No Oil

[Rich Hoefer]

Low fluid levels also

I took delivery of my 03, 2500 quad cab 2wd long box 11 days and 222 miles, ago, After reading about the low Differential and Transmission fluid levels here, I just checked my Diff. and Trans. 20 minutes ago and sure enough, My diff. was 2 1/2 gts. low, and My 6 speed transmission is low enough that I can barely touch the oil level with my pinkie finger.

Is DC so broke that they have to short us all on a lousy little bit of life saving gear lube fluids. I spent my working career as a heavy duty truck and equipment mechanic, and I know first hand how important it is to keep the fluid levels at the proper level, not only for proper Luberication of the internal parts but also for carrieing away heat from the internal parts and transfers that heat to the gear case where it can be carried away with the passing air flow.

Does anybody Know what the viscosity of Mopar part number #4874464 is? Beings it is Sunday, my oil supplier is closed to ask him this question, and I may have the gear lube on the shelf, but I do not have a way of relating that Mopar number to what I have. My truck was built in Mexico

Thanks Rich

 

[RichB59]

Dealers

have a prep sheet supplied by DC and it includes checking all fluids. The dealer is paid for the prep and can bill DC for any fluids added on a warranty claim. 20 years as a Dodge dealer parts manager, I know the system.



LOL RichB P. S... If a dealer charges for fluids he is ripping you off. We did all top offs free even on retail work.

 

[kaffine krazed]

The PDI tech is suppoused to check all fluid levels, check the exaust system, check all seat belts, check interior and extoir trim for proper fit, check operation of everything on the vehical test drive it make sure there are no unuasal noises vibrations ect. Set tire pressures verifiy every thing like jack ect are there install the antane and remove all the plastic for 0. 9hrs labor.



There have been problems with some engine that the heater hose clamps didn't have the metal tab (that keeps the clamp expanded during manafacturing ) removed and the heater hose comes off and causes the engine to sieze. They then go and ***** to the guy who did the PDI wanting to know why he didn't noticed the loose clamp during the PDI.



I wont do PDI any more because it took me alot longer than the 0. 9hrs I got paid. I try to not do anything that is a general inspection of the car anymore where I work they excpect alot more than they are paying for.

 

[PBeaudoin]

Well I just checked my fluids today with 4123 miles to find out my rear diff. is 2 qts low! I am ssooo ****** off at this dealer! Hendricks Dodge in Cary N. C. I have driven this truck on long distance trip and pulled 7-12K trailers around the city. They said "we will see if anything is wrong with it, bring it in. I have an huge issue now that there is 4K + miles. I believe the entire rear end should be rebuilt with NEW parts if not a NEW rearend.

Question to you guys, What are other doing about the situation with there trucks? I don't even know if this thing holds more then 2-3 quarts? I called Dodge They said that to bring it to the dealer and see what happens?:-{} Then I asked her about recieving a new rearend and she said "we will do as we she fit!" I told her, "Your telling me that I should not have bought a Dodge?"

What has happen to just do your job? Do it your being paid!

(D)um (O)rganization (D)estoying (G)ood (E)ngineering

Thats how I feel!!!

Service is terrible every where! Thats what is wrong with our country, I swear it is! All we do know is service.

Later

 

[Steve G]

Took delivery of mine and told them to check fluids and sure enough at 300 miles I heard a whoooing sound so I took it to them and rear was a quart low and front was a pint low. The salesman really got an ear full after that. They said (service dept) that they didn't think anything was hurt with just 300 miles and told me to bring it back if any problems came up. The salesman (Fleet manager) swears he told them and was quite upset to learn of this. He's a straight shooter and I believe him, so I guess it's just the people in the back that don't bother to do their job.



Steve

 

[Pit Bull]

I have a 02 and checked mine after reading some of the problems. Mine were full, but I have one of those old Dana 80's. Maybe the new 03 diff's don't need to be as full as the Dana's? Has anyone had a failure because of the diff's being low on fluid?

 

[keimmmo]

Fellas, this IS NOT a new problem!!! I worked for a Chrysler dealer back in the late 70s. I did most of his new vehicle prep. He paid me a salary, not commission, so I did what ever he asked. He was a fanatic about packing wheel bearings! Most new vehicles honestly had very little grease in them. I pulled the right front wheel off a new New Yorker one day and found ABSOLUTELY NO grease!!! We COMMONLY added a pint to a quart to rear ends even back then! It was also common to add a pint to a quart of motor oil to the motors.



