Differential & Transfer Case Fluid Change?

[CRS1968]

Took 2023 Ram 1500 Limited 4WD in for oil change and tire rotation. 3.21 gears and open rear diff, I believe. Around 43,000 miles, almost all highway driving. Very little towing and no off-roading. Dealership recommends front & rear differential and transfer case fluid changes. All I can find in owners manual is to check at 60,000 miles. Dealership wants $600 for these services. Should fluids need to be changed at 43,000 miles and is this quoted price in the range of reasonableness. Not a mechanic but this seems like unnecessary upselling to me. Your thoughts?

 

[HuskerRam]

Your fluid will be dirty, but it's not necessarily a must-do right now. Should you change your diff fluids now? Sure...it's just good maintenance. If you're handy with a wrench, you can do it in your garage as they're REALLY easy to do. If not, take it to an independent shop to do. The dealer isn't necessary for this service. $600 for both diffs and the xfer case is outrageous and completely unreasonable.

 

[Rebel4Mo]

I would follow the owners manual recommendation.
Most shops charge a lot for these services with a dealership being at the top.

I changed the transfer case fluid on my wife's rebel at 65K miles.
was little dirty but not horrible.
Cost about $25 for about 2.5 quarts of ATF+4.

Have not changed the diff fluids yet but will do myself.

 

[Mojo88]

Yeah, the price seems high, but it is a dealer after all. Dealer prices are always high. Mileage seems a bit low for all those fluid changes. I'd be tempted to ask the dealer if they actually checked/looked at the fluids, and ask if the fluids seemed dirty/contaminated.............

 

[Sandevino]

How many times are they changing the fluids for that price?

 

[joesstripclub]

One thing I have started doing with my vehicles is changing the differential, TC, and transmission fluids fairly early so that I can get a good synthetic oil, knowing that the OEM likely used the cheapest oil that meets specs. This has generally been good for a mpg or two increase in my experience plus removes any break in material that might be in the fluid. When I had my 1500 I changed diffs and TC at 10k and 40k miles. The front could have gone longer in that truck but I did notice some discoloring in the rear and TC since those were clutch based.

 

[azaustin]

A couple of months ago I took my truck in for an oil change at 30,000 miles and was advised that I needed to change the oil in both diffs and the transfer case. They wanted just under $1,000 to do it all. I declined and did it my self for around $200 using Amsoil in the diffs and the factory specified Mopar fluid in the transfer case. I didn’t even jack it up. I’ve let my dealer do my oil changes for the last three new cars I’ve bought from them because they gave me several free when I bought the cars, and, for what they used to charge, it wasn’t worth my time and trouble. But they’ve raised their prices to the point where I’m going to start doing it myself. We are at our summer cabin right now, so I’m limited, but at home I have a lift in my RV bay and a fully-equipped shop. I also liked them doing the oil changes because it verified that they were done for warranty purposes, and I didn’t have to worry about keeping receipts and records. Is there a complete chart somewhere that specifies oil and fluid change intervals for purposes of maintaining warranty coverage?

 

[David Oakes]

A couple of months ago I took my truck in for an oil change at 30,000 miles and was advised that I needed to change the oil in both diffs and the transfer case. They wanted just under $1,000 to do it all. I declined and did it my self for around $200 using Amsoil in the diffs and the factory specified Mopar fluid in the transfer case. I didn’t even jack it up. I’ve let my dealer do my oil changes for the last three new cars I’ve bought from them because they gave me several free when I bought the cars, and, for what they used to charge, it wasn’t worth my time and trouble. But they’ve raised their prices to the point where I’m going to start doing it myself. We are at our summer cabin right now, so I’m limited, but at home I have a lift in my RV bay and a fully-equipped shop. I also liked them doing the oil changes because it verified that they were done for warranty purposes, and I didn’t have to worry about keeping receipts and records. Is there a complete chart somewhere that specifies oil and fluid change intervals for purposes of maintaining warranty coverage?

Owner's manual. Just know that they're maximums and nothing stops you from doing them earlier.

 

[Dean2]

Beware of Dealer Recommended Service

While this is far from a new or unique topic, thought it was a good reminder. You have to be careful, even at good dealerships. Took my wife's Jeep GC in for a AC leak, which is covered by warranty. While they were checking it in, service writer hands me a sheet that says they recommend...

www.ramforum.com

Same nonsense. At least on the Cherokee, standard use change is 120,000 miles. Even if I was changing early, no way in hell would I pay dealer rates. Insdependant will charge you about an hour, plus cost of fluids. My independant, I bring him whatever fluid I want to use and he charges me labour.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Yeah, the price seems high, but it is a dealer after all. Dealer prices are always high. Mileage seems a bit low for all those fluid changes. I'd be tempted to ask the dealer if they actually checked/looked at the fluids, and ask if the fluids seemed dirty/contaminated.............

Years ago, I did all of the fluids and filters on a 1998 Suburban, rebuilt the front end, and replaced the transmission with a fresh "SERTA" unit from GM . (SERTA stands for Service Replacement Transmission Assembly).

Because he had a lifetime alignment from Firestone, and I'd rebuilt his front end, he took it to Firestone.
They called him and tried to sell him EVERY maintenance item I'd JUST done, to a hefty bottom line! Including a transmission fluid flush! On a new transmission with under 30 miles on it!

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I change diffs, t case, trans and coolant every 30k miles.

 

[CRS1968]

Thanks for feedback all. Owners manual only says check fluids at 60K best I can tell. My normal me mechanic says 60K is proactive. He’s about 25% less expensive. Still pricey. I’ll probably have him check and let me know what he thinks. I hate upselling. This dealer just lost my business.

 

[Grams]

I noticed that the service writer wrote it up as “CUSTOMER REQUESTS..” diff oil change service.

They are putting this off on YOU. Humph….