Drive axle fluid change?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

chrisc60

Senior Member
Joined
May 4, 2013
Posts
188
Reaction score
51
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Hey all- recently bought a 2012 quad cab sxt, and with 66k on it, the maintenance schedule shows next service @ 72k. I'm including a screen shot, which lists "drive axle fluid" as a item that needs changing, and differential fluid as an item whose level needs to be checked. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, so what am I missing here? I would think the only parts of the final drive holding fluid would be the diff's, front and rear. Any help clarifying would be much appreciated.
Chris

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
C

chrisc60

Senior Member
Joined
May 4, 2013
Posts
188
Reaction score
51
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Oops, forgot the screenshot, but you know what I'm talking about

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk
 

R.L.K.

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Posts
12,803
Reaction score
12,500
Location
Bristol , Tn.
Ram Year
2014 4X4 QC Express 6 speed auto 355 differentials
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Just change the fluids , it's simple and quick to do. This way you'd know when it was actually changed .
Use the weight oil called out in the owners manual , verify if you have an Anti-spin ( LSD ) Rear differential , if you do have a Limited Slip Differential in the rear you will require not only the proper weight oil ( example 75-140) But an oil with friction modifiers in it already or you need to add the friction modifiers with the fill on the rear only .

I'll post up a thread on a how to , just need to find it .

Found it . This one is mine , a quick search you'll probably find a better one .

Hope this helps .


https://tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=...&share_tid=84221&share_fid=17770&share_type=t

Differential oil change
 
Last edited:

ColdCase

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2016
Posts
672
Reaction score
210
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7
He was asking what is the difference between what the manual calls "drive axle fluid" and "differential fluid" as he is thinking they are the same thing.
 

beep119

Member
Joined
May 28, 2012
Posts
57
Reaction score
5
Ram Year
2012
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Just change the fluids , it's simple and quick to do. This way you'd know when it was actually changed .
Use the weight oil called out in the owners manual , verify if you have an Anti-spin ( LSD ) Rear differential , if you do have a Limited Slip Differential in the rear you will require not only the proper weight oil ( example 75-140) But an oil with friction modifiers in it already or you need to add the friction modifiers with the fill on the rear only .

I'll post up a thread on a how to , just need to find it .

Found it . This one is mine , a quick search you'll probably find a better one .

Hope this helps .


https://tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=...&share_tid=84221&share_fid=17770&share_type=t

Differential oil change
RLK, can you re-post your link, it is a dead link right now.
Im looking for a good right up on changing front and rear diffs, if anyone has a good one for info, like fill ports and drains. what sizes for drain plugs...etc..
 

soldiercowboy

Member
Joined
May 24, 2014
Posts
68
Reaction score
7
Location
Killeen Texas
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 6.4l 4x4 Tradesman crew cab
I changed my front and rear differentials today and just want to say it is harder than it looks. I have 2014 ram 2500 4x4 I do not have drain plugs so I had to pull covers off and replace gaskets I ordered from Tasca parts. The hardest part is getting wrench around the suspension parts and brackets and breaking the bolts loose. I used a large drip pan to catch the oil because it come out from everywhere on the bottom edge of cover. I also used a oil change mat I got from o'reilly parts to prevent oil on garage floor. The gasket I got is a stiff rubber type gasket I did not have to use any silicone. I just put gasket on cover and put bolts back in and torqued them down to 30 ft lbs. I highly highly recommend using a pump to refill oil because there is no room for a funnel and quart bottle to fill. I used redline 75w85 gl-5 oil in gallon jug. Filled until oil starts coming out of fill hole rear takes 1 gallon and about 3 qts for front. Hope this helps someone I had 33000 miles the rear was worse than front because I do not use my 4x4 very often but i will change them both at the same time. The rear was a dark oil brown color so it was a good time to do it. Dealer says 30000 miles on differential and 60000 on transfer. The next time I do this I will be changing the covers to one's that have a drain plug. Hope this helps someone if you have any other questions send me message I will respond as soon as possible. Thanks for reading