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

Hey guys the pdi did pay more and may still,on trucks etc it was 1. 9 or 2. 0 but dealers commonly deduct from this to offset pay to the clean up dept!Some dealers even sublet clean up(which is stupid)and take the difference from 1. 9 to cover it!Now at Isuzu and Toyota and possibly some others the pdi is done prior to shipment to dealer. Now even at . 9 if tech finds things wrong they then are supposed to do a warranty claims ticket and repair/get paid the additional time and moneys. If repair is too indepth for pdi tech it then is transfered to a line tech. A good service advisor trained by a good service manager should know how to pencil whip this into PROFIT and take care of tech and customer at same time.

 

[PBeaudoin]

Alright, I got off the phone with AAM today about my fluid being low in the rear axle, I was told that there is approx 23sq. in. of area X1inch is = to 1 Qt. of fluid. I was also told that is the correct fluid level (per AAM) I was down approx 1. 75 quarts. Meaning to them I was only a 3/4 of a quart low. Which will not do any damage to the rear end for there is enough fluids to compensate for being low. They said Dodge is the one filling the axle, not them. Also, Dodge fluid is not a true synthetic as they say it is, AAM's fluid is the only true synthetic fluid which is sold as DR25-3500 75w90 thru the stealers,This what they recommend for all purposes. The 90w140 (?) is not a true synthetic, but a blend.

I told them that I put in Mobil1 to top it off and they claimed it was better then Dodge's by far. They also claimed it was fine to top it off to the plug bottom, it would not hurt it. I have this person's name written somewhere in this pile of mess, I will get it for anyone should they need it.

I feel a better now.

 

[Briman]

I added a little more than a quart to the back and a little more than a pint to the front. Three days old and 800 miles. I'm going to make the dealer top off the transfer case and transmission tomorrow. I also asked the sales manager point blank - has that truck been PDIed. You know he said "of course".

 

[EnLjones]

Add one more to the list... I have been following this discussion closely and when I picked up my truck I specifically asked the question to the salesman if his dealership was good about actually doing the PDI. He assured me they were great and have not had any complaints. Well Dummy me believed him and drove off with my nice new truck. Thanks to TDR I just wasn't getting the warm and fuzzy about this so I decided to check myself... . you guessed it, 1 quart low on the rear and 3/4 low on the front! I haven't checked the transmission/transfer case yet, because I'm heading for the dealer first thing in the A. M. to make him do it along with looking for re-embersement for the $14. 99 I just spent on two quarts of oil! I can't find out what kind of oil belongs in the transmission or I would have filled it too!

 

[boathead]

Boy,

Glad I checked this thread! Just ordered an '03 3500 and I'll be sure to tell the wife to have 'em check ALL FLUIDS (She's the Office Manager) and Service Manager is a friend of mine, don't think I should have to add oil to a vehicle that I'm paying 35K for! Maybe this will also help others buying a new truck, too.



I'll probably STILL check all fluids, anyway



Estimated ship date: Mar. 5th Yahoooo!

 

[MSilva]

Rear OIl Level

After reading about low oil levels two weeks after I bought my

new truck. I found the rear end oil level to be low, had to add

1 and 3/4 quarts to fill it 1/4 inch below fill hole as I read in the

owners manual. I am grateful to this forum. Come to think of it,

I think my 1993 Chevrolet 6. 5 TBD was probably low from the factory also. I think i checked the rear level around 35000 mi

and it was very very low, maybe just a silver dollar sized puddle,

in the bottom if that. I put 600 miles on my new 03 before

I checked it, but the gears in there were well lubed when i touched them with my finger.

 

[Steve M]

Dealers too broke, DC too cheap, charged for a quart of oil... I wonder what that $250 dealer prep charge is all about?

 

[Grayhackle]

I read about the fill problems of the differential and checked mine. Transmission was ok, rear and front diff was so low I couldn't get any oil on the finger. Back to the de@$er and they gave me a quart of synthetic and the other and told me if that wasn't enough to come back!! The rear diff took the entire quart and the front took about 2/3. Guess I should be thankful they didn't charge me for it!! Hell would have been raised if they had tried! So much for dealer prep! I thought they should have filled it for me, so much for 5 star service!

 

[Agades]

Originally posted by 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.

I saw this sheet and my oil was still low



its common for people is the U. S. to say one thing and do another

and apparently thats OK



all I know is if I ran my business that way Id be out of business , quickly