Differential Fluid change interval?

Tangent · Jan 13, 2019

The fast talking, fear mongering sales guy at the oil change place wanted $60 to change my differential fluid and says Ram recommends it. My truck has a little over 50K.

I told him 'next time maybe' because he was also trying that 'complete fuel system cleaner' pitch to where he shows me pictured of clogged injectors.

This is a Valvoline Oil place that didn't used to act quite this pushy, so I may find someplace else next time.

I have a 2016 2WD V6 with 3:55 axle ration and I have pulled a few trailers here and there.

I may go have a peek at my owners manual to see what it says but was wondering how often you guys get the diff fluid changed and how hard it is to do myself?

HammerHead · Jan 13, 2019

I do mine every 30k religiously; not hard at all. Be sure to pickup some of that good gray RTV from the dealership, it's my favorite. I'd put Amsoil severe gear or Redline fluid in. Watch this video:

They only went upto 30 MPH, now imagine cruzing down the interstate at 70 for 2,3,10 hours. Gear oil gets beat to crap, that's why I change mine every 30k.
I definitely would not let a quick lube place do it on my truck.

Redheadhunter21 · Jan 13, 2019

If you haven't changed it by now I would. And 60 bucks is not to bad depending on what gear oil they use

Garce421 · Jan 13, 2019

I just use the drain plug and don’t pull the cover. Takes 10 minutes every 30k miles.

HammerHead · Jan 13, 2019

DIY video:

Burla · Jan 13, 2019

It is very easy, if you don't want to buy a pump use amsoil gear bags, or redline and get a pump, either way. It is very easy to do, you can't mess it up. Take off bottom bolt, drain, put back bolt. Take off gromit on top, fill till oil starts coming out hole, put gromit back. 140w for back, 85 or 90 in the front for the 5.7, verify the weights for your pennstar.

Search amazon for -
Slippery Pete Fluid Pump for GALLON BOTTLES or quarts, depending on what you gear fluid order. Have about 3 qrts worth to put back, wont take that much. Nick is cheapest price on redline oil, and I beieve he can get amsoil sever gear as well, PM him gotexhaust, If you get a gallon, just add a qrt, that equals two diff changes for next time.

Tangent · Jan 13, 2019

OK thanks guys!

Burla · Jan 13, 2019

Tangent said:
OK thanks guys!

I looked it up 2016 owners manual, 75w85 for front, and 75w140 for rear, main thing is gl-5 which is the current gear spec almost all the oil out there is gl-5. If you use top tier oil like redline you don't worry about LS additive, you don't need it. You don't want 75W140NS GL-5 GEAR OIL, you want 75W140 GL-5 GEAR OIL note it says Dodge Ram. Two little letters and you have the wrong stuff. And this one for front.

pacofortacos · Jan 13, 2019

Tangent said:
The fast talking, fear mongering sales guy at the oil change place wanted $60 to change my differential fluid and says Ram recommends it. My truck has a little over 50K.

I told him 'next time maybe' because he was also trying that 'complete fuel system cleaner' pitch to where he shows me pictured of clogged injectors.

This is a Valvoline Oil place that didn't used to act quite this pushy, so I may find someplace else next time.

I have a 2016 2WD V6 with 3:55 axle ration and I have pulled a few trailers here and there.

I may go have a peek at my owners manual to see what it says but was wondering how often you guys get the diff fluid changed and how hard it is to do myself?

On my 16, it is easier to change the rear gear oil than the engine oil.
I do it every year or 2 (max) since I tow a boat long distance and at high speed.
No need to do the front unless you have/use 4WD a lot.

I also don't pull the cover, no need to since I don't let it go long enough to get really crappy in there.
Put a pan under, pull the drain plug, drain, put drain plug in, and refill with a piece of hose on the end of the gear lube bottle till it almost comes out of the hole with the push in plug.
I use Redline gear oil.

Burla · Jan 14, 2019

I guarantee the 60 dollar price was not pulling the cover as well. DYI you can use much better gear fluid at the same time cut the price in half. Winner Winner.

UnsatFC · Jan 14, 2019

Winner winner chicken dinner! Once you get underneath and start you’ll see it’s super easy with the factory drain plug.

Charlie72 · Jan 19, 2019

My dealer recommended the service on my 2016 RAM Big Horn for $120. The truck just went over 40K miles. I did get the service but based on the forum, I should be able to do it myself without issues.

SJGUSMC21 · Jan 28, 2019

My dealer recommended service for my rear differential. '$260.00' I asked him, 'so basically you are going to drain it, and fill it back up, right?'. His reply: 'Yes'. My reply: 'NOPE.' Just replaced my brake pads...rear differential is next weekend.

badfishy · Feb 3, 2019

I ordered Redline 75 140 gl-5 on Amazon a few days ago. Also got the slippery Pete pump. I didn’t have a 14mm hex bit, so I had to source one from the hardware store.

Pulled the rubber cap and removed the drain plug from my rear diff on my 2105 Ram 1500. So easy! Much easier than the motor oil. No worries about the awkwardly place oil filter.

Only problem, as I was pumping the last drops of the 2nd quart, I realized that I had not reached the capacity of the diff! Looking back through posts and websites I realized I needed 2 and a half quarts. Nobody sells Redline locally so now I have to leave my truck parked until amazon gets another quart delivered to me. I guess that’s the only downfall of not purchasing from a local auto store. I couldn’t just go grab another quart and be done.

Lesson learned...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HammerHead · Feb 3, 2019

badfishy said:
I ordered Redline 75 140 gl-5 on Amazon a few days ago. Also got the slippery Pete pump. I didn’t have a 14mm hex bit, so I had to source one from the hardware store.

Pulled the rubber cap and removed the drain plug from my rear diff on my 2105 Ram 1500. So easy! Much easier than the motor oil. No worries about the awkwardly place oil filter.

Only problem, as I was pumping the last drops of the 2nd quart, I realized that I had not reached the capacity of the diff! Looking back through posts and websites I realized I needed 2 and a half quarts. Nobody sells Redline locally so now I have to leave my truck parked until amazon gets another quart delivered to me. I guess that’s the only downfall of not purchasing from a local auto store. I couldn’t just go grab another quart and be done.

Lesson learned...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lesson learned in-deed, we all have been there. I always by extra fluid when doing diffs and Trannys, been short on fluid multiple times. I just recently started buying 2 oil filters when doing my oil changes; last year I had a defective oil filter that would have left my SOL. Lucky I had an extra.

Eclipse Aries · Feb 18, 2019

Adding this to my list of fluids to change. The downside of buying used is you never really sure when the last time most of the oils have been done. If I do them all myself then I have a known baseline to work from.

Matts175 · Feb 24, 2019

Cringe.... I wouldn't even let an "oil change shop" add washer fluid to any of my vehicles. Barely trained goofballs under your truck, stripping out the oil drain plug, wrenching that $1.99 oil filter on REALLY tight, underfilling you by 1/2 quart on purpose... all going on while the snake with the clip board tries to sell you a synthetic blinker fluid flush.

YouTube is your best friend when it comes to this type of stuff. Do it yourself. Sleep better knowing it was done right.

Differential Fluid change interval?

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