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 

DannyMK2

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Posts
1,727
Reaction score
491
Location
Long Island, NY
Ram Year
2015 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi
I changed my front and rear differentials today and just want to say it is harder than it looks. I have 2014 ram 2500 4x4 I do not have drain plugs so I had to pull covers off and replace gaskets I ordered from Tasca parts. The hardest part is getting wrench around the suspension parts and brackets and breaking the bolts loose. I used a large drip pan to catch the oil because it come out from everywhere on the bottom edge of cover. I also used a oil change mat I got from o'reilly parts to prevent oil on garage floor. The gasket I got is a stiff rubber type gasket I did not have to use any silicone. I just put gasket on cover and put bolts back in and torqued them down to 30 ft lbs. I highly highly recommend using a pump to refill oil because there is no room for a funnel and quart bottle to fill. I used redline 75w85 gl-5 oil in gallon jug. Filled until oil starts coming out of fill hole rear takes 1 gallon and about 3 qts for front. Hope this helps someone I had 33000 miles the rear was worse than front because I do not use my 4x4 very often but i will change them both at the same time. The rear was a dark oil brown color so it was a good time to do it. Dealer says 30000 miles on differential and 60000 on transfer. The next time I do this I will be changing the covers to one's that have a drain plug. Hope this helps someone if you have any other questions send me message I will respond as soon as possible. Thanks for reading

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

the gaskets on the 2500/3500 are re-usable. no need to buy new ones unless they are damaged. i usually leave the top two bolts on (but loose) when popping off the cover. helps cut down on the mess. i have a pump but almost never use it. its faster/easier to just fill from the bottle, imo.
 

soldiercowboy

Member
Joined
May 24, 2014
Posts
68
Reaction score
7
Location
Killeen Texas
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 6.4l 4x4 Tradesman crew cab
Thanks for that information on the gaskets I will use the same one next time. I perfer the pump it makes it a lot easier imo.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 

rkpalm

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2016
Posts
7
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2015
Engine
semi 5.7
Has anyone tried to change the fluid using a pump to remove the old fluid? Without taking the cover off? Just curious to whether or not it would work.
 

spoon059

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2015
Posts
496
Reaction score
343
Location
Just north of Washington DC
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.7 CTD
Has anyone tried to change the fluid using a pump to remove the old fluid? Without taking the cover off? Just curious to whether or not it would work.

Yup, I used a small liquivac and pulled the old fluid out. I plan to change a little more often than recommended anyways, so I'm not too bent out of shape if I don't get all the old fluid out each and every time.
 

pickupman66

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Posts
715
Reaction score
152
Location
Tennessee
Ram Year
2009
Engine
hemi 5.7
I have done this as well. the ront is more difficult as the gears can get in the way of getting the hose down inside the pumpkin.
 

68PowerWagon

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2015
Posts
1,666
Reaction score
976
Location
Dayton, Ohio
Ram Year
2022 Laramie 3500
Engine
6.7 CTD
Thats a bummer theres no drain plug. 2012 1500 4x4 has them front and rear.

Yeah that sucks! When I do my first service I am going to change to an aluminum with a drain plug. They are always looking to find areas to cut down weight, I don't know why this wouldn't be one of the first places to start. Less weight, cooler temps. Probably the almighty $$$.
 

DodgeDude99

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Posts
590
Reaction score
276
Location
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Ram Year
2014
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Yeah that sucks! When I do my first service I am going to change to an aluminum with a drain plug. They are always looking to find areas to cut down weight, I don't know why this wouldn't be one of the first places to start. Less weight, cooler temps. Probably the almighty $$$.

You can go back 50 yrs, they never really had them. But that’s across the board, all makes & models. I think it’s actually a good thing. People get lazy & just pull plugs & refill. By having to take the cover off, you see if everything is ok inside. It’s new to actually have in instances like the 1500.
 
Top