame to the factory. They went on to say this service is covered at the factory to the point the dealer can not be reimbursed for doing a inspection when they take delivery. Those doing it are doing it at their cost. With recent fleet trucks that I am assigned and the last personal vehicles, I make it a point to check everything.



jjw

ND

 

[Dean Upson]

I was told by a dealer that about all that's done anymore is remove most of the shipping plastic from the outside, hose it off, and check to see if the truck has 4 (or 6) wheels - and that's about it.

My dealership (Bolles Motors in Union, CT) went through my truck from stem to stern before delivery. That included checking all fluid levels and cleaning inside and out. The truck was glazed and looked like a new vehicle when I left. They were very fussy about how the truck looked and ran because it is a reflection on them.



Dean

 

[Pit Bull]

I read about this low fluid problem and checked mine. Both were full to the point that when I took the plug out, fluid came out of the fill hole. This was on level ground. Whoever checked/filled my diff's at the dealership filled them to the point that it was coming out the fill hole and then screwed the plug in. Looks like if you are a member of the TDR you are now aware of the fact that when you get a new truck you need to get the wrench out a check some fluid levels

 

[D808]

I took my truck to the dealer and told them I wanted both differentials, transmission, and transfer case filled until it runs out the fill hole. They put in (charged me for) a quart in each differential and a quart in the transmission - and according to the paperwork they put the same lub in each.



Dave [/B][/QUOTE]



That dealer is a STEALER for sure!!!!!!!!

 

[Badunit]

We can only hope that they didn't actually use the same lube for each. I doubt it would hurt anything but I also doubt there's an easy way to tell if they did it or not.

 

[Fireman]

Checked mine, both were low, I guess the dealer was too busy applying the undercoat (I didn't want) to check insignificant things like fluid levels.

Fireman

 

[KL]

Fireman, where was your truck built? I have an 02 CTD made in Mexico and the cab came undercoated from the factory. It even mentioned in the Service Manual that the cabs of trucks from Mexico were undercoated. I heard that on 01 models the Mexico trucks were undercoated and the St. Louis trucks were not. No idea why there was a differece. KL

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by KL

Fireman, where was your truck built? I have an 02 CTD made in Mexico and the cab came undercoated from the factory. It even mentioned in the Service Manual that the cabs of trucks from Mexico were undercoated. I heard that on 01 models the Mexico trucks were undercoated and the St. Louis trucks were not. No idea why there was a differece. KL

I think only the trucks that came out of Mexico City I think that was the Lago's plant that was closed down in Sept/Oct of 2002 did the undercoating. Mine was built there and I also have the undercoating. My 2000 was built in St. Louis and did not have it. They seem to do a very good job in these Mexico plants. Glad my 2002 came from Mexico.

 

[Posm]

I was at my dealer today and mentioned about the low oil level and the service writer said they received an entire load of trucks with NO oil in the differentials. I told her about the post on here where the dealer charged to check the oil and she was amazed. She said the should do all of this in the PDI. I belive the dealer is paid by DC for the PDI.

 

[Farmall Hauler]

Hello to all!



I was wondering. if these axels under the 03 trucks are the same ones used by Chevrolet in their H. D. trucks as well. They also use American Axel Corp Axels. If they are, it would be interesting to know if they have been having the same problems with low fluid in their axels. This may help to decide if the problems are D. C. or American Axel Corp. Just my . 02 cents!!



Have a great weekend!.