Well I just changed my fluid, and the ring gear is seated real nice. I didn't find any metal shavings or anything floating around in there, real clean. When I serviced my old GM truck for the first time, I found curly shavings at the bottom of the housing, not to comforting to say the least, but nothing ever came from it .Well I'm glad that's done!, now I want to tackle my nv5600, but not until I get back from fishing this weekend.

 

I've changed my rear diff every 15k miles and every time the oil has come out looking as new and clean as it did the day it went in. That's a good thing, but it makes me think changing the oil every 15k miles is unnecessary.

I've never tackled the NV5600, although I probably need to.

 

On my last dif service (15k interval), the oil had been broken down so badly it came out like water. No metal shavings or gear/bearing damage evident though.

 

Well my original factory fluid looked pretty nasty, but since then the fluid has been very clean at 15k intervals. I am waiting till 20k this time around. And, I am almost there. I'll prob change it out this weekend...whoo hoo.

 

Egad. I have changed my diff fluid twice in almost 300k. Probably saved enough in fluids to rebuild the diff if it needed it (which it doesn't btw)
15k interval is absurd. Yes my truck pulls a trailer.

 

I just got in from changing my rear end. Now I have to tackle the front end, hoping the tie rods and everything else don't give me a pain. Hopefully I won't have any shutter like I did in my 03. I used Mobil 1 75w90. Haven't taken it out for a spin yet...

 

I thought the owers manual said check level at 15k and change at 30k. I'm at work and can't check the thing. Am I wrong?

 

I think the manual says every 15k miles.

Since I have a PML cover and 75w-140 synthetic fluid I will stretch it to 30k miles before the next service.

MikeyB

 

Manual says change at 15k. Just did my first change............. it sure didn't look new. My garage still smells like gear oil

 

Shoot, I guess I need to change mine. 21k on the ticker, so I don't think it's that big of an issue.

 

Rambunctious......I'd at least do that first change right away. The original factory stuff looked very nasty in mine. I have heard that from several guys on here. After you have changed it yourself once, I would feel more comfortable going longer after that.

 

Cool. Thanks.

 

I just found out Dodge is putting in a new rear on my truck. I though I had bad U-joints. He got in there and looked, over 1/4" of play in the ring and pinion. So new gears, bearings and oil at 30150 miles.......

 

the first oil change is the most critical. during the break in period the difs run allot hotter, this caused the fluid to break down, ad to this the metal particals that get suspended in it from every thin braking in and you got an abrasive mix that doesnt lube well. remember the dif doesnt have a filter so all the particulats stay in suspension, and thats not good. the magnet only catches the ferus or iorn based stuff.

if your going to slack on the maintanace, atleast do the inital change, fill it with a good synthetic and call it good.

 

Where is the magnet and can you check/clean it of metal particles. I am at 20,000 and plan on changing it soon. Never messed with differentials before. Just loosen the cover and drain it then refill it thru the top plug till it runs out, right? And the fluid needs to be GL-5 rated Synthetic. What weight?