rear diff oil change

leeroy300 · 07-21-2006, 01:51 AM

05/06 Rear Diff

Can someone tell me if you have to change the Diff oil in a new rear diff, I just got one for my 04 under warrenty . I know they recomend an oil change on the 04's at 5000 or 10000 K's but was this because the 04's didn't have synthetic oil as the 05's and 06's do ?

electricjohn · 07-21-2006, 05:46 AM

If you got a new diff, they put 140 syn. in there from the get go. I would take a look at the stuff when it gets about 10k on it just for piece of mind. I changed mine last night and after a year and 15k it looked very good. It was still yellowish and minimal metal dust on the magnet. I do alot of towing in the summer (5000#), and the lube held up nice. Will go to a 2 year change interval from now on. I started out the first year with a 6 month interval, the second and third year a one year interval. I really feel lube is not the problem with these dana rears.

Toxman · 07-21-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricjohn

If you got a new diff, they put 140 syn. in there from the get go. I would take a look at the stuff when it gets about 10k on it just for piece of mind. I changed mine last night and after a year and 15k it looked very good. It was still yellowish and minimal metal dust on the magnet. I do alot of towing in the summer (5000#), and the lube held up nice. Will go to a 2 year change interval from now on. I started out the first year with a 6 month interval, the second and third year a one year interval. I really feel lube is not the problem with these dana rears.

good advice although I would drop the oil around 5K miles. You'll have some metal in the oil due to break-in.

leeroy300 · 07-22-2006, 03:35 PM

Thanx for the help

wrenrj1 · 07-22-2006, 06:49 PM

In my 04, I changed it at about 11k with Royal Purple. The rear looked like mud, and the front looked ok. Regardless, I'd just go ahead and change it out, for no other reason, you don't know if it was changed, and you don't know what weight it was changed with, or type of oil. Cheap insurance.

Be advised, the rear isn't too hard, but IMHO, the front is a PITA.

FLfinfan · 07-22-2006, 07:23 PM

When my 04 rear was upgraded to a 06 rear the work order said 75w-140. I checked the level when I got home to make sure it was up to specs. I had left over 75W-140 from when I switched out the old stuff on my old 04 rear. The 04 rear oil level was low from the factory. The new rear was A-OK.

leeroy300 · 07-23-2006, 07:38 AM

my oil level was a bit low but probably not enuff to worry about . I will most likely change it out at 10 k's thanx for the help

*tlmaniac* · 07-23-2006, 11:20 AM

hummm i have an o6 on its 5th diff and just drained some for an inspection for the bbb it looked like black metallic paint.burnt and full of metal shavings.

**matthews** · 07-23-2006, 12:55 PM

Could someone give me a tutorial on how to do this? I change my Titan's oil myself so I don't have it looked at by JiffyLube or the dealer very much, so something like this would fall on my shoulders. Help! Also, what about the tranny oil?

wrenrj1 · 07-23-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthews

Could someone give me a tutorial on how to do this? I change my Titan's oil myself so I don't have it looked at by JiffyLube or the dealer very much, so something like this would fall on my shoulders. Help! Also, what about the tranny oil?

I think I asked the same question a few months back as well. It's pretty easy, the only hard part is getting under the truck and angling the bottles (especially the front) to fill the diffs.

All you really have to do is warm em up a bit, then use a square rachet, I believe a 1/2" (w/short extension) but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Loosen the top bolt first and make sure it comes out (bad news if you take out the drain bolt and the filler bolt doesn't come out for refill).

Take out the bottom bolt and drain the oil. While draining, clean the bolts of metal shavings, as they are magnets and attract them. After draining, I took some gear oil and squirted it in with the drain plug out to get rid of any scum at the bottom.

After completely drained, replace drain plug and start filling from the top plug. Fill till level with top plug. Don't try to fill more that what will drain out the top plug. The oil should be level with the top plug. This is one of those idiot proof things in that it's full when the oil comes out of the top plug. Let it drain if overfilled till its done, and it's full.

Repeat for the front end, just tighter and a bit more difficult getting gear oil in. Some people have been able to complete this with 4 qts. I had to buy six due to needing just over 4 qts. but I used the excess to flush the crud.

Anyone feel free to chime in if I missed anything, I've only done it once, and it wasn't too difficult. I have yet to change the engine oil myself by the way...

thclimer · 07-24-2006, 10:40 AM

Wrenrj1,

Good point about getting the fill plug loose first, could you imagine draining it and then no way to fill! Did you really find that much crud when you flushed?

bestatchess · 07-24-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlmaniac

hummm i have an o6 on its 5th diff and just drained some for an inspection for the bbb it looked like black metallic paint.burnt and full of metal shavings.

5 Differentials ? WTF ?

ttugrad95 · 07-24-2006, 11:05 AM

If you can find a funnel that will fight into the tight spot the thick gear oil doesn't flow very well so it takes forever. Its MUCH easier if you invest in a $10 hand pump like this https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/g2039.aspx

wrenrj1 · 07-24-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thclimer

Wrenrj1,

Good point about getting the fill plug loose first, could you imagine draining it and then no way to fill! Did you really find that much crud when you flushed?

I changed mine at 12.6k, and the back looked like mud and the front looked more like newer gear oil (golden brownish color). I couldn't really tell how much crud came out, I was using Royal Purple, so it was hard to tell, but glad I pushed a 1/2 pint or so thru to make sure. It's really important to clean your drain plugs as far as crud is concerned as well.

I'd add that the pump is not essential, but a good idea, and since it fits Amsoil, that's not a bad choice in oil to use as well.

Toxman · 07-25-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

5 Differentials ? WTF ?

Even more amazing is the fact taht it is a 2wd!!!!