Synthetic Gear Lubricant ?

[robertsmith]

Well, I just picked up my truck from the Dodge dealer after its 30K mile service. The largest part of the bill was $188 for 7 quarts of synthetic gear lubricant! What a rip-off! The dealer insisted that I needed synthetic lubricant, and I checked and that is what my owner's manual says. In fact, my truck was supposed to come new with synthetic (I have the tow package). BUT the same dealer also changed my gear lubricant at 15K miles, and only charged me $3. 50 a quart. Do you suppose he drained my synthetic lubricant and replaced it with dino lubricant? I will know better next time, I am going straight to Amsoil. BTW, what interval is recommended for changing the axle lubricant when you use synthetic? I can find nothing other than 15K miles with Schedule B maintenance.

 

[RonWeiss]

Did the dealer note the price per quart on both service trips? $3. 50 is a awfully cheap for synthetic gear oil. If you could prove he put regular dino oil the diff I would be screaming Oo.



The cheapest i could find it was about $5 and change, when I did mine.



Ron W.

 

[Casey Balvert]

15,000 is the change interval. Seems excessive but given the problems with some of the axles I recommend sticking to it at least until you are out of warrantee. I am using Red Line synthetic at about $8. 00 a quart. I used that "liquid gold" that DC sells for the first change and my ring and pinion still went south so I don't have any confidence in the stuff.



I agree with Ron, if the dealer put dino in during the first change, I would be screaming AND documenting it just in case you have problems down the road.

 

[robertsmith]

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to the service manager ASAP (he is on vacation now). If I get no satisfaction there, I will send an official complaint to Chrysler. I have my service receipts, complete with part numbers for the lubricants used, so figuring out what happened should not be a problem. I will post anything I learn from the service manager.