Chrysler: 2001 Dodge Ram PU, Change Differential oil

What does your Owners Manual state? If the OM doesn't state a specific
time/milage spec for diff lube change out, it's probably considered
lifetime unless other work needs to be performed. Dealer can't refuse
warranty work if fluids are changed at factory specified intervals.

Sounds more like a dealer trying to pad his business bottom line by
being overly conservative on fluid change intervals, and if so, may be
time to find a different dealer. You may want to have a small sample of
diff lube analyxed by an indepentant lab speciallizing in lubrication
fluid analysis.



RWatson767 wrote: 

If you go by schedule 'A', it is not needed. Schedule "B" calls for it every
12,000 miles IIRC. Do you tow, haul loads on a fairly regular basis? If not,
use schedule "A" and not worry about it.

Chances are the dealer was not trying to pad his bottom line, just was going
by the book and didn't check with you first on how the truck was used.

Denny



"RWatson767" <com> wrote in message
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warranty. 

Denny 

If you go by schedule 'A', it is not needed. Schedule "B" calls for it every
12,000 miles IIRC. Do you tow, haul loads on a fairly regular basis? If not,
use schedule "A" and not worry about it.

I just checked the schedule and for schedule B it does call for changing the
read end oil every 12,000 miles. A $60.00 service item. It does seem like a
money maker since I am sure it takes less than 10 minutes. The oil was charged
as $10.60. What has me wondering is what is the problem with the rear end? My
72 Dodge PU which never had an easy week for over 30 years and 300K miles never
had new oil in the rear end and never gave a problem.
I will be changing the rear end oil in the future. And I will have a receipt.
Bob AZ

"RWatson767" <com> wrote in message
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every 
not, 
the 
a 
charged 
end? My 
never 
receipt. 

It probably does take more than 10 minutes. By the time you take out the
10-12 bolts, remove the cover, let the oil drip a bit, clean off the old
sealer, squeeze out the new sealer, torque down the bolts and refill it, I'm
guessing about half an hour. I abuse a truck, using it for plowing snow and
around the farm. I change all fluids every fall. I've found over the years,
that changing fluid in the equipment and trucks is cheaper than fixing them
when (or if) they break. It works for me, if it doesn't fit your useabe, so
be it. <G>

Denny

RWatson767 wrote: 

What does the owners manual say? Do you tow with the truck? If you do,
then this may well be required in the "severe" service maintenance schedule.


Matt

Denny 

Somewhere I read that what is required is to suck out the old oil and put in
new. Nothing about removing the cover. I will check into it some more.
Bob AZ

"RWatson767" <com> wrote in message
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in 

There is a suction gun that you can get to do this, looks allot like the
barrel of a grease gun with a hose on the end instead of the pump. It will
work but it doesn't get all the old oil out, just most of it. And you also
don't get the chance to see if there is any metal shavings laying in the
bottom of the housing or get a look at the wear on the teeth.

Denny

RWatson767 wrote: 

On a related topic-

A few months ago (when I brought my 300 in to have that seat-bolt
thing fixed), I found out that I was over-due for changing my
differential and power-steering fluid. I told the shop guy that I've
been following the instructions in the little maintainence book and
brought the car in roughly on schedule for the past 3-4 years. I had
a close look at the booklet and sure enough it DOESN'T mention
differential or PS fluid changes. I pointed this out to him, and made
him aware that I was some-what ticked off that

1) The maintenance booklet, which is a Chrysler publication, and which
is surrenderred to the shop for them to fill out each time I bring the
car in for scheduled maintenence, makes no mention of differential or
PS fluid changes.

2) The people performing the scheduled maintenance made no attempt to
inform me of scheduled change-out of these fluids each time I brought
the car in for oil changes and tire rotations, even though it was
clear that I was making attempts to follow the service schedule as
outlined in THEIR OWN FUCKING SERVICE BOOKLET THAT CAME WITH THE CAR.

The shop guy said that the booklet is a generic chrysler publication
and is not specific for any particular vehicle. That seems like a
weak argument and by rights it wouldn't kill chrysler if they printed
a generic service booklet for passenger cars that covered stuff like
this.

So I was some-what ticked off that the regular service I was trying to
adhere to was incomplete and even the dealership didn't take any steps
to point out the items missing from the service booklet.

But power steering fluid? Is that really necessary to change every 20
or 30k miles? Heck, I never changes the differential or PS fluid on
my older MoPars. Wasn't the change interval for the rear differential
fluid on 60's and early 70's cars something like 100k miles?