I have a 04 3500 dually with 26000 miles. 19000 miles are heavy towing. I have searched and can't find recommended mileage to change rear axle oil. Does anybody know the recommended mileage for a change. Thanks
I have changed out the lubricant on every truck/jeep that I have owned early in it's life, usually before 10,000 miles. Every one of the differential covers I have removed, no matter the brand I have found metal powder, slivers, and sometimes small chips. Just part of the break-in process. I let the differential drain for couple of hours, wipe down what I can with a clean cotton rag(t-shirts great for it. Reseal and reinstall the cover and fill with the appropriate grade fully synthetic lubricant with friction additive if needed. Sometimes the owners manual will list an optional weight of lubricant for heavy,frequent towing and that is the weight I use. After that initial drain and refill, I will then go to a 5 year/60k mile schedule. If at any time the differential are submerged in water, I will replace the lube. BTW, always check your vents for proper routing. I have found some not hooked up or kinked.
Capt Skup
AD-1(AW)USN Ret.
Wonderful Wife, 3 beautiful Daughters
"Never get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man"
If you take the pumpkin cover off, you might as well put on an after market one that has a magnet on the drain plug and a fill port that is easy to get at with a dipstick to check the level. Ford is 100K recommendation.
2000 F-250 S/B 4X4
2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS
Pullrite Superglide 16K
kampinguru wrote: If you take the pumpkin cover off, you might as well put on an after market one that has a magnet on the drain plug and a fill port that is easy to get at with a dipstick to check the level. Ford is 100K recommendation.
I believe it is considered a life-lube and never needs changing, just periodic checks. Nevertheless, I changed mine at about 10,000 miles, though I didn’t remove the diff. cover, and found the same crud Capt Skup was talking about. I changed it again about a year later; no crud this time. GM’s approved lube is very expensive. I’m sure it’s very good, but I don’t know anyone who uses it. Most seem to favor Mobil 1 synthetic. I now run Redline 75W-140 syn gear lube. 86k trouble free miles.
IMO, the first rear oil change is the most important. Wait for 5-10k, change the oil and then you're good to go for a long time. That first change gets rid of a lot of junk.
Go here for all the info you could possibly need about maintenance to a Chevy.
John and Lucy
Westchester County, NY
07.5 Silverado LTZ CC SB D/A
07 Cedar Creek 34 SATS 5th wheel
Pullrite Super Glide 16k
(2) Honda EU 2000i Generators
Xantrex Inverter
Timbrens Pictures of 2500 HD and Cedar Creek here
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