Royal Purple cause of seal failure?

[firefighter_2000]

In September of 2015 and at 48k miles I was starting to get a little axle chatter when turning. I switched to Royal Purple differential oil and all the chatter went away. Fast forward to now, at 70k miles, both front & rear pinion seals failed at almost the same time. Luckily both were covered under warranty. The service tech told me that Royal Purple differential oil was notorious for making the pinion seals fail. Just wondering if I should consider switching to something else. My instinct tells me he's FOS, but what do I know.
Any advice or experiences are appreciated.

 

[jelag]

I think I'd write to Royal Purple and ask if it happens again out of warranty, are they going to foot the repair bill.... if they say YES than I'd continue to use it... if they say NO I'd change it out...

Thanks my personal thoughts on the issue

 

[firefighter_2000]

Any personal experience with that or with Royal purple causing seal failure?

 

[seafish]

I think I'd write to Royal Purple and ask if it happens again out of warranty, are they going to foot the repair bill.... if they say YES than I'd continue to use it... if they say NO I'd change it out...

Thanks my personal thoughts on the issue

Why would they say yes to covering a seal failure issue, especially if their product contributes to it and if they have experience with it??

NOT at all saying that RP actually causes seal failures....a quick google search brings up only a few differnt complaints but it has always been a well regarded lube company and is in fact their lube WAS causing seal failures, I think that there would be ALOT more info about it out on the interwebz where it is so easy to complain about anything being the cause of something...LOL

MY two cents to the OP is that something else caused the seal failure(s) but what do I know??

 

[RBeard]

I have 250k miles with RP from front to rear and have had no seal or any other issues with my '01 2500.

 

[DavidC]

I have been running RP differential oil for 10 years with no problems and I sure would not take the word of a service tech. I had those guys giving me more BS than I care to discuss.

Dave

 

[Jared Herzog]

The seals are prone to failure. Both of mine failed at the same time with 14,500 miles on the axle with factory fluid. Search axle leaks and it is more common than one would think.

 

[DonFitzwater]

It's not the Royal Purple (and no, I don't use it). I've driven lots of new Dodge and Ram trucks since 1994 and I've had more seal failures on third and fourth gens with American Axles. Your tech is doing what too many dealers are notorious for, blaming the customer.

 

[RustyJC]

The rear axle pinion seal on the Dana 80 in my 2002 3500 was weeping long before RP went in the differential. It never dripped, but it did show an oily/dusty stain around the nose of the pinion until I sold it.

Rusty

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have used AMZ/OIL SevereGear for many years with no seal issues.

Op you want WAY too long with your original fill unless you had changed it before.

 

[firefighter_2000]

I have used AMZ/OIL SevereGear for many years with no seal issues.

Op you want WAY too long with your original fill unless you had changed it before.

How is only 48k miles too long on the original fill?

 

[Cummins12V98]

How is only 48k miles too long on the original fill?

Read your manual.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Read your manual.

That only specifies to inspect & check. Change every 20k miles if using for police, taxi, fleet, frequent off road use, or frequent towing conditions apply. None of those conditions apply to my truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes the manual is not very clear for sure. Per the manual taken literally you should never need to change. My experience that would be a bad idea. Mine started grabbing at 20K drained and did a sample at 24K it was SHOT. Mine actually calls for 15K. I mis read mine thinking the 24KM was 24K, OPPS!

#ad

 

[firefighter_2000]

Still, you would think that they would be more clear on exactly when it needed to be changed. What fluid do you use when you change yours?

 

[KATOOM]

In September of 2015 and at 48k miles I was starting to get a little axle chatter when turning. I switched to Royal Purple differential oil and all the chatter went away. Fast forward to now, at 70k miles, both front & rear pinion seals failed at almost the same time. Luckily both were covered under warranty. The service tech told me that Royal Purple differential oil was notorious for making the pinion seals fail. Just wondering if I should consider switching to something else. My instinct tells me he's FOS, but what do I know.
Any advice or experiences are appreciated.

Techs that say stupid stuff like this are nobody to have work on your truck..... There is NO oil which you can buy over the counter that will cause seal failure.

That said, I highly suggest staying away from any engine oil that claims to stop leaks because what those oils have in their recipe is a chemical that swells all the seals it comes in contact with. Over time the leak can become worse as it affects more seals than just the problem one.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I use AMZ/OIL 75-110 SevereGear. With good results on several other vehicles.

 

[TCDiesel]

Whatever happen to the like button......I need to use 5-6 times in this thread all related to the worthless tech, what's his excused going to be when the New seals fail? seals fail form bad materials, corrosion ( like under water) bad shafts etc, the lube cause it ( wait maybe lack of lube) Heeeheeee.... would the last of many things prior... what an Idiot.

 

[Thump]

We use Severe Gear in our race and tow vehicles with exceptional results. Not a lube-related failure in YEARS of abuse.
The most common reason I've seen in the shop for pinion seal "failure" is actually over filling the diff. Look at the location of the axle vent as compared to the fill hole. If they're relatively close to the same horizontal plane, you're more likely to get oil pushed out the seals. The Tera CRD and Currie non-vertical loaded axles were notorious for this on street-driven vehicles. As heat builds and the fluid expands, it doesn't have enough head pressure to push all the way up and out the vent hose. It does, though, swamp the seals. The pinion isn't designed the same as the tube end seals and will let fluid by more readily.
As for that tech, he's either an idiot or setting up the Magnuson-Moss fight down the road. Either way, I'd not let him touch the vehicle again.

 

[KATOOM]

We use Severe Gear in our race and tow vehicles with exceptional results. Not a lube-related failure in YEARS of abuse.
The most common reason I've seen in the shop for pinion seal "failure" is actually over filling the diff. Look at the location of the axle vent as compared to the fill hole. If they're relatively close to the same horizontal plane, you're more likely to get oil pushed out the seals. The Tera CRD and Currie non-vertical loaded axles were notorious for this on street-driven vehicles. As heat builds and the fluid expands, it doesn't have enough head pressure to push all the way up and out the vent hose. It does, though, swamp the seals. The pinion isn't designed the same as the tube end seals and will let fluid by more readily.
As for that tech, he's either an idiot or setting up the Magnuson-Moss fight down the road. Either way, I'd not let him touch the vehicle again.

Not to disagree with you.....but harm from overfilling the differential is a old wives tale. There is no harm in overfilling a differential and at the worse the excess lube will simply push out the open vent. Although you'd have to cram a whole lot in there for that to happen. Now that said, plugged vents are more common than not because who ever checks their vent for debris or bug nests.....

Seals should be constantly bombarded by fluid and if they're not then the bearings next to them are being starved of lubrication. Again, not trying to start an argument but if seals leaked then its not from any reason other than they're bad from contamination, old and worn out, or the bearing next to it has excess play.

Lastly, I have a Mag-Hytec on my rear axle which allows filling from the top instead of the side, and I've run about 3/4" overfilled for years. Thats a lot more than most get in their differential fill hole.