&gt; <br>1) Spend 35 - 45K on a pre 2003 heavy duty truck<br>2) Get the optional TOW-GROUP package from the factory<br>3) Forget to pick up the optional paperwork titled &quot;Dodge Towing Guide&quot;<br>4) use your truck to tow<br><br>Your warrantly is now void! According to Dodge.<br><br>Now for the fun part. I happen to read the &quot;Dodge towing guide&quot; found at www.dodge.com and noticed it said that if you plan to use your truck to tow you MUST change the axle lube to SAE 75W-140 synthetic gear lubricant. It must meet spec MS-8985.<br><br>I decided to call Chrysler (1-800-992-1997) and ask the obvious question.....Why would a Heavy Duty truck, with a factory tow package, not come from the factory with synthetic lube, being the fact that this lube is required to tow with your vehicle? She told me that Marketing had decided that most people who buy these trucks never use them to tow. Then I asked, Was this the same marketing people that decided that the people who buy these trucks in 2003 would use them to tow? (the 2003 trucks come from the factory with synthetic lube)<br><br>The lady I spoke to went as far to say that if I did tow with my vehicle and something should happen to the axle, and I had not paid out of my pocket for the &quot;MOPAR&quot; synthetic lube change, Chrysler could/would void the warranty. Now I would find it very hard to believe that the dealership would do a lube analysis, but you never know. She also said it must be Mopar Gear Lube. Isn't this the same as saying you must use Mopar motor oil?<br><br>Anyway, I called the dealership to get some prices.....SAE75W-140 synthetic gear lube $21.85/qt (takes 4 quarts) + limited slip additive, $7.00. After a long discussion with the parts guy about my dealings with &quot;Customer One&quot;...he laughed (nice kinda laugh). He did however recommend changing to synthetic lube - but he said he believes Mobil make the Mopar gear lube. Just for additional info, Mobil 1 synthetic gear lube - $6.50/qt.<br><br>So beware....<br>

 

I asked the dealer pricipal and the service manager about the use of synthetic in my truck when took delivery back in Nov., 2000. They said to run and tow with what was in it from the factory until the first change. I did make the dealer swear before God that the rear end would be full at delivery. <br><br>I lost a rear end in my 98 Chevy 1500 on the first pull. The Chevy dealer fixed and regeared it but was without for 2 weeks.<br><br> If I wanted to use a synthetic that would be the time. They never once said I had to use MOPAR brand, just use a reputable name brand meeting Mopar specifications.<br><br>At present I pull a 27' TT with a GVWR of 7,600#. I have 25,500 on the clock and no rear axle problems to date.<br><br>Jim<br>

 

This is one of the most bizarre cases of corporate BS and doubletalk I have EVER read!!<br><br>How many people have followed this procedure?

 

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act they have violated this by telling you that you must use Mopar synthetic lube <br><br><br>Tie-In Sales&quot; Provisions <br>Generally, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. The following are examples of prohibited tie-in sales provisions.<br><br>In order to keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.<br><br>While you cannot use a tie-in sales provision, your warranty need not cover use of replacement parts, repairs, or maintenance that is inappropriate for your product. The following is an example of a permissible provision that excludes coverage of such things.<br><br>While necessary maintenance or repairs on your AudioMundo Stereo System can be performed by any company, we recommend that you use only authorized AudioMundo dealers. Improper or incorrectly performed maintenance or repair voids this warranty.<br><br>Although tie-in sales provisions generally are not allowed, you can include such a provision in your warranty if you can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FTC that your product will not work properly without a specified item or service. If you believe that this is the case, you should contact the warranty staff of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection for information on how to apply for a waiver of the tie-in sales prohibition.<br><br><br><br>

 

You DA MAN Pappy.

 

I totally agree that they can not force you to use Mopar brand Synthetic Lube, especially at the cost of $22/qt. What bothered me most was the tone of voice from the 'Customer' help line. Have you ever talked to those kind of people on the phone that you just know are going to be a pain to deal with? She was one of those type of people and I really did not have the patience to argue with her over a $100 problem. <br><br>I have never had a rear end failure from using conventional lube and I really don't expect one from this truck. But...I am going to switch to synthetic using amsoil series 2000 at my own expense. I just wish Chrysler would have done the right thing and sent these trucks from the factory with synthetic lube, just like the 2003. On a side note, my truck had 36 miles on it when I bought it. I checked the rear axle fluid level at 500 miles and it was over 1 quart low. I have read on here where that occurs way too often.<br><br>Later...

 

It still amazes me that DC is taking this attitude at all. ???

 

DC is one cheap MF...

 

Cheap is one thing, but this is misleading and, in my opinion, dishonest. &gt;

 

At $22 a quart, I'm not sure we can call them cheap :

 

I'm sure if DC wanted to buy in large quantities, it would be much less than 22.00 per quart.<br><br>What other company do you know will remove parts to increase their profit margin? Look at all of stuff that is missing on the 2002 truck. Underhood insulation would be nice.<br><br>

 

Went through same thing with a Jeep Cherokee, read manual and saw I had to put synthetic chrysler lube in rear to tow. Paid ******* $140 to do it, then read more and find out my off-road package and ls diff already had it, threw $140 down the drain at 7000 miles! :'(

 

If you do a lot of towing your gonna need to change it about every 30k miles or less if you do heavy duty towing like I do. 18k or more on the trailer. I have never used mopar lube in either of my trucks and have never had a problem. Just dont use mobil-1 synthetic in the trans it will eat the syncros they have soft metal on them.

 

Common sence will always work...do your research and ask around...even the stealers sell differant brands...I prefer to use other bands that have been proven to me...if Iam wrong then I'll pay but I'll always try for warranty even if its from the brand of product I used (your other warranty option